2024 Faculty and Staff Honors, Awards, and Promotions Reception

Faculty and Staff Recognized with Annual Woodruff School Awards

May 1, 2024
By Ashley Ritchie

Faculty and staff in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering were recognized with 19 different awards at the Faculty and Staff Honors, Awards, and Promotions Reception on April 25.

Members of the Woodruff School community nominated their colleagues, honoring those who make the School a better place and go above and beyond their job responsibilities to create an inclusive culture and enable others to succeed.

This year's faculty winners included:

  • Culture Champion Award: David Torello
  • Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award: Surya Kalidindi, Suresh Sitaraman
  • Mentor of the Year Award: Dan Kotlyar, Suresh Sitaraman
  • Outstanding Achievement in Commercialization and Entrepreneurship Award: F. Levent Degertekin
  • Outstanding Junior Faculty Award: Anirban Mazumdar, Akanksha Menon
  • Outstanding Mid-Career Faculty Award: W. Hong Yeo
  • Outstanding Non-Tenure Track Faculty Award: Jill Fennell, Michael Tinskey
  • Research Award: Matthew McDowell, Ankur Singh
  • Teaching Excellence Award for Non-Tenure Track Faculty: Denis Dorozhkin, David Smith


This year's staff honorees included:

  • Culture Champion Award: Mack Curtis, Darryl Williams
  • Hats Off Performance Award: Lauren Allen, Nichelle Compton
  • Leader Jackets Award: Glenda Johnson, Regina Neequaye
  • Outstanding Staff Leadership Award: Scott Elliott, Stephen Fuller
  • Outstanding Student Support Award: Kyle French
  • Professional Support Excellence Award: Jacob Blevins, DeMarlo West
  • Solutions Award: Angela Hicks, Courtney Sykes
  • Staff Excellence Award: Michelle Graham, Ranjini Unnikrishnan
  • Staff of the Year Award: Joi Outlaw, Ashley Ritchie


In addition, Eugene C. Gwaltney, Jr. School Chair Devesh Ranjan awarded the Chair’s Appreciation Award to Jonathan S. Colton and Kyriaki Kalaitzidou. 

Jon Colton

Professor Jonathan S. Colton, who holds the Eugene C. Gwaltney Jr. Professorship in Manufacturing, received the Chair's Appreciation Award.

Kyriaki Kalaitzidou

Kyriaki Kalaitzidou, Associate Chair for Faculty Development and Rae S. and Frank H. Neely Professor, received the Chair's Appreciation Award.