Boise State honors four professors with excellence awards

Boise State University honored Ken Cornell, Jacky O’Connor, Mark Schmitz and Tracy Sunderland with awards for excellence.

These awards, which were given during the College of Arts and Science’s spring meeting for overall excellence in teaching, research and service to the community, were doled out by the college’s Honors and Awards committee. Dean Tony Roark presented the awards.

“These awards recognize the overall excellence in contributions of their recipients, who exemplify the inspiring and dedicated work done day in and day out by all of our faculty,” Roark said.

Sunderland, a longtime instructor of Introduction to Theatre and Cinema History, has taught at Boise State since 1999 as an adjunct professor. She aims to inspire students to excellence both in the classroom and on the stage.

Ken Cornell, who joined the Department of Chemistry and Biology as an associate professor in 2004, has been vital to the university’s prestige. He authored 19 peer-reviewed articles, was successful in raising $2 million in research funding and helped establish the department’s graduate program.

Jacky O’Connor, an English professor at the university since 2001, has authored three scholarly books on American literature and drama. She is also internationally known as a Tennessee Williams scholar.

Mark Schmitz, a professor in the Geosciences Department, has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed manuscripts. His co-edit of the multi-volume reference collection entitled The Geologic Time Scale 2012 helped it win major awards.