Shepherd University Foundation Announces Faculty Excellence Recipients for 2025-26 Academic Year
The Shepherd University Foundation made more than $58,000 available through endowed faculty excellence funds for the 2025-26 academic year. Individual faculty excellence awards recognized ten recipients across seven disciplines campus-wide.
Faculty excellence endowments help further professional development by supporting travel, conference registration, and supplies. Shepherd University’s five endowed chairs – the Edward L. Snyder Endowed Chair for Business, the Ray & Madeline Johnston American History Chair Endowment, the John T. Reynolds Endowed Chair in Chemistry, the Dennis E. Frye Endowed Chair in Civil War Studies & Director of the Civil War Center, and the George Washington Chair of Ethics – provide funds that enable Shepherd to attract, recognize, and retain exceptional scholars and academic leaders.
The 2025-26 faculty excellence recipients were:
- Joshua Beck, George Washington Chair of Ethics
- Vahid Biglari, Jerry & Carol Kerr Faculty Excellence, CohnReznick Accounting Faculty Excellence Award
- Tara Carlisle, Scarborough Society Faculty Excellence
- Jacquelyn Cole, John T. Reynolds Endowed Chair in Chemistry
- Caitlin Gill, Create the Future Faculty Award
- Ben Martz, Edward L. Snyder Endowed Chair for Business, Ramon A. and Mary E. Alvarez Faculty Excellence Fund for the College of Business
- Jennifer Murray, Dennis E. Frye Endowed Chair in Civil War Studies & Director of the Civil War Center, President’s Faculty Excellence Award
- Theresa Smith, Scarborough Society Faculty Excellence
- Cindy Vance, Jerry & Carol Kerr Faculty Excellence
Dr. Zachary Musselman was awarded the Mentzer Award for Inspirational Teaching (MAIT) in spring 2026. The $1,000 annual award is given to a full-time professor in recognition of their profound impact on students.
Shepherd’s success in advancing research and developing the next generation of leaders depends on fostering faculty growth and innovation through endowments like those named above.
To learn more about donating to an existing fund or creating a new faculty excellence fund, visit shepherduniversityfoundation.org or contact Sherri Janelle, Shepherd University Foundation executive vice president, at 304-876-5397 [email protected].