Criteria for Award

Selection for the awards will be based on criteria expressed by the donors as well as those established by the Academic Council.

Donor Wishes

A nominee must possess a record of excellence in any of the following:

• Teaching and/or scholarly, creative activity
• Curriculum development
• Technology enhancements
• Professional development initiatives
• Integration of teaching and scholarship to benefit student learning process

Academic Council Guidelines

At the time of nomination, applicants must:

• be full-time instructional faculty, either tenured, tenure-track or RTA
• hold the rank of associate professor or professor
• be in at least their tenth year of employment at JMU, but have not exceeded twenty years of employment (hired between fall 2005-2006 and 2015-2016)

Nominations

• Colleges are invited to make one nomination. Nominations must be made through the dean and supported by the nominee’s academic unit. 
• Completed packets are submitted to the Associate Vice Provost for Academic Effectiveness and Evaluation by January 31, 2025 by email to vpfac@jmu.edu. 

 Nomination Materials

• Nomination letter of no more than three pages from the academic unit head or unit PAC addressing the nominee’s record of achievement related to the criteria set forth by the donor
• A personal statement of no more than three pages addressing the nominee’s accomplishments and contributions related to the award criteria
• Faculty member’s current CV

Nomination Letter and Personal Statement Guidelines

The nominee must possess a record of excellence in any of five areas of scholarly endeavor: teaching and/or scholarly/creative activity, curriculum development, technology enhancements, professional development initiatives or integration of teaching and scholarship to benefit the student learning process.

The nomination letter should discuss the candidate’s accomplishments at JMU and in the profession, demonstrating clear evidence of the nature, level and/or degree of a nominee’s contributions. Examples may address instruction, student development and learning, the use of technology in teaching, scholarly works (objective, subjective, and/or artistic), scholarly activities (new knowledge and research), curricular development, interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary activity, meaningful connections between a nominee’s scholarship and teaching, and application of knowledge and expertise in the contexts of the university, community, society or professional service. 

Process

• A selection committee makes a recommendation to the Provost, who selects the award recipient. The selection committee includes the Associate Vice Provost for Academic Effectiveness and Evaluation (chair/non-voting), a Faculty Senate representative, the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, the Mengebier Professorship recipient and two members from Academic Council appointed by the Provost.
• Recipients will be announced at the award luncheon held on Thursday, May 1, 2025.

Deadlines

Nominations must be submitted to the Associate Vice Provost for Academic Effectiveness and Evaluation by January 31, 2025 by email to vpfac@jmu.edu. 

Ford Faculty Award Recipients

2024

Dr. Eric Carbaugh
Professor, Middle, Secondary & Math Education

2023

Dr. Zachary Bortolot
Professor, Geography

2022

Dr. Allison Fagan
Assistant Professor, Department of English

2021

Dr. Sara Finney
Professor, Center for Assessment and Research Studies

2020

Dr. Kenneth Barron
Professor, Psychology

2018

Dr. Liz Richardson
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, Occupational Therapy

2017

Dr. Barbara Reisner
Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry

2016

Dr. Gina M. MacDonald
Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry 

2015

Dr. Louise M. Temple-Rosebrook
Professor, Integrated Science and Technology

2014 

Dr. Mike Saunders
Professor, Kinesiology