On April 17, 2024, NC State Global hosted its annual Global Engagement Honors & Awards Luncheon. This even celebrates finalists and recipients of the Outstanding Global Engagement Award, Jackson Rigney International Service Award and the Distinguished Global Alumni Award. Speaker Doneka Scott, Vice Chancellor and Dean, Division of Academic and Student Affairs, gave an engaging talk about the power of global engagement at NC State.
The Outstanding Global Engagement Award
The Outstanding Global Engagement Award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in globally engaged teaching, student support, research, extension, and/or outreach and economic development by faculty and professional staff members at NC State. Every year, we honor winners that are early career faculty, senior faculty, and professional staff.
Outstanding Global Engagement Award Finalists
- Debbie Acker, Shelton Leadership Center
- Veronica Augustyn, College of Engineering
- Laura Bottomley, College of Engineering
- Ashly Cabas, College of Engineering
- Michael Dickey, College of Engineering
- Nathan Goldman, Poole College of Management
- Ronalds W. Gonzalez, College of Natural Resources
- Keith Harris, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Chad Hoggan, College of Education
- Jason Hou, College of Engineering
- Romeo Jump, College of Sciences
- Lucian Lucia, College of Engineering
- Meredith Martin, College of Natural Resources
- Rajan Rarajuli, College of Natural Resources
- Lindsay Zanno, College of Sciences
Outstanding Global Engagement Award Early Career Faculty Recipients
Ashly Cabas
- Assistant Professor, Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
- College of Engineering
Cabas’ work aligns with NC State’s vision of becoming a preeminent research university by fostering international partnerships and bridging diverse ideas through scientific research. Notably, she launched the Earthquake Engineering and Seismology Community Alliance in Latin America, providing open access to resources and mentorship. Additionally, she has overseen successful international partnerships with French and German institutions and networks, and led an undergraduate Engineering summer program with Venezuelan universities. Cabas’ commitment to preparing globally engaged students is evident in her research, teaching, mentoring, and service to NC State and her profession.
Meredith Martin
- Assistant Professor, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
- College of Natural Resources
Martin’s work demonstrates early career faculty achievements in globally engaged research and teaching. In collaboration with College of Natural Resources colleagues, she has been awarded USAID funding to strengthen forestry education, research, and practice in Peru. Martin mentors students at local universities and serves on PhD and MS committees for a local Oaxacan student at Instituto Tecnológico del Valle de Oaxaca (ITVO). Her research attracts students from around the world and is conducted in collaboration with partners from indigenous communities to leading forestry schools, allowing her to address complex socio-ecological questions through interdisciplinary and international partnerships.
Outstanding Global Engagement Award Senior Faculty Recipient
Laura Bottomley
- Louis Martin-Vega Dean, Professor of Chemical Engineering
- College of Engineering
Bottomley has been engaged in a wide range of international projects with significant impact, particularly in Rwanda. Since 2018, she has partnered with local NGOs and high needs schools, facilitating engineering activities with elementary school students and training Rwandan teachers in engineering education. Her work has resulted in an IDEAS Grant from the US State Department and engagement with over 2,500 Rwandan students. NC State students have benefited from globally-focused projects, with two students receiving Fulbright awards to continue their work in Rwandan schools. Bottomley’s career has focused on improving engineering education and broadening the experiences of NC State students through international projects, significantly impacting the lives of many engineering and education students.
Outstanding Global Engagement Award Professional Staff Recipient
Debbie Acker
- Professor and James Buzzard Leadership Development Program Director
- Shelton Leadership Center
Acker has demonstrated vision, drive, and integrity in addressing pressing global leadership issues, embodying the values critical to the Shelton Leadership Center’s mission and global engagement. She has established valuable worldwide connections for NC State and launched an ambitious interdisciplinary Global Leadership and Team Decision Making minor, with three cohorts of students from multiple disciplines completing the program. In addition to her Shelton Leadership Center responsibilities, Acker has continued teaching values-based leadership courses in countries like the Czech Republic, Honduras, and India, and recently partnered with the College of Natural Resources to build a sustainable partnership between South African and American youth sport coaches. Acker has exhibited exemplary leadership in advancing global leadership and education, while building bridges across cultures, disciplines, faculty, and practitioners.
The Jackson Rigney International Service Award
The Jackson Rigney International Service Award recognizes the distinguished contributions of a faculty or staff member at NC State in promoting international understanding and service to the university and/or to the international community over the course of their career.
Jackson Rigney International Service Award Finalists
- Maria Avramova, College of Engineering
- Scott Belcher, College of Sciences
- Richard Spontak, College of Engineering
Jackson Rigney International Service Award Recipient
Richard Spontak
- Louis Martin-Vega Dean, Professor of Chemical Engineering
- College of Engineering
Spontak’s passion extends to numerous and productive international collaborations. He has been recognized with many internal and external awards and is a member of prestigious academic societies. Since 1992, Spontak has developed diverse polymer-related activities, including over 300 peer-reviewed publications with 78 involving international collaborators. His pioneering work on 3D nanostructured polymers earned him the 2007 Ernst Ruska Prize. In the past three years, Spontak has designed water-activated antimicrobial polymers approved by the EPA for emergency use during the pandemic. He also holds an honorary doctorate from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, where he has a long-standing, productive collaboration. Spontak’s impactful global interactions, respect for cultural traditions, and commitment to addressing worldwide challenges through collaboration exemplify his passion for making the world a better place.
The 2024 NC State Global Honors & Awards Luncheon recognized faculty and staff who are leading the way in global engagement. Award recipients exemplified NC State’s commitment to preparing globally engaged students and researchers, fostering international partnerships, and addressing worldwide challenges. Among the distinguished recipients was the winner of the Distinguished Global Alumni Award, whose achievements and contributions have significantly impacted their field and the international community. Click here to learn more about Rafael Rubilar, the recipient of the Distinguished Global Alumni Award.
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This post was originally published in Office of Global Engagement.
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