The Spirit of the Season at the 2025 State of the College
Each year, the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy hosts the State of the College Employee Appreciation Event, bringing together faculty and staff from both campuses. This year, the event was hosted at HSIB, where faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the occasion.
Dr. Erstad delivered updates on departmental achievements, shared key announcements, and honored members of our community whose work reflects the college’s mission and strengthens its people, programs, and profession. The awards segment serves as an essential moment to celebrate individuals for their dedication, service, and research contributions. "I feel so fortunate to work with faculty, staff, students, and other support personnel who make our college of pharmacy a top-tier institution. I am confident that the future of the College is bright and that we will continue to excel in teaching, scholarship, and service activities, bringing further national recognition to our efforts," said Erstad.
Nominations are held annually by peers, with recipients selected by faculty and staff committees. This year, eight employees received awards for their work and contributions to the college.
To learn more about the available awards or how to nominate someone, visit the Faculty Awards page and the Staff Awards page.
2025 Award Recipients -
The A. Jay Gandolfi New Investigator Award - Hongxu Ding, PhD
This award recognizes outstanding research contributions by the new investigators of the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy faculty. Recipients are selected based on:
• The level of excellence and originality of their research
• Independence of thought, originality of approach, clarity of communication,
• and the impact of their work on their field
Dr. Ding is a recognized emerging researcher. He is making important contributions through his active research program and is uniquely poised to make a major impact on his field. Hongxu is deeply committed to improving computational approaches for these newly emerging technologies, enabling their application to clinical practice and research, and to enriching the lives of students in the department.
The James R. Halpert Faculty Research Award - Haining Zhu, PhD
This award recognizes a faculty member for outstanding work in the College of Pharmacy. Recipients are:
- widely recognized for their transformational discoveries
- and their innovative approaches impacting a pharmacy-related field.
Dr. Zhu’s ongoing research, consistently supported by major competitive grants from the NIH, the VA, and other funding agencies, is opening promising new paths with strong potential for clinical application. His work holds meaningful promise for improving the lives of individuals affected by neurodegenerative diseases, a need that is growing ever more urgent as our population expands and ages.
College Faculty Service & Outreach Award - Haining Zhu, PhD
This award recognizes faculty who have extended their scholarship, teaching and service to external constituents in ways that result in a positive outcome in problem solving or development for individuals, organizations, or communities. Service and Outreach through engaged scholarship activities extend the intellectual expertise and resources of the College of Pharmacy through teaching, research, and/or service to address the social, civic, economic, and environmental issues and opportunities facing our communities.
Dr. Zhu has demonstrated both exceptional leadership and deep commitment to advancing our college’s mission. He exemplifies outstanding service, leadership, and mentorship as a faculty member in our college. His sustained commitment to advancing our academic community and elevating its national profile makes him the most deserving candidate for the College Faculty Service and Outreach Award.
Educator of the Year Award | Basic Science - Ivo Abraham, PhD
The R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy has recognized exceptional Basic Science and Clinical Pharmacy educators since 1984. Criteria for selection of recipients include an evaluation of teaching effectiveness based on factors such as motivation, communication skills, knowledge of subject matter, organization and relevancy of course material.
Educator of the Year Award | Clinical Science - Christopher Edwards, PharmD
The R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy has recognized exceptional Basic Science and Clinical Pharmacy educators since 1984. Criteria for selection of recipients include an evaluation of teaching effectiveness based on factors such as motivation, communication skills, knowledge of subject matter, organization and relevancy of course material.
Educator of the Year Award | BSPS - George Watts, PhD
The BSPS Educator of the Year Award recognizes one Pharmaceutical Sciences major course instructor who has demonstrated excellence in classroom teaching. The Educator of the Year should be a faculty member who encourages critical thinking, expands knowledge of subject matter, and provides valuable feedback that allows for academic growth.
Staff Award for Excellence - Shelby Galpin & Abbi Matzdorff
• The Staff Award for Excellence recognizes staff for their Outstanding Achievement on the Job
• Exceptional Contributions towards the Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Quality of the College
• Outstanding Service to Other Employees, Students, Faculty, Visitors, or Others
• Distinguished Efforts in Professional Development, Teamwork, or Leadership
Shelby Galpin
Shelby exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism, collaboration, and service, consistently elevating the work of those around her. She is a dependable and thoughtful colleague whose commitment to teamwork, clear communication, and proactive support strengthens every initiative she touches. Shelby fosters a positive, inclusive, and service-oriented environment, approaching every task with reliability, integrity, and grace.
Abbi Matzdorff
Abbi goes above and beyond every day, and she does it with positivity and a collaborative spirit that lifts up everyone around her. She consistently takes initiative to implement positive change. Her contributions have improved both the efficiency and quality of our assessment and strengthened collaboration across the College. Her innovation, initiative, and commitment to excellence have greatly enhanced our operations and the learning environment for our students.