Faculty Awards

Submit a Nomination

The R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy is proud to recognize and acknowledge faculty members for their professional achievements, service to the college or health care, and leadership within pharmacy or other disciplines. 

The James Halpert Award for Research Excellence

The James Halpert New Investigator Award has been established by the Coit College of Pharmacy to honor of Dr. James Halpert and celebrate his contributions to pharmaceutical sciences. This achievement award was established to recognize excellent original research by early career investigators in any pharmacy-related research field. This award is presented annually, but only if there is a worthy candidate. Awardees will receive a $1,000 honorarium and a commemorative plaque.

  • The nominee must be widely recognized for their transformational discoveries or innovative approaches impacting a pharmacy-related scientific field.
  • The nominee must have an academic rank above assistant professor and have their primary appointment in a College of Pharmacy department.
  • The nominee must have been a Contact PI on a prior or active, peer-reviewed, national-level grant.
  • The nominee must not have received the James Halpert Award for Research Excellence in any prior year.

The primary criterion for the award is the significance of research contributions made by the candidate in their field. The novelty and innovativeness of the science, the track record of the individual including peer-reviewed publications, and the potential of the scientific discoveries to transform a nominee’s field are important considerations. The selection of awardees will be made by the College of Pharmacy Research Affairs Committee and presented at the State of the College event in mid-December.

Self-nominations are allowed.

Applications must include:

  • A letter of nomination for the candidate. The letter should describe the importance of the candidate's research contributions and the overall significance and impact of the candidate’s work. Self-nominations are allowed.
  • Additional letters of nomination and support are allowed but not required. 
  • The nominee’s curriculum vitae including a complete list of peer-reviewed publications and grant funding.

The A. Jay Gandolfi New Investigator Award

The A. Jay Gandolfi Award for Research Excellence has been established by the College of Pharmacy to honor the fundamental contributions of Dr. A. Jay Gandolfi in the fields of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Environmental Science. The Award recognizes outstanding original research contributions, particularly those having a major impact on future research in their field. This award is presented annually, but only if there is a worthy candidate. Awardees will receive a $1,000 honorarium and commemorative medal.

  • The nominee must be a tenure eligible Assistant Professor with a primary appointment in a College of Pharmacy department.
  • The nominee must not have received the A. Jay Gandolfi New Investigator Award any prior year.

The primary criterion for the award is the level of excellence and originality of the research conducted by the candidate. Independence of thought, originality of approach, clarity of communication, and the impact of the work on the candidate’s field are important considerations. Particular consideration will be given to first/corresponding/senior author publications with high impact and to accomplishments made while during their appointment at the UA COP. The selection of awardees will be made by the College of Pharmacy Research Affairs Committee and presented at the State of the College event in mid-December.

Applications must include:

  • A letter of nomination for the candidate. The letter should describe the importance of the candidate's research contributions, the overall significance and impact of the work, and the candidate’s role in the manuscripts provided with the application. Self-nominations are allowed.
  • Additional letters of nomination and support are allowed but not required.
  • The nominee’s curriculum vitae including a complete list of peer-reviewed publications and grant funding.
  • The three most significant peer-reviewed manuscripts authored by the candidate (sent as separate PDF documents).

Schnellmann Family Faculty Award

The Schnellmann Family Faculty Award has been established in 2020 to recognize an outstanding faculty member who has contributed exceptional and unique leadership service within the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy in the past academic year or 12 months, and (1) excellence in teaching, or (2) significant accomplishments in research. This award is presented annually at the State of the College event in mid-December. Awardees will receive a $2,500 honorarium and commemorative plaque. 

The recipient must be a faculty member (>50% appointment) and a Director or above at The University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy (the “College”) in good standing for a minimum of five (5) years. Past recipients are not eligible to receive this award for five (5) years. 

The recipient should demonstrate, as defined below, exceptional and unique leadership service within the College in the past academic year or 12 months. They also must meet the criteria in the area of Excellence in teaching, or in area of Significant accomplishments in research.

Exceptional and unique leadership service within the college is defined as:

  • Substantial participation and contribution in College service
  • Contributions that support or advance organizational goals and priorities within the College
  • Service in initiating and developing new initiatives
  • Evidence of influence and/or impact—the positive difference the nominee's contributions made

Excellence in teaching is defined as:

  • High expectations for student learning
  • Alignment of intended outcomes, teaching practices and assessment methods
  • Innovation and experimentation in teaching with a view to enhancing student learning
  • Commitment to continuous improvement in teaching
  • Support/mentoring of colleagues relative to teaching
  • Organizing or overseeing new courses or revitalizing existing courses

Significant accomplishments in research is defined as:

  • Sustained scholarly activity
  • Research grant funding
  • Consistent dissemination of research outcomes of scholarly work in one's field

Applications must include:

  • A letter of nomination for the candidate (3-page limit). The letter should succinctly describe the candidate's research contributions and address the review criteria as detailed above under Criteria and Selection. Self-nominations are encouraged.
  • Additional letters of nomination and support are allowed, but not required.
  • The nominee’s current full curriculum vitae, including a complete list of peer-reviewed publications and grant funding.

College Faculty Service and Outreach Award

The R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy Faculty Service and Outreach 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.

Faculty members whose primary responsibilities are teaching, research, and/or service, are eligible.

Candidates will have demonstrated significant research, educational, and/or service-related efforts or initiatives that transmitted and enhanced knowledge and/or outcomes to the public/populations within Arizona and beyond. The Faculty Council will be responsible for submitting the name of the award recipient to the Dean’s office by late November. The award will be presented to the awardee at the State of the College and Awards Program. The awardee will receive a commemorative plaque. Additionally, the awardees name will be added to two perpetual plaques (one located in the student offices of each campus, Tucson, and Phoenix).

Outside community organizations, programs, and faculty and students can make nominations. 

Applications must include:

  • A letter that specifically describes how the nominee’s record in the area of service and outreach goes beyond expectations and provided tangible positive to the community locally, regionally, nationally, or internationally. The Faculty Council may ask for a copy of the nominee’s CV after being nominated.

Pharmacy Practice & Science Faculty Mentor Award

The Pharmacy Practice & Science Faculty Mentor Award recognizes any professional faculty or faculty member who excels in mentoring, supporting, and encouraging the scholastic growth of the College of Pharmacy students, staff, and faculty and provide them significant opportunities for professional, educational, and personal development. The award offers a way of commending individuals who support and promote the scholarly environment for all College of Pharmacy citizens.

Professional faculty or faculty member including faculty mentors, senior project advisors, Resiprep program mentors, organization advisors, etc. can be nominated.

The Faculty Council will be responsible for submitting the name of the award recipient to the Dean’s office by mid-March. The award will be presented to the awardee at the End of Year Picnic in May. The awardee will receive a commemorative plaque. Additionally, the awardees name will be added to two perpetual plaques (one located in the student offices of each campus, Tucson, and Phoenix).

Students, faculty, or staff may make nominations. Submit nominations by March 15. 

Applications must include:

  • A letter that clearly describes the nominee's record of providing tangible development opportunities to the groups below that show how these contributions lead to increased performance and job satisfaction:
    • students,
    • faculty,
    • and/or staff,
  • Efforts to improve the College of Pharmacy environment with respect to mentoring and professional development opportunities.
  • The Faculty Council may request the CV of the nominee after being nominated. 

Basic Science Educators of the Year and Clinical Pharmacy Educators of the Year

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. The second consideration is scholarly activities related to teaching based on activities such as the development of innovative/creative teaching methods, publications, development of computer-assisted instruction, development of experiments for a teaching laboratory.

*In 2000 and 2001 only one Educator of the Year award was given, no distinction between basic sciences or clinical sciences is noted.

2023 - Georg Wondrak
2022 - John Regan
2021 - Georg Wondrak
2020 - Richard Vaillancourt
2019 - John Regan
2018 - Richard Vaillancourt
2017 - John Regan
2016 - Richard Vaillancourt
2015 - John Regan
2014 - Terri Warholak
2013 - John Regan
2012 - John Murphy
2011- Georg Wondrak
2010 - John Regan
2009 - Michael Mayersohn 
2008 - John Regan
2007 - Jolaine Draugalis
2006 - John Regan
2005 - Michael Mayersohn
2005 - Michael Mayersohn
2004 - Jolaine Draugalis

2003 - John Regan
2002 - Michael Mayersohn
2001 - Brian Erstad*
2000 - Marion Slack*
1999 - Paul Consroe
1998 - Michael Mayersohn
1997 - Jolaine Draugalis
1996 - Michael Mayersohn
1995 - Paul Consroe
1994 - Jolaine Draugalis
1993 - Paul Consroe
1992 - Jolaine Draugalis
1991 - Paul Consroe
1990 - Jolaine Draugalis
1989 - Michael Mayersohn
1988 - Paul Consroe
1987 - Albert Picchioni
1986 - William Remers
1985 - Paul Consroe
1984 - Michael Mayersohn

2023 - Christopher Edwards
2022 - Ashley Campbell
2021 - Amy Kennedy
2020 - Christopher Edwards
2019 - Amy Kennedy
2018 - Jeannie Lee
2017 - Amy Kennedy
2016 - Sid Patanwala
2015 - Amy Kennedy
2014 - Janet Cooley
2013 - Jeannie Lee
2012 - Dave Agpar
2011 - Richard Herrier
2010 - David Apgar
2009 - John Murphy
2008 - David Agpar
2007 - Richard Herrier
2006 - David Apgar
2005 - Richard Herrier
2004 - Michael Katz

2003 - Richard Herrier
2002 - Edward Armstrong
2001 - Brian Erstad*
2000 - Marion Slack*
1999 - Martha Fankhauser
1998 - Brian Erstad
1997 - Martha Fankhauser
1996 - Richard Herrier
1995 - David Lee
1994 - Brian Erstad
1993 - Martha Fankhauser
1992 - Brian Erstad
1991 - Williams Jones
1990 - Carol Rollins
1989 - Patricia Plezia
1988 - Martha Fankhauser
1987 - Suzanne Campbell
1986 - James Morse
1985 - Patricia Plezia
1984 - Michael Katz