14 April 2009

To: Faculty, Academic Professionals, and Staff
College of Fine and Applied Arts

Colleagues,

I write to inform you of the four recipients for the following FAA College excellence awards that were announced at the FAA College Annual Meeting on 1 April 2009. The College congratulates them on their achievements:

FAA Academic Professional Award for Excellence 2008-2009: Cynthia Howard (Assistant to the Head, Department of Dance).

Cynthia Howard has been a mainstay in the Department of Dance since 2005. She currently serves as Assistant to the Head, and oversees timetable, scheduling and admissions, writing successful grants, and managing the office. To quote her nomination: "She impresses with problem solving initiatives, keen intelligence, and excellent communication skills."

FAA Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching 2008-2009: Elizabeth Delacruz (Associate Professor, School of Art and Design).

Elizabeth Delacruz, Associate Professor in Art and Design specializing in Art Education, is a dedicated and successful teacher, primarily because she is an engaged teacher, combining sound scholarship, intensive teaching, and public engagement, especially with her path-breaking emphasis on multicultural issues in Art Education and social reconstructionist theory.

FAA Faculty Award for Excellence in Research 2008-2009: Ryan Griffis (Assistant Professor, School of Art and Design).

Ryan Griffis, an Assistant Professor of Art and Design, continues to forge new paths in fine art with creative research that deals with the development and regulation of public space through new technological, legal, and economic frameworks. His art has been featured in numerous exhibitions at major galleries, and he writes frequently for leading art journals.

FAA Faculty Award for Excellence in Service 2008-2009: Rebecca Ginsburg (Assistant Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture).

Rebecca Ginsburg, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture, in addition to fine teaching and research, fulfills her service obligation to the campus and community in highly innovative ways. Besides a good load of departmental committee work, she has founded and supervises the Education Justice Program, to bring UIUC classes to inmates at the Danville State Correctional Center.

Robert Graves
Dean