Congratulations to the recipient of the 2025 William Hugh McEniry Award for Excellence in Teaching
The Office of Faculty Engagement is proud to congratulate Dr. John Riggs, Professor of Practice in Marketing and Director of the Centurion Sales Excellence Program, on receiving the 2025 William Hugh McEniry Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Established in 1974, the McEniry Award honors faculty members who exemplify the highest standards of teaching excellence, intellectual growth, professional accomplishment, and service to students and the university community. (Stetson University)
Dr. Riggs is widely respected for his dynamic teaching style, mentorship of students pursuing careers in business and professional sales, and commitment to experiential learning. Through his leadership of the Centurion Sales Excellence Program, he has helped prepare students for success through hands-on learning, industry engagement, and professional development opportunities.
His dedication to student achievement and innovative business education has made a lasting impact within the School of Business Administration and across the broader Stetson community. (Stetson University)
Please join us in celebrating Dr. Riggs on this well-deserved honor and thanking him for his continued dedication to teaching, mentorship, and student success.
Dr. John Riggs Professor of Practice in Marketing and Director of the Centurion Sales Excellence Program
Congratulations to the recipient of the 2023 William Hugh McEniry Award for Excellence in Teaching
The Office of Faculty Engagement is proud to congratulate Dr. Cynthia Bennington, Professor of Biology, on receiving the 2023 William Hugh McEniry Award for Excellence in Teaching, Stetson University’s highest honor for teaching excellence.
Established in 1974, the McEniry Award recognizes faculty members who embody exceptional classroom teaching, intellectual growth, professional achievement, and meaningful service to students and the university community. (Stetson University)
Dr. Bennington is widely admired for her dedication to student mentorship, innovative teaching, and commitment to scientific inquiry. Through her work in the Department of Biology, she has inspired generations of students to pursue research, critical thinking, and academic excellence.
Her impact extends far beyond the classroom through collaborative scholarship, undergraduate research mentorship, and a deep commitment to fostering student success across the Stetson community. (Stetson University)
Please join us in celebrating Dr. Bennington on this well-deserved recognition and thanking her for her continued dedication to teaching, scholarship, and the Stetson community.
Congratulations to the recipient of the 2022 William Hugh McEniry Award for Excellence in Teaching
The Office of Faculty Engagement is proud to congratulate Dr. Randall Croom, Associate Professor of Management and Assistant Director of the Honors Program, on receiving the 2026 William Hugh McEniry Award for Excellence in Teaching, Stetson University’s most prestigious recognition for teaching excellence.
Established in 1974, the McEniry Award honors faculty members who exemplify exceptional classroom teaching, intellectual growth, professional achievement, and meaningful service to students and the university community. (Stetson University)
Dr. Croom is widely recognized for his commitment to student mentorship, experiential learning, and helping students connect theory to practice. Through his work in the School of Business Administration and the Honors Program, he has made a lasting impact on countless students across the Stetson community.
Please join us in celebrating Dr. Croom on this well-deserved honor and thanking him for his continued dedication to teaching, scholarship, and student success.
Dr. Randall Croom
Associate Professor of Management and Assistant Director of the Honors Program
Congratulations to the recipient of the 2024 William Hugh McEniry Award for Excellence in Teaching
The Office of Faculty Engagement is proud to congratulate Dr. Katya Kudryavtseva, Associate Professor of Art History and Curator of the Vera Bluemner Kouba Collection, on receiving the 2024 William Hugh McEniry Award for Excellence in Teaching.
As Stetson University’s most prestigious teaching honor, the McEniry Award recognizes faculty members who demonstrate exceptional classroom instruction, intellectual leadership, professional achievement, and meaningful service to students and the university community. (Stetson University)
Dr. Kudryavtseva is recognized for her engaging and interdisciplinary approach to teaching, her dedication to mentoring students, and her ability to connect art history with broader cultural and historical conversations. Through her work in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design, she has helped cultivate curiosity, creativity, and global understanding among her students.
Her contributions to scholarship, curation, and experiential learning continue to enrich the Stetson academic experience and reflect the university’s teacher-scholar tradition. (Stetson University)
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Kudryavtseva on this outstanding achievement and thanking her for her continued commitment to excellence in teaching and mentorship.
Dr. Katya Kudryavtseva Associate Professor of Art History
Since 1988, the Hand Awards for Distinguished Faculty Achievement are made possible through the continued generosity of trustee emeritus and alumna, the late Dolly Hand and her late husband, Homer Hand. Through their support of excellence in higher education, Stetson University is honored this year to recognize the professional achievements of two outstanding faculty members in two primary areas: in Research, Creative, and Professional Activity, and in Community Impact.
Hand Award for Research, Creative, and Professional Activity
This first Hand Award celebrates outstanding achievement in Research, Creative, and Professional Activity.
Prior to accepting an invitation to join the faculty at Stetson University in 2015, this faculty member served as a National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research post-doctoral Fellow at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Health Services and Outcomes Research. Since May 2024, this faculty member has served as faculty director of Advanced Analytics, and prior, as faculty director of Research Design and Analytics with the Stetson Center for Public Opinion Research.
This scholar is a quantitative psychologist and epidemiologist whose research exemplifies the spirit of the Hand Award through the exceptional quality, impact, and scope. Their recent research focuses on water conservation and coastal resilience, officer-involved shootings, pain perceptions in pancreatitis, cognitive impairment, and innovations in the field of prosthetics. In the last five years alone, this faculty member has amassed an impressive body of research to the tune of approximately 30 publication which have been published in the top journals in the field. In addition to other scholarly contributions, their work has been cited nearly 2,000 times, with over 4, 100 citations over the course of this scholar’s career.
Their intellectual contributions have significantly enhanced the disciplinary field as well as the intellectual landscape of Stetson University.This teacher-scholar is heavily involved in psychometrics research, a field of study in psychology concerned with the theory and technique of measurement. These specialized studies are deeply informative for this scholar’s teaching and have been also useful for several of their service functions at the university.
One nominator wrote, “[This colleague] has an incredible H-index of 29, demonstrating a solid research performance and clear influence and impact within their field. It is worth noting that [their] research expertise has been invaluable to the university directly. [This colleague] has served as the faculty director of Advanced Analytics with [ Stetson’s] Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, providing invaluable data on issues such as the effectiveness of Student Evaluations of Teaching. [Their] expertise with statistical analysis has been essential in guiding the university toward sound policy.”
Their record of scholarship reflects the very best of Stetson University’s teacher-scholar ideal. Through sustained research excellence, generous mentorship, and a deep commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, this scholar has amplified the reach and reputation of Stetson’s academic mission.
Therefore, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the field, and passionate dedication to students and the Stetson community, it gives me great pleasure on behalf of the faculty, staff, and students at Stetson University to present the 2026 Hand Award for Research, Creative, and Professional Activity to Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Robert Askew.
Dr. Robert Askew.
Hand Award for Community Impact
This second Hand Award celebrates outstanding achievement in Community Impact. The award recipient joined Stetson’s faculty corps 30 years ago in 1996, and was recognized in 2023 with Stetson’s highest honor, the William Hugh McEniry Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 2025, this community warrior was named Faculty Partner of the Year, an award that recognizes outstanding collaboration and partnership with the broader community.
This faculty member embodies the spirit of the Hand Award for Community Impact through dedicated, hands-on service that elevates the critical importance of the outdoor classroom. For example, this scientist makes science accessible and fun for the public by organizing Science Saturdays. These family-friendly events invite children and adults to explore science and the environment through engaging activities that leave participants with a life-long love for nature. As such, throughout their longstanding Stetson career, this consummate teacher-scholar not only practices the art of science through prolific field research with students and publication of findings but expertly translates this and other work to strengthen environmental education and sustainability efforts.
An advocate for promoting citizen-science, this faculty member’s tireless work on the construction, leadership, and care for the flourishing Volusia Sandhill Ecosystem is widely recognized by faculty and community members. Individuals of all ages have been actively engaged in this community environmental endeavor. Personal testimonies attest to their impact on the project. This space has become an valued outdoor classroom and enriching community resource, even earning recognition from the Florida Native Plant Society for its educational and environmental importance. One nominator wrote “ Over [their] whole career at Stetson [this individual] has gone above and beyond to enhance and support environmental education and sustainability in our community through[their] work, building and maintaining the Volusia Sandhill Ecosystem as a wonderful interactive and beautiful teaching landscape. “
Therefore, in recognition of her exceptional contributions to bringing learning about the environment to life for University students and the broader community, her tireless dedication to students, and her collaborative spirit that has enriched the Stetson and broader communities, it gives me great pleasure on behalf of the faculty, staff, and students at Stetson University to present the prestigious 2026 Hand Award for Community Impact to Professor of Biology Dr. Cynthia Bennington.
Dr. Cynthia Bennington.
Presented by Dr. Katty Webb, Dean of the Library and Learning Technologieson May 8, 2026 at the 2026 Academic Awards and Recognition Ceremony
On April 14, 2026, Stetson University will host its annual Showcase, a longstanding celebration of undergraduate research, creative activity, and academic excellence. Now in its twenty-eighth year, the event highlights the depth and diversity of student scholarship across disciplines.
This year’s theme, “Currents of Curiosity: Crossing Streams,” reflects the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of student work, as ideas move across boundaries between science, technology, the arts, and the humanities.
The Showcase will feature poster sessions, oral presentations, art exhibitions, and music recitals, offering students the opportunity to share research ranging from environmental studies and public health to artificial intelligence and social analysis.
The 2026 Grady Ballenger keynote speaker, Dr. Antonio Byrd, will address the role of generative AI in research and publishing, encouraging thoughtful engagement with both its possibilities and ethical implications.
Through this event, Stetson continues to foster curiosity, creativity, and clear communication, preparing students to engage meaningfully with an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
It is my great honor to announce the recipient of this year’s Hand Award for Distinguished Faculty Achievement. This prestigious award recognizes excellence in research, creative, and professional activity, highlighting the significant contributions faculty members make to their professional fields and to the intellectual vibrancy of our campus.
The recipient of this year’s award is one of Stetson University’s most prolific scholars, whose work has had a profound national and global impact. With more than 300 publications, over 30,000 citations, and an h-index of 77—an exceptionally rare and esteemed score—his scholarship stands as a model of rigor, innovation, and collaboration. One nominator wrote: “He has collaborated on published projects with almost every faculty member within the psychology department, and with several other faculty across the university.” His research, particularly in the area of media psychology, has reshaped the field by challenging established views and offering a more nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between media and human behavior. His vital work been published in the most distinguished academic journals in his discipline and has also earned him numerous invitations to present his research at prestigious institutions around the world.
Transcending academic boundaries, today’s award recipient is also a well-respected public intellectual, whose expert insights are regularly featured in major media outlets such as MSNBC, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The LA Times. His ability to translate complex research on violence in media has made him a trusted voice on critical social issues.
As a teacher-scholar, this individual has been deeply committed to mentorship. One colleague wrote: “Every semester as he runs multiple studies in his lab, he has a team of undergraduate student research assistants working with him. His students get excellent training in the research process, and he often publishes with those students too.” In short, he embodies Stetson’s relationship-rich learning.
In recognition of his exceptional contributions to the field, his tireless dedication to his students, and his collaborative spirit that has enriched the Stetson community, I am proud to announce that the recipient of this year’s Hand Award for Research, Creative, and Professional Activity is Professor of Psychology, Dr. Christopher Ferguson.
Dr Christopher Ferguson
Presented by Dr. Katty Webb, Dean of the Library and Learning Technologieson May 9, 2025 at the 2025 Academic Awards and Recognition Ceremony
Speaker: Dr. Graeme Harper Dean, The Honors College
Topic: Undergraduate Invents Time Travel: New Research in the Fourth Dimension
Lecture Description
They reported it briefly, but it was quickly hushed up. Time travel. Not the basic kind you find in a movie or a book. Not that kind with a wizened inventor or that happens in a dark alley in Victorian London with a guy who you sometimes confuse with Tom Cruise. Not time travel in a DeLorean, or through a portal you find in an ordinary wooden doorway in Nepal. No, this was the kind of time travel Einstein could only dream about. Movement, not just in space, but across another dimension. We all know the basic dimensional three: breadth, width, and height. Try on new shoes, and you experience a few of those; lose your way in the dark of night and you realize the importance of those. But time – that fourth dimension – it took an open mind to crack that one. No wonder they wanted to hush it up. The fourth dimension is like the fourth estate: sometimes you need to shut it down or it’ll reveal something. Let’s face it, you can’t go changing the world for the better and expect everyone to be happy about it.
About the Speaker
In 2012, Dr. Graeme Harper became the inaugural Dean of The Honors College at Oakland University in Michigan. Previously, he led academic schools at the University of Wales and the University of Portsmouth before serving as Director of Research and later a research fellow at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.
Dr. Harper has served as a research panelist for the European Commission’s Education and Culture Directorate in Brussels and spent twelve years as a panelist for Britain’s Arts and Humanities Research Council. He also served on the Research Committee of the Joint Information Systems Committee, supporting the UK’s national academic technology network.
A prolific writer, Dr. Harper has published around fifty books. Reflecting both his passion for writing and his dedication to universities, he holds doctorates from the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom and the University of Technology Sydney in Australia.
From July 2021 to July 2024, he served as Chair of the At Large Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research.
2024 Grady Ballenger Lecture Series — Judith Bense
Date: April 16
Speaker: Dr. Judith Bense President Emeritus and Professor of Anthropology University of West Florida
Topic: Human Curiosity: An Unstoppable Force
Lecture Description
Curiosity is the result of human intelligence that has and continues to drive research of all kinds. Our curiosity and problem-solving ability have resulted in remarkable advances in all areas of human endeavor such as technology, science, engineering, art, and music. This illustrated lecture will highlight the development of human intelligence and some remarkable problem-solving episodes that propelled human culture to what it is today and the challenges facing us in the near future.
About the Speaker
Dr. Judith Bense is President Emeritus and Professor of Anthropology/Archaeology at the University of West Florida. She joined UWF in 1980 and built an Anthropology/Archaeology program from the ground up. Today the program is recognized as one of the leading programs in Florida and the United States, known for its active research in Florida archaeology and its public outreach efforts.
Bense has held numerous leadership roles in archaeology and helped guide the program toward historical archaeology and shipwreck research. In 2004, she helped pass legislation and secure funding for the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN), which operates eight regional public archaeology centers throughout Florida.
She served as interim president of UWF in 2008, was appointed president in 2010, and served through 2016. During her presidency, enrollment increased by 30%, six new buildings were constructed, university visibility expanded significantly, athletic teams won four national championships, and the football program was established.
As the first female president of the University of West Florida, she continues to inspire women in leadership and academia.
Bense was inducted into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame in 2019, becoming the first woman from Northwest Florida to receive the honor. She has received numerous awards including the Evelyn Fortune Bartlett Award, the J.C. Harrington Medal, and the Senator Bob Williams Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Archaeology. She was also inducted into the Order of Isabella the Catholic by the King of Spain for advancing understanding of Spain’s contribution to the Americas.
Her most recent book, On the Edge of the Spanish Empire: The West Florida Presidio Era 1698–1763 (2021), synthesizes nearly forty years of research on Spanish presidios in West Florida.
She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Florida Historical Commission, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Florida Public Archaeology Network, and a founding board member of the Center for Excellence in Local Government. She is also active in several civic and service organizations and helps manage her family’s hay farm in Bay County.
Did you know that Stetson University’s School of Music is giving students world-class opportunities on and off the stage, both at home and abroad?
After a successful pilot, the School of Music and Opera Orlando have expanded their Apprenticeship Program for the 2024–2025 season, giving four Stetson students the chance to perform with the professional opera company during the fall semester.
These elite apprentices were cast in a powerful benefit concert, Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezin, held at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Orlando. The concert dramatizes the resilience of Jewish musicians during the Holocaust, making for a moving and historically resonant experience.
In addition, two students were cast in Opera Orlando’s production of Macbeth, and two others performed in Cendrillon, Massenet’s magical retelling of Cinderella.
Students audition annually for this prestigious opportunity, which combines college credit, vocal coaching, masterclasses, and real-time on-stage training with seasoned professionals. The program underscores Stetson’s commitment to experiential learning and professional preparation in the performing arts.
Music Across Continents: Symphonic Band Heads to Costa Rica
And the momentum doesn’t stop there.
In May 2025, Stetson’s Symphonic Band will embark on its first-ever international tour, traveling to Costa Rica for a week of concerts, cultural exchange, and unforgettable experiences.
Led by Chandler Wilson, PhD, director of Bands and assistant professor of music, the tour will include performances at some of the country’s most prestigious venues, such as the Eugene O’Neill Theatre and the National Theater in San José.
Fifty-nine students will not only perform for international audiences but also collaborate with local high school musicians in a joint concert, promoting both musical excellence and cross-cultural understanding.
Beyond the concert halls, the band will immerse themselves in the culture and landscape of Costa Rica with visits to the Doka Coffee Plantation, Arenal Volcano, Tamarindo Beach, and Palo Verde National Park.
Wilson sees the tour as more than a performance opportunity: “It’s a life-changing experience our students will always remember.”
Explore more inspiring stories in the latest issue ofStetson University Magazine — read now.
