Three faculty members were honored with Dean’s Exemplary Awards for their phenomenal commitments to service, professional contributions and teaching excellence.
The awards were announced during an April celebration. In reviewing the nominations, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Kathy Wolfe said she was struck by the depth of talent and passion among those who work with Roanoke College’s students.
“I’m so proud and honored to work among such an amazing group of faculty and staff who put so much good into the world,” Wolfe said.
Join us in congratulating the 2024 honorees!
Dean’s Exemplary Service Award
Transformative was the word used by peers to describe Professor Sharon Gibbs’ impact on campus. The business professor and director of academic advising serves in countless roles in and out of the classroom.
That includes helming The Management Institute to support local businesses with crucial professional development. Gibbs also led the effort to research, design and secure accreditation for a much-anticipated MBA program that is now graduating its first cohort.
For incoming freshman last fall, she was a vital part of the creation of ROA 101, an initiative expanding mentorship and support for students adjusting to a new environment.
Wrote one nominator of Gibbs, “To me, service represents the ability to transform the lives of others. I can think of no other person who embodies this action this year more than Sharon Gibbs. For her, transforming lives isn’t something she does because it is her job, but rather it is her vocation, her calling.”
The Dean’s Exemplary Service Award recognizes Gibbs for exceptional service that supports students in their growth as whole persons prepared for lives of purpose.
Dean’s Exemplary Professional Life Award
Stella Xu, John R. Turbyfill Professor of History, has become a sought-after expert for her research into the history and culture of East Asia.
In the past year alone, she’s been invited to lecture at Yale University, South Korea’s embassy museum in D.C., Library of Congress, Pukyong National University in South Korea and Thammasat University in Thailand.
She’s also won multiple grants to support once-in-a-lifetime student research and a cultural exchange that draws in community partners across the region. She’s balanced that not only with her classroom work but with the publication of four papers and her election to the national board of the ASIANetwork.
“Dr. Xu’s scholarship is never just for her,” Wolfe said during the presentation. “She collaborates with colleagues across disciplines, welcomes and mentors students on their own research journeys and provides them with life-changing travel experiences, and her work teaches us more about our own college.”
The Dean’s Exemplary Professional Life Award recognizes Xu's outstanding accomplishments that contribute to campus’ intellectual vibrancy and highlight the value of discovery for students.
Dean’s Exemplary Teaching Award
In her over 20 years with the Department of Modern Languages, Professor Giuliana Chapman has built a reputation as a caring, empathetic teacher who embodies the high ideals of commitment to student success.
When students are asked about the Italian language lecturer, their first response is always, “I love her.”
Her peers echoed that, describing Chapman as a role model for her warmth, patience, and dedication to fostering genuine student development.
“In observing her teaching, I saw a professor who respects her students and makes them feel special, important, and unique,” read one nomination. “She creates a welcoming environment where students develop a sense of belonging, and feel supported, challenged, and nurtured. She imparts important lessons about teamwork, open-mindedness, and the ability to function effectively across cultural boundaries. I find our conversations remarkably inspiring.”
The Dean’s Exemplary Teaching Award recognizes Chapman’s commitment to not only teaching language but helping students develop as whole persons and cultivating a positive, engaging learning environment.