DANBURY, Connecticut — The Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) recently announced the names of 12 Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) faculty members who are recipients of 2024-25 Board of Regents Faculty Awards. The awards, presented for excellence in research and teaching, are given to assistant and associate professors in tenure-track or tenured positions, as well as adjunct faculty members. Two of the 12 teach at Western Connecticut State University. They are Assistant Professor of Social Sciences Dr. Jessica Schofield and Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Carlos Santibáñez-López.
The awards are given to faculty members at the CSCU universities and CT State Community Colleges, with overall winners recognized in the teaching and research categories at the System level as well. Both Schofield and Santibáñez-López received their respective awards for teaching and research at the university level and the System level.
In announcing the awards, Regent Ira Bloom, who chairs the BOR’s Academic and Student Affairs committee said, “Each of the faculty teaching and research award recipients has made important contributions to the CSCU system and has had a profound impact on our students. Because of the outstanding work of our faculty, CSCU institutions continue to offer high-quality, affordable education. We commend these 12 award recipients for their inspiring commitment to public higher education and for the transformative role they play in shaping future generations.”
Recipient of the CSCU and System-level Research Award, Santibáñez-López is a biologist who specializes in the evolutionary diversification of venomous arthropods like scorpions and spiders. His research has included exploration of arachnid systematics, evolutionary biology, comparative genomics and bioinformatics. According to Santibáñez-López, this work has direct implications for public health, and provides the basis for developing more efficient antivenoms while uncovering the potential for some of the components to become new drugs.
Schofield, recipient of the CSCU and System-level Teaching Award, is political scientist and scholar of international relations with a geographic focus on African politics. Her teaching philosophy revolves around three core principles: (1) Political science should guide students in understanding current events; (2) Students should consistently be asked to apply critical thinking to topics at hand; and (3) Knowledge is gained through understanding broad concepts instead of memorizing specific details. Schofield said she seeks to provide students with an environment and a space in which they can discuss the world together in pursuit of greater understanding.
In his letter nominating Santibáñez-López for the Research Award, WCSU Professor of Biology Dr. Joshua Cordeira wrote, “Carlos is a distinguished scientist specializing in the evolutionary diversification of venomous scorpions and spiders. He uses advanced computational and genetic techniques to explore how adaptations like venom arise from evolution and affect the diversity of life on earth.”
Cordeira continued, “Carlos is an expert arachnologist with an extraordinary publication record. He conducts research which is widely recognized externally and has made significant impacts on his field. Carlos’ level of research productivity in the last five years has been exceptional. His publication record is even more impressive considering the high teaching load and the limited resources for research. Carlos has authored or co-authored 23 peer-reviewed publications; three of these articles are featured on the journal cover, emphasizing the quality, impact, and recognition of the work; two of these articles include undergraduate and graduate student authors, highlighting his commitment to mentorship; and he has authored or co-authored three book chapters, has made 13 oral or poster presentations at professional conferences, he has more than 1,000 citations and a 5-year h-index of 20 on Google Scholar. The h-index is a reliable measure of scholarly achievement. A score of 20 is considered good for a full professor having researched for 20 years. Carlos reached that milestone in only five years!”
Santibáñez-López has adeptly facilitated research partnerships with colleagues at UConn, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Eastern Connecticut State University, and the Natural History Museum “Bernardino Rivas” in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Schofield has facilitated real-world learning opportunities for her students at the United Nations, through the Scholars at Risk Project, on Capitol Hill, and at the Oxford Consortium for Human Rights.
Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. H. Howell Williams, in his letter nominating Schofield for the Teaching Award, wrote, “Dr. Schofield’s approach to teaching and learning can best be described as a desire to serve students where they are. The field of international relations asks big questions about the world we live in, and its concepts can feel abstract for students taking their first steps into the study of politics. Dr. Schofield’s commitment to experiential learning helps students break down this intimidation.
“Her teaching is guided by a desire to make her courses applicable to the real world, meaning students from a variety of backgrounds can make tangible and personal connections to the course material,” Williams added. “She tailors lessons to speak to the diverse student experiences at WCSU, such as including case studies on Brazil and Ecuador for her introductory course PS 104 World Government. Given our sizable population of Brazilian and Ecuadorian students, such efforts not only reflect best practices for ensuring students retain knowledge through personal connection, they also reflect Dr. Schofield’s commitment to supporting WCSU as a recently designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).”
Reflecting on his award, Santibáñez-López said, “I am deeply humbled and truly honored to receive this prestigious award. This recognition is a testament to the unwavering support system that surrounds me: my incredible faculty, whose mentorship and collaboration have been invaluable; my amazing colleagues, whose willingness to brainstorm, challenge ideas, and push boundaries brings so many concepts to life; and my cherished friends and family, whose constant encouragement means the world. I am committed to continuing on this path, pushing the boundaries of research, and, most importantly, inspiring the Hispanic community in Connecticut and beyond to pursue their passions and dreams with unwavering determination.”
Schofield’s response to receiving her award was equally heartfelt. “My mission in the classroom is to inspire a curiosity about the world and a joy in learning for my students,” she said. “It is such an honor to be recognized for my teaching in this way because it shows that my students are learning about the world in ways that enrich their lives, and I get to be a part of that. Teaching really is my dream job, and I’m so grateful every time I enter the classroom.”
Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.