2009 Faculty Honors and Awards Announced

Chapman University has announced its close-of-academic-year honors for its faculty, including the highest award given annually to a faculty member, the Wang-Fradkin Professorship, and the four Valerie Scudder Awards for achievements in teaching, scholarship and advisement.

This year’s recipient of the prestigious Wang-Fradkin Professorship, chosen by ballot by her colleagues campus-wide, is Catherine Clark, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry. The Wang-Fradkin Professorship is the highest honor Chapman can bestow on a faculty member. Granted in memory of Hua-Cheng Wang, professor of political science, diplomat, and expert on international law; and Cheng-Mei Fradkin, distinguished teacher, scholar, and administrator, the professorship is a two-year monetary award to further teaching and scholarship.

Professor Clark’s research interests lie in environmental and aquatic chemistry, specifically the photochemistry of dissolved organic material in coastal and ocean waters and the sources, distribution and photochemical reactions of pollutants in local waters. She is carrying out ongoing work and research into runoff pollutants in the ocean waters off the Orange County coast. Born in South Africa, she holds her B.S. degree from the University of Natal in Durban, South Africa and her Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Boston University.

The Valerie Scudder Awards recognize outstanding achievement in teaching, scholarship, advising, and/or service by a faculty member at Chapman University. Each recipient will receive a monetary award in recognition of their accomplishment.

Schmid College Faculty:

Christopher Kim, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Other major 2009 faculty awards announced by Chapman include the following Schmid College faculty:

The Excellence in Teaching Awards:

The Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activity Awards:

The Excellence in Service Award:

In addition, Karl Reitz, Ph.D., Professor of Mathematics and Sociology, was awarded emeritus status.