SAN DIEGO — They represent diverse fields from opera to economics, neurosciences to literature, and psychology to oceanography, but six University of California, San Diego professors now share something in common: They all are recipients of Chancellor’s Associates Faculty Excellence Awards. The prestigious awards are presented annually by the UC San Diego Chancellor’s Associates donor group for excellence in teaching, research, community service, and visual and performing arts. The recognition ceremony and reception will be held March 31 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Atkinson Hall, located at the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2) on the UC San Diego campus.

The event, now in its 37th year, honors UC San Diego faculty as a whole, while highlighting the important contributions of the university’s most exemplary teachers and researchers via brief video presentations. Chancellor’s Associates, a program for donors who give an annual leadership gift of $1,500 or more to the university, will recognize the outstanding accomplishments of university faculty members with a citation and $2,500 award. 

The recipients of the 2011 Chancellor’s Associates Faculty Excellence Awards include: Gail Heyman, professor of psychology, for excellence in undergraduate teaching; Dr. Mark Kritchevsky, professor of neurosciences, for excellence in graduate teaching; Gordon Hanson, professor of international economics, for excellence in research in humanities and social sciences; William Gerwick, professor of oceanography and pharmaceutical science for excellence in research in science and engineering; Camille Forbes, associate professor of literature for excellence in community service; and Anthony Davis, professor of music for excellence in visual and performing arts.

“Each of the Faculty Excellence Award honorees is a truly remarkable faculty member,” said UC San Diego Chancellor Marye Anne Fox. “They are exceptional teachers, researchers, campus citizens and community leaders, as well as excellent representatives of the outstanding quality of our faculty. It is a pleasure to see them receive the recognition they deserve.”

Award candidates are nominated by their academic peers, with final selection by a committee comprising Chancellor’s Associates donors.  Criteria for selection are based on faculty member achievements, reputation and impact on students and the academic community.  Since 1974, UC San Diego has recognized more than 100 extraordinary faculty members with Chancellor’s Associates Faculty Excellence Awards.

About the 2011 Chancellor’s Associates Faculty Excellence Awards recipients:

• Gail Heyman, professor of psychology
  Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Heyman’s students know her as a mentor of high standards who is generous with her time and warm encouragement. She is considered among the most dedicated and effective psychology teachers in the classroom, the laboratory and during office hours. Even while maintaining a high research, teaching and publishing output, she has a reputation for accessibility and excellent counsel. Heyman is also generous in sharing professional opportunities by giving undergraduates co-authorship credit on published papers.

“Gail may be the most dedicated and effective teacher in our department,” said John Wixted, chair of the department of psychology. "Not so much because of her performance in the classroom, which is impressive, but because of her one-of-a-kind efforts as a caring and concerned mentor to throngs of undergraduates. It is in this regard that she’s a veritable teaching superstar.”

Kritchevsky has devoted nearly 30 years at UC San Diego to his passion: teaching medical students. An M.D. and graduate of the UCSD School of Medicine, he has subsequently trained every first-year medical student in basic neurology since 1989. Kritchevsky is considered a master teacher who has developed outstanding, innovative curricula for medical and pharmacy students, and neurology and psychiatry residents; he has garnered more than 35 teaching awards over the course of his career.   

“Mark’s contributions to graduate student education in the School of Medicine are unparalleled,” said William Mobley, chair of the department of neurosciences. “His passion for teaching, the effort expended, the pedagogical innovations created and the expertise employed have been and continue to be outstanding. We in the department and in the Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy are the better for it.”

One of the most productive and highly cited economists in the United States, Hanson is considered one of a handful of superstars in the field of international economics. A pioneer in developing “the new empirical economics,” he is an authority on international trade, international migration, economic development and foreign investment, applying economic analysis to understanding the social implications of timely issues. Hanson is committed to the dissemination of his findings to policy makers and the global community.

“Professor Hanson is one of his generation’s pioneers who have combined very original ways of investigating problems empirically with astute innovations in theorizing,” said Peter Cowhey, dean of the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies. “His recent work will stand among the most important contributions to the field of international economics and migration.”

Gerwick’s research is focused on the discovery of novel and biologically active compounds and mechanisms in marine organisms that show potential for treating disease. He is noted for his ability to recognize and pursue parallel studies that facilitate taking elements from the sea to the pharmacy, bridging the marine and pharmaceutical disciplines. Gerwick maintains a prolific publishing output, develops patents and mentors protégés in the lab and at sea.

“Through innovative screening pipelines, Professor Gerwick’s research group is developing the drugs today that will be used to treat cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, parasitic infections and inflammation tomorrow,” said Douglas Bartlett, chair of the department of Scripps Institution of Oceanography. “In addition to his work improving human health he also performs ecologically relevant studies, and his future plans hold great promise.”

Forbes is an accomplished writer and teacher, considered among today’s most distinguished voices in the field of African American Studies. She is also a bridge between the university and the world beyond, as a liaison with the San Diego Public Library, and in her outreach to the African American community—local and national. Active in diversity issues and solutions, she is a model of reason and compassion during challenging times.

“Camille Forbes is an exemplary public intellectual who has engaged in an exceptional level of community service since her earliest days as a junior faculty member,” said Oumelbanine Zhiri, chair of the department of literature. “Through her service, she continues to forge invaluable links between the university and the larger community.”

Anthony Davis, professor of music
Excellence in Performing and Visual Arts

Davis has been lauded internationally as one of the foremost musicians/composers of his generation, and as a gifted concert pianist, notably in improvised music. His art is driven by a passion for illuminating the African-American experience; among his best-known works is the opera, Amistad. Davis is active in community outreach, teaches a range of undergraduate courses and is in demand as a graduate advisor and committee member.

“We are truly fortunate to have Anthony Davis in our midst,” said Aleck Karis, acting chair of the department of music. “He is a world-renowned creative artist whose work has had a major and lasting impact in the music world, a dedicated teacher and a humanist committed to finding ways to move forward to a more just and equitable society.”