Faculty from across Arts and Sciences and Fordham’s graduate schools gathered in Lowenstein’s 12th-Floor Lounge at Lincoln Center on Sept. 29 for the fourth annual Celebration of Newly Tenured and Promoted Faculty. Family members and colleagues also came to celebrate their achievements.
“This really is a community celebration,” said Dennis Jacobs, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. “Each of our honorees today has put in an incredible amount of energy and time into their jobs. And it really does take a family and a village, a set of friends and colleagues to support them along the way.”
The citations for all 50 faculty members who received a promotion, tenure, or both are available here; 19 attended the event.
President Tetlow commended the awardees for being interdisciplinary problem solvers who move their students’ hearts and minds.
“That is the best expression of our identity as a Jesuit institution that we can imagine,” said Tetlow. “Thank you for embodying Fordham and what matters most about it.”
An Inclusive Ceremony
This year’s event marked a first for Fordham, as non-tenure-track, full-time faculty were included in the ceremony.
“This ceremony honors the full spectrum of faculty who shape our students’ lives, tenure track and non-tenure track alike, because they all play a vital role in educating our students,” Ji Seon Lee, Ph.D., associate provost for faculty affairs and interim dean of the Graduate School of Education, said after the event.
As someone who researches human resources management, Ying Hong, Ph.D., was particularly impressed by the ceremony. “Receiving recognition is so conducive to building a positive workplace and engaging people,” said Hong, who was promoted to professor of leading people and organizations at the Gabelli School of Business.
Faculty members across the University echoed their appreciation for the recognition.
Eduardo Gallo, Ph.D., a neuroscientist who received a multiyear National Institutes of Health grant to study the neural processes of addiction and motivation, earned tenure and a promotion to associate professor in the biological sciences department. The ceremony, he said, gave him “a moment to look back and see how far I have come and to reflect about the people who made this journey easier and worthwhile.”
Julianne Welby was promoted to senior lecturer in journalism within the Communication and Media Studies department.
“It was so nice to hear from the president and Dr. Hume [Robert Hume, Ph.D., vice dean for faculty affairs],” said Welby. The Fordham grad worked for many years as an on-air host, reporter, and producer at both WFUV and WNYC, most recently as senior editor of the WNYC newsroom. “I never pictured myself in a room like this, so it’s really nice.”
Law professor Atinuke “Tinu” Adediran, Ph.D., was honored for receiving tenure. “It’s amazing to have all these important people in this room come together to celebrate us. I think it’s really great that Fordham does this,” she said.
