Faculty Honored for Achievement in Creative Expression, Teaching and Service

Lily Prince, professor of art, Kathleen Korgen, professor of sociology, and Elizabeth Ekmekjian, professor of accounting and law, were honored for outstanding achievements

(From left) Elizabeth Ekmekjian, Provost Warren Sandman, Lily Prince, and Kathleen Korgen

Lily Prince, professor of art, Kathleen Korgen, professor of sociology, and Elizabeth Ekmekjian, professor of accounting and law, were honored for their outstanding achievements in scholarship/creative expression, teaching, and service, respectively, during the University’s 191^st Commencement ceremony on May 14.

The awards, which were presented by Provost Warren Sandmann, were instituted in 2004 to recognize faculty achievement and contributions as the University celebrates the success of students at their graduation.

Prince, who was honored for creative expression, began her career as a photographer before moving into painting and drawing, has recently garnered significant attention for her work, including a 2013 residency at the BAU Institute in Otranto, Italy, where she was one of only two international artists selected for the honor.  She also was a 2014 artist-in-residence at The Draftsman’s Congress at The New Museum. She has exhibited widely, both nationally and internationally; her first solo museum exhibition is scheduled for 2016 at the Naples Museum in Naples, Florida.  Prince has been awarded commissions by numerous hotels and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and her works have appeared in publications such as the New York Times, New York, and New American Paintings.

Korgen, who was honored for teaching, has been dedicated to inspiring students to use the tools of sociology to become active citizens and improve society.  A leader in the public sociology movement, she is the co-author, with Jonathan White, of The Engaged Sociologist:  Connecting the Classroom to the Community, a textbook used in classrooms across the country, and uses her expertise in courses such as Public Sociology and Civic Engagement, the first service learning course developed for the Department of Sociology.  The author, co-author, or editor of ten additional books and numerous articles, Korgen regularly organizes and participates in conference sessions focused on teaching. She is an active member of the American Sociological Association Section on Teaching and Learning and of its Department Resource Group, whose members provide their expertise to sociology departments across the country.

Ekmekjian, who was honored for service, has demonstrated a deep commitment to  the University community.  Among her most significant contributions has been the development and administration of the Professional Enrichment Initiative in the University’s Cotsakos College of Business, which requires the college’s students to be actively involved in a variety of workshops, seminars, lectures, forums, training sessions, and career development programs. On the University level, she served on the President’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Academic Advisement, is the Department of Accounting and Law representative to the Faculty Senate, and is a member of the Career Development Center’s Advisory Board, among numerous other committees. A specialist in taxation, Ekmekjian is the author of numerous articles and presentations, and serves as the University’s representative to the New Jersey Society of CPAs Educators Committee. 

Each honoree received a plaque, a citation, and a $1,000 award for professional development activities such as research assistance, conference attendance, training and travel.