Suffolk Reporter

Stony Brook University's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS) held its first awards ceremony on January 21, recognizing achievements in research, teaching, and service among faculty and staff. The event was aligned with CEAS Dean Andrew Singer's vision to acknowledge excellence comprehensively.

"Today, we honor those in our college who have excelled in research, teaching, and service," Singer said to nearly 80 attendees at the Hilton Garden Inn. "This is a newly reimagined event, and I hope you are as enthusiastic about it as I am."

The ceremony included traditional recognitions such as the Millionaires Club and the Millionaires Elite Club for faculty leading significant externally funded research projects. The criteria include securing a new grant exceeding $1 million within a fiscal year for the Millionaires Club, while the Millionaires Elite Club requires research expenditures over $1 million in the same period.

"We celebrate faculty who exemplify our research mission and align with our vision of advancing the human condition through impactful research," Singer stated.

A notable addition was the TREES Awards (Teachers Rated Excellent Educators by their Students), which acknowledged faculty excelling in student course evaluations. “Our TREES awardees are planting seeds of excellence in our students’ future,” Singer noted.

Mei Lin (Ete) Chan-Lo from the Department of Biomedical Engineering received multiple accolades including TREES awards for two consecutive years and the Excellence in Faculty Service Award. She expressed her gratitude: “It’s very nice to know that people within CEAS recognize us for the work we’ve been doing. Recognition in a formal way is always appreciated, and it helps us to continue growing professionally. This doesn’t stop here — it’s just the beginning.”

Service contributions were also highlighted during the event. "Service often goes unnoticed because it happens when everything runs smoothly," Singer remarked. "Today, we recognize those who continually give of themselves without asking for much in return. We could not CEAS the day without you."

Additional awards were given for mentorship, diversity leadership, professional service, and overall excellence across various domains. Two new honors introduced were the Dean’s Excellence Professorships for Research and Teaching.

"This event underscores our shared commitments to research, teaching, and service," Singer concluded. "It promises to be an annual celebration of excellence."