SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference (SoCon) named its All-Conference Faculty and Staff Team on Thursday, with two representatives from all 10 member schools being recognized by the league.
Dr. Malcolm Schug, from the Department of Biology, and Dr. Kristy Howell, from the Institute for Community and Economic Engagement, were chosen to represent UNCG.
While the selections were up to each institution's discretion, the recipients all shared the common characteristics of demonstrated service to the institution and contributions to campus life as well as the local community. Faculty members selected have demonstrated strong contributions to teaching, research and/or service, while staff members are being recognized for bringing out the best in others and creating conditions for success.
The faculty and staff recipients include: The Citadel's Sarah Imam and Heyward G. Hutson III; ETSU's Dr. Taylor Stevenson and Dr. Stacy Cummings-Onks; Furman's Dr. Tim Wardle and Rolyn Rollins; Mercer's Philip T. McCreanor and Michael Junod; UNCG's Dr. Malcolm Schug and Dr. Kristy Howell; Samford's Joe Cory and JeNorri Armstead; Chattanooga's Dr. DeAnna Beasley and Terrance Banks; VMI's Mattie Smith and LTC Shannon Eskam; Western Carolina's Dr. Ericka Zimmerman and Holli Stillman; and Wofford's Dr. Jessica Tomkins and the Wofford Workday Rockstars (Trey Arrington, Kent Brannon, Courtney Dobbins, Lani Foster, Brittany McDowell, Franklin Pettit and Raymond Ruff).
"The Southern Conference loves shining a spotlight on the remarkable faculty and staff at our member institutions," said SoCon Commissioner Michael Cross. "Each of the honorees is a leader and mentor at their respective school, and we applaud their service and dedication. We are grateful for the way they cultivate the distinctive and exceptional environments found across the ten SoCon campuses, serve as cornerstones in their communities, and exceed what is expected in their role."
The UNCG recipients will be recognized at the Spartan men's basketball game versus Wofford on Saturday, Feb. 1. The game will begin at 6:00 p.m. at First Horizon Coliseum.
Here is more about UNCG's honorees:
Dr. Malcolm Schug, Department of Biology (Faculty)
Dr. Schug is a professor and department head in the department of biology at UNCG. He has been at UNCG for 26 years. He grew up on a farm in upstate New York, and was a Psychology major at Potsdam College. He received a Masters degree in biology from Bowling Green State University, a Ph.D. in Zoology from Ohio State University and trained as a research scientist at Cornell University. His academic research is in evolution, ecology, and genetics.
Dr. Schug's work is internationally renowned, and he has published dozens of research articles in prestigious journals. He has served as the director of the UNCG Research and Instruction in STEM education (RISE) Network, the director of both undergraduate and graduate studies in biology and has been the head of biology for 5 years. He has multiple projects funded by the National Science Foundation that are focused on student success at UNCG. These programs support students from marginalized populations with scholarships, stipends, program activities, and leadership training. They help students graduate on time and gain admission to graduate and professional schools.
Dr. Schug has also been a leader in revising science curriculum at UNCG to implement best-practices in inclusion and success of students from all backgrounds. He has led a community project with the Duke Energy and the North Carolina Community Foundation to restore two wetlands on campus involving students and faculty across campus, the City of Greensboro, Greensboro Science Center, North Carolina Water Quality Management and other community groups. This project is integrated into courses in departments across campus and serves the local community in environmental education and research.
Dr. Schug was also a cofounder of the annual UNCG Science Everywhere science fair that draws thousands of community members to campus every spring to celebrate science education and research across campus. His work has had a positive impact on thousands of students and community members.
Dr. Kristy Howell, Institute for Community and Economic Engagement (Staff)
Dr. Howell is Associate Director in the Institute for Community and Economic Engagement at UNCG. In her work, she helps to lead UNCG's efforts to ensure our research is deeply connected to the communities we serve. She supports a wide range of professional development and outreach programs for campus and community partners and loves any chance she has to work with faculty who are looking for creative and meaningful ways to connect and build community.
Dr. Howell serves the university in several leadership roles, including as a member of the staff senate and the UNCG sustainability committee's executive team. Of all the hats she wears at UNCG, she is proudest of her work with the LEAP workgroup, which includes a community advisory board focused on healthy eating and movement, that helps to make connections between community members and researchers in our region.
In addition to her regular duties, Dr. Howell teaches as an adjunct in the honors program at Johnson County Community College in Kansas, and maintains a research agenda on the history of community colleges in the South and Midwest. In her "free time," she is an avid runner, knitter, cook and reader, mostly of historical monographs.
