Faculty excellence recognized at convocation

Professor Kalai Mathee took top honors Sept. 22 at Faculty Convocation – an annual event that welcomes new faculty and recognizes faculty accomplishments. Mathee, founding department chair of the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, received the President’s Council Worlds Ahead Faculty Award.

Mathee, who was also recognized with a mentorship award during the ceremony, has established a research program focused on bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa – the primary cause of mortality among individuals diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Engaged in several multidisciplinary initiatives, she serves on the executive board for the FIU Program in the Study of Spirituality and curated the Martin Luther King exhibit at the Frost Art Museum,

In her application for the award, Mathee wrote that each of her students or fellows is part of her legacy and her extended family.

“Lab,” she wrote, “is not only a place to do research, but to learn each other’s cultures, celebrate our successes and share our sorrows … I am enriched by every interaction and I want to leave a lasting impression in their life during the brief journey that we share.”

Addressing the audience of faculty, staff and students, President Mark B. Rosenberg said, “This gathering is what I call an ’emotional hub’ for our community. It is intended to reinforce our sense of identity. That your work is valued; that your commitment is meaningful; that our hearts are filled with pride in who you are and what you do.”

The other finalists for the award were Shu-Ching Chen of the School of Computing and Information Sciences and James Webb of the Department of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Chen is the project leader for the Business Continuity Information Network Project, which seeks to ensure that key institutions in South Florida are up and running as soon as possible after a disaster. He also is involved in the Hurricane Loss Projection Model and 3D Hurricane Storm Surge Animation and Visualization projects.

In recognizing Webb, who has been at FIU for two decades, Provost Douglas Wartzok noted his “stellar” record of passing on his passion for astronomy and physics to students and the community. Webb was recognized for those engagement and education efforts, as well as his dedication in raising funds for an on-campus observatory.

The finalists and winners were chosen by the FIU President’s Council, made up of community representatives who serve as ambassadors for FIU. Previously known as the Outstanding Faculty Award, the President’s Council redesigned and renamed the award this year to streamline the application process and encourage greater participation from all academic disciplines.

The award honors professors who are student-centered in teaching, mentorship or advising; engage in significant research, partnerships or creative initiatives that make an impact in their field, in the community or in the world; and exceed expectations through innovations in the classroom, service to the university or through leadership.

The winner received a cash award of $12,500 and the finalists received $2,000 each. All full-time faculty who have been employed at FIU for a minimum of three years are eligible to apply for the annual award.

This year’s keynote speaker was FIU alumnus Carlos Migoya, president of Jackson Health System. Migoya discussed how research and education can transform a health-care system in a global community.