The Distinguished Service Award will recognize and celebrate extraordinary efforts of faculty and staff in one or more of these three areas:

1. Advance the education, mentoring and/or career development potential of Pre-Pharmacy and/or Doctor of Pharmacy students.
2. Advance the education, mentoring and/or career development potential of MS. and/or Ph.D. Graduate Students.
3. Other service contributions that enhance the reputation and overall mission of the COP in research and/or clinical service.

The deadline for nominations will be the first Friday of February each year. Service over the previous calendar year will be considered.

Faculty and staff in the USC COP and there will be two awards given, one for faculty and one for staff.

• The candidate will be judged on service contributions at the college, university, community, state, national and international levels.

• Service well above and beyond the scope of that required as part of the faculty or staff job description (i.e. not including assigned service to departmental, college, university committees) will be considered.

• Consistent with the description of the award (to enhance the reputation and overall mission of the COP), leadership in service at the national or international level will be considered.

• The impact of distinguished service shall be clear as having advanced the mission of the COP in an exceptional way.

1. Nominations for the Distinguished Service Award will be solicited by the chair of the COP Honors and Awards committee.
2. Any individual, including members of the COP Honors and Awards committee may make a nomination by email to the chair of the COP Honors and Awards committee and self-nominations are allowed.
3. The nomination should clearly identify how the nominee meets some or all of the criteria listed above.
4. The nomination email need not be considered in evaluating candidates as its purpose is to identify candidates.
5. A dossier will be prepared by the candidate and submitted to the chair of the COP Honors and Awards committee.
6. The dossier will contain a (1) 1-page summary of accomplishments in service; (2) a letter from (a) colleague(s) who can describe in depth the impact of the candidate’s activities in this arena. This letter will be solicited from an individual suggested by the candidate and sent separately to the chair of the Honors and Awards committee.
7. The award should be presented annually, however will be done so at the discretion of the committee and only when there is consensus that a worthy candidate has been nominated.
8. The COP Honors and Awards committee will be responsible for selection of the winner although they can seek other opinions as required and necessary.
9. The awards will be presented by the Chair of the COP Honors and Awards committee at the Spring COP Faculty or Staff meeting.

2023-2024

Julie Sease (Faculty)
Cori Fairchild (Staff)

2022-2023

Stan Papajohn (Faculty)
Nikki Mellen (Staff)

2021-2022

Betsy Blake (Faculty)
Rachel McKeown (Staff)

The USC COP Emerging Researcher award recognizes an individual who has made significant and outstanding contributions to the research mission of the COP. This award will be given to an outstanding junior faculty member who demonstrates research excellence in their field of expertise. The purpose is to recognize achievements either from the time of their appointment, or the most recent 3 years.

The deadline for nominations will be the first Friday of February each year.

Eligibility Requirements: 

• Rank of Assistant Professor in the tenure-track or professional-track.
• Previous recipients are not eligible to receive this award again.

The candidate will primarily be selected based on track record since being appointed to their present rank. Activities reflective of outstanding and significant research – and to which the selection committee will consider are (but not limited to):

• Publication record including number and journal impact factor.
• Funding record primarily as PI or Co-PI but also including as co-I.
• Transformative impact on the candidate’s field of research as evidenced by significance, novelty and innovation.
• Benchmarks reflecting research impact, including citations reflective of a productive and impactful output. H-index is typically reflective of longer-term impact but can be considered also.
• Collaborative research activities - especially those with established scientists.
• Indicators of research recognition such as invited presentations and awards.

1. Nominations for the Emerging Researcher of the Year will be solicited by the chair of the COP Honors and Awards committee.
2. Self-nominations are allowed.
3. Any individual including members of the committee may make a nomination by email to the chair of the COP Honors and Awards committee.
4. The nomination must clearly identify how the nomination is appropriate based upon the criteria listed above.
5. The nomination email need not be considered in evaluating candidates as its purpose is to identify candidates.
6. A dossier will be prepared by the candidate and submitted to the chair of the COP Honors and Awards committee. This will contain a (1) 1-page summary of accomplishments in research; and (2) NIH-style biosketch (5 page maximum).
7. It is anticipated that the award will be presented annually. However - this will be done at the discretion of the committee - and only when there is consensus that a worthy candidate has been nominated.
8. The COP Honors and Awards committee will be responsible for selection of the winner although they can seek other opinions including those of (an) external reviewer(s) selected by the committee, as required and necessary.
9. The award will be presented by the Chair of the COP Honors and Awards committee at the Spring COP Faculty meeting.

2023-2024

Juan Francisco Leon

2022-2023

Ismaeel Yunusa

2021-2022

Tessa Hastings

This will recognize faculty and/or staff engaged in entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation above and beyond their faculty or staff job description.

Nominations will be accepted until the first Friday of February. Service over the previous calendar year will be considered.

Faculty and staff in the USC COP and there will be two awards given, one for faculty and one for staff.

• The candidate will be selected based on exceptional outcomes or breakthroughs in entrepreneurship, leadership and/or innovation, above and beyond their faculty or staff job description. Substantial achievements in one or more of these categories will be considered.
• The Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and/or Innovation impact should be clearly defined and measurable.

1. Nominations for the Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Innovation Award will be solicited by the chair of the COP Honors and Awards committee.
2. Any individual, including members of the COP Honors and Awards committee may make a nomination by email to the chair of the COP Honors and Awards committee.
3. Self-nominations are allowed.
4. The nomination should clearly identify how the nominee meets the criteria listed above.
5. The nomination email need not be considered in evaluating candidates as its purpose is to identify candidates.
6. A dossier will be prepared by the candidate and submitted to the chair of the COP Honors and Awards committee.
7. The dossier will contain a (1) 1-page summary of accomplishments in entrepreneurship, leadership and/or innovation; (2) letter(s) from (a) colleague(s) who can describe in depth the impact of the candidate’s activities in this arena. This letter will be solicited from an individual suggested by the candidate and sent separately to the chair of the Honors and Awards committee.
8. The award(s) should be presented annually; however, will be done so at the discretion of the committee and only when there is consensus that a worthy candidate has been nominated.
9. The COP Honors and Awards committee will be responsible for selection of the winner, although they can seek other opinions as required and necessary.
10. The award(s) will be presented by the Chair of the COP Honors and Awards committee at the Spring COP Faculty/Staff meeting.

2023-2024

Reagan Barfield (Faculty)
Brandon Bookstaver (Faculty)

2022-2023

Michaela Almgren (Faculty)
Terry Dixon (Staff)

2021-2022

Peisheng Xu (Faculty)
Pamela Hite (Staff)

The USC COP Established Researcher of the Year award recognizes an individual who has had a productive year by demonstrating excellence in their field of expertise while making an outstanding contribution to the research mission of the COP. The purpose is to recognize achievements from the prior calendar year.

Nominations will be accepted until the first Friday of February of each year.

Eligibility Requirements: 

• Tenured or Professional-track faculty at the rank of Associate or Full Professor.
• Previous recipients are not eligible if they received this award within the past 3 years unless no other candidate has been nominated.

Criteria for Selection

The candidate will be evaluated based on their record, accomplishments, and productivity over the previous calendar year. If relevant and appropriate in considering multiple candidates, overall track record may be evaluated and used to differentiate between nominees. Activities reflective of highly significant and outstanding research achievements include but are not limited to:

• Publication record including number and journal impact factor.
• Funding record primarily as PI or Co-PI but also including as co-I.
• Transformative impact on the candidate’s field of research as evidenced by significance, novelty and innovation.
• Benchmarks reflecting research impact, including citations reflective of a productive and impactful year. H-index is typically reflective of longer-term impact but can be considered also.
• Collaborative research activities especially those with established scientists.
• Indicators of research recognition such as invited presentations and awards.

1.  Nominations for the Established Research of the Year will be solicited by the chair of the COP Honors and Awards committee.
2. Any individual including members of the committee may make a nomination by email to the chair of the COP Honors and Awards committee and self-nominations are acceptable.
3. The nomination must clearly identify how the nomination is appropriate based upon the criteria listed above.
4. The nomination email need not be considered in evaluating candidates as its purpose is to identify candidates.
5. A dossier will be prepared by the candidate and submitted to the chair of the COP Honors and Awards committee. This will contain a (1) 1-page summary of accomplishments in research; and (2) NIH-style biosketch (5 page maximum).
6. The award should be presented annually, however will be done so at the discretion of the committee and only when there is consensus that a worthy candidate has been nominated.
7. The COP Honors and Awards committee will be responsible for selection of the winner although they can seek other opinions including those of (an) external reviewer(s) selected by the committee, as required and necessary.
8. The award will be presented by the Chair of the COP Honors and Awards committee at the Spring COP Faculty meeting.

2023-2024

Eugenia Broude

2022-2023

Jun Zhu

2021-2022

Ozgur Sahin

The USC College of Pharmacy (COP) will annually select a recipient for the Professor of the Year award for excellence in the teaching of Pharm.D. and/or Graduate students. Recipients will receive an award plaque and may receive a board-approved monetary reward. The recipient will represent the USC COP at the annual American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) for the respective year.

Nomination forms are due to the chair of the COP Honors and Awards Committee by May 15. Nominee files are to be submitted electronically to the Chair of the COP Honors and Awards Committee by July 15.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must teach graduate and/or professional students within the College of Pharmacy.
• Must be a voting faculty member who has contributed at least three instruction periods (e.g. lectures, labs, etc.) in the current academic year.
• Must not have received the award within the past three (3) years.

Criteria for Selection:

The awardee must have demonstrated a record of teaching excellence in any phase of the College’s educational mission (Pharm.D., Graduate courses). Evidence for teaching excellence will be evaluated according to the following professional accomplishments and characteristics, including but not limited to:

• regularly incorporates active learning methods to engage students.
• uses innovative teaching practice to enhance the learning experience.
• regularly implements the latest advances in content areas to ensure students receive the most up-to-date information.
• demonstrates an excellent rapport with students and thus creates a positive and supportive learning environment.
• has the ability to motivate and inspire students to learn and achieve their full potential.
• has a strong commitment to students’ professional growth and development.
• has a diverse perspective of teaching and facilitates students in developing their critical thinking skills.
• shows good collaboration with other faculty in reinforcing and facilitating the linking of concepts and facts between courses.
• demonstrates overall commitment to student success. regularly models professional behavior and demonstrates enthusiasm for their profession.
• recognition of teaching success as evidenced from outstanding student evaluations, nomination justifications and letters of recommendation.

These criteria aim to identify educators who consistently demonstrate exceptional teaching abilities and contribute to the success of their students. Awardees should showcase a dedication to continuous learning and teaching improvement while promoting critical thinking and professional growth in their students. Nominations will be evaluated based on these criteria, with an emphasis on evidence of teaching excellence and recognition from students, colleagues, and the broader educational community.

Nomination Process:

1.  Nominations will be accepted from College of Pharmacy students, faculty, department chairs or faculty self-nomination.
2. An electronic nomination form, including reasons the individual is being nominated for the award should be submitted. Qualified nominees will then be contacted by the chair of the COP Honors and Awards Committee and asked to submit a nomination packet as described below.
3. If nominated and not selected, an individual may resubmit their packet if nominated for the following cycle. Nomination packets are valid for two consecutive cycles.

Nomination forms are due to the chair of the COP Honors and Awards Committee by May 15.

Required Materials for Nominee’s File:

1. At least one completed nomination form from a student, faculty member, department chair or self.
2. A narrative which summarizes the candidate’s involvement in professional or graduate teaching and philosophy of teaching. Items that may be addressed include, but are not limited to:

• Course or program development, revision, or use of current and emerging technologies
• Research or independent study supervision
• Delivery of instruction, syllabi, course requirements and assessment approaches

3. One (1) to three (3) letters of recommendation from the nominee's referee(s) of choice.
4. (Submitted by Department from most recent Annual Evaluation file) A CV highlighting the nominee's achievements in education, research and service.
5. (Submitted by Assessment Office from most recent Annual Evaluation file) Teaching evaluations from students for at least the past 2 years.
6. (Submitted by Assessment Office from most recent Annual Evaluation file) The 2 most recent available peer teaching evaluations.

Nominee files are to be submitted electronically to the Chair of the COP Honors and Awards Committee by July 15.

Selection Process:

The COP Honors and Awards Committee will select the annual Professor of the Year, which will be announced at the Fall Faculty Meeting. The Professor of the Year will represent the USC College of Pharmacy at the Teacher of the Year Luncheon held at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) annual meeting held in July each year. The COP will cover all meeting and travel-related expenses for the annual AACP meeting.

2024-2025

Brie Dunn

2023-2024

Mike Wyatt