Temple continued its tradition of showing appreciation to university members who have made significant contributions to Temple, their fields and student success. This past season’s men’s basketball games provided the backdrop for this year’s recognitions.

“Faculty and staff are critical to Temple’s mission of providing excellent and accessible education and being a leader in the discovery of knowledge,” said Provost Hai-Lung Dai. “We are proud of and grateful to our dedicated faculty and staff for their hard work. Honoring them at our athletic events is a way to showcase some of our excellent colleagues.”

The following staff and faculty members were celebrated for their achievements:

Aubrey Kent, department chair of Sport Management, School of Tourism and Hospitality Management. An energetic educator and international scholar, Kent helped launch a new sport management PhD program, which is now one of the best in the country.

Jane Pontious, director of clinical education and chair of the Department of Podiatric Surgery, School of Podiatric Medicine, is known by patients and students for her outstanding medical care and patient communication. A renowned surgeon, Pontious has been named “clinician of the year” 14 times.

Rebecca Geffner, director of international and executive programs at the Center for International Business Education and Research and the Institute of Global Management Studies in the Fox School of Business, helped the school’s undergraduate international business program rise to one of the top 15 in the country.

Managing director of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute and assistant professor in the Department of Strategic Management, Rob McNamee helped Fox’s graduate entrepreneurial mentorship program rise to No. 1 nationally.

​As associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and director of admissions and outcome assessment, Stephen Carp guides students throughout their journey in the College of Public Health. He is an active researcher whose exemplary work attracts funding and national recognition.

Laura H. Carnell Professor of Physics and Chemistry John Perdew and Assistant Professor of Physics Adrienn Ruzsinszky, College of Science and Technology, are world-renowned experts in the field of density functional or materials theory. Perdew is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and founding director of Temple’s Energy Frontier Research Center. Ruzsinszky, whose research is widely used in quantum chemistry and condensed matter physics, is also part of the energy center.

Associate professor of dance in the Boyer College of Music and Dance, Jillian Harris is a dynamic force in the dance community whose innovative vision and tenacity helped launch a video-based student performance assessment and bring dance classes to Temple Rome.

Chair of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department in the College of Engineering, Rominder Suri is director of the Water and Environmental Technology Center. He is an innovative scholar and highly funded researcher with more than 40 grants, including funds from the National Science Foundation.

Temple Faculty Senate President Trish Jones, professor of adult and organizational development, College of Education, is an international leader in the field​ of dispute resolution, conflict management and organizational change.

Professor and Chair of the Department of Community and Regional Planning, School of Environmental Design, and Faculty Senate Vice President Deborah Howe is highly regarded for her research on housing alternatives, land use innovations and community planning for aging.

Faculty Senate Secretary Adam Davey is a developmental psychologist and professor in the Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, who conducts insightful research on intergenerational relationships, family caregiving, and the health and well-being of centenarians.

Associate professor in the Department of Strategic Communication, School of Media and Communication, Gregg Feistman brings years of professional success, enthusiasm and mentoring to his students. He is an advisor to Temple’s student chapter of the Public Relations (PR) Student Society of America and the student-run PR firm PRowl Public Relations.

Kathleen Davis, assistant professor of human resource management, Fox School of Business, brings more than three decades of experience to the classroom. Many students give her rave reviews and say she is by far the most important teacher in their Temple career.

Rick Ridall, director of industry relations and adjunct professor, sports sales and management in the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, is extolled by his students for his engaging teaching style that gets them real-world ready.

Matt Fine, assistant professor of practice in media studies and production in the School of Media and Communication, coaches students through the television experience on the award-winning TUTV student broadcast, OwlSports Update.