Faquir Jain Excellence Awards

In recognition of Teaching, Research, and Service Excellence.

Scroll down the page to see a list of the 2026 winners.

Nomination Criteria for 2026

The primary nominator must send the completed submission in a single pdf file via e-mail to Jen Curtis-Gray at jcurtisgray@uconnaaup.org.

  • Please be sure to indicate which category they are being nominated for.
  • The UConn-AAUP encourages updated submissions for applicants nominated within the last three years 2023, 2024, and 2025.
  • The deadline for submitting nominations to the AAUP office is FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2026.
  • All nominees must be dues-paying members of the UConn-AAUP.

Award Categories & Requirements

Excellence in Teaching

Required Materials (all categories):

  • Two letters of support from faculty (one must be from someone with extensive knowledge of the nominee’s teaching, such as a Department Head, Dean, or Teaching Mentor)
  • Two student letters of support (undergraduate or graduate)
  • OIR teaching evaluation data for all relevant courses
  • Curriculum Vitae

Award Categories:

  • Early Career Teaching Excellence
    Eligibility: Untenured faculty with 3–6 years of service at UConn and no more than 6 total years of teaching experience.
  • Career Teaching Excellence
    Eligibility: UConn-AAUP members with more than 12 years of teaching at UConn, including classroom instruction, advising, and mentoring.
  • Teaching Innovation
    Eligibility: Open to all UConn-AAUP members. Recognizes innovative teaching methods and curricular development.

Excellence in Research and Creativity

Required Materials (all categories):

  • Two faculty letters of support (including one from a Department Head, Dean, or equivalent)
  • Two external letters from individuals qualified to evaluate the nominee’s research
  • Curriculum Vitae

Award Categories:

  • Early Career Research and Creativity
    Eligibility: Untenured Assistant or Associate Professors with 3–6 years of service at UConn. Recognizes exceptional early-career scholarship, including publications, exhibitions, external funding, and related achievements.
  • Career Research and Creativity
    Eligibility: Open to all UConn-AAUP members. Recognizes sustained, high-impact research with national/international recognition and long-term contributions to UConn’s research profile.

Excellence in Service

Required Materials:

  • Two faculty letters of support (including one from a Department Head, Dean, or equivalent)
  • Two letters from individuals familiar with the nominee’s external professional service
  • CV

Eligibility: Open to all UConn-AAUP members. Recognizes service that advances the University’s mission while maintaining excellence in teaching and scholarship.

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Service with positive impact on Connecticut citizens, in line with the land-grant mission
  • National/international service contributing to the common good
  • Leadership enhancing UConn’s visibility and student recruitment outcomes
  • Contributions to academic program excellence and productivity
  • Collaborative leadership within the University to support institutional success

UConn-AAUP Faquir Jain Excellence Awards 2026 Winners

The recognition of faculty teaching, research, and service excellence through UConn-AAUP awards began in 1997.  The intention of the awards is to showcase academic excellence at UConn. The award was renamed in honor of Professor Faquir Jain, for his continued support and dedication to the Excellence Awards, in 2025.

Teaching Excellence – Early Career

Tracy Sinclair – Associate Clinical Professor – Educational Psychology

Teaching Excellence – Career

Nancy Naples – Distinguished Professor – Sociology

Teaching Innovation

Carrie Eaton – Associate Clinical Professor – Nursing Instruction & Research

Caitlin Elsaesser – Associate Professor – Social Work

Excellence in Research & Creativity – Early Career

Neal Glaviano – Assistant Professor – Kinesiology

Na Li – Assistant Professor – Pharmaceutical Science

Excellence in Research & Creativity – Career

Mary Anne Amalaradjou – Associate Professor – Animal Science

Luyi Sun – Professor – Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

Service Excellence

Kat Milligan-McClellan – Assistant Professor – Molecular & Cell Biology

Indu Upadhyaya – Associate Extension Professor – Department of Extension