04/22/2025
Seven SUNY Cortland faculty and professional staff members will receive the prestigious State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence.
The Chancellor’s Awards provide systemwide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement and encourage the pursuit of excellence at all 64 SUNY campuses. Each campus president submits nominations, which are reviewed by the SUNY Committee on Awards.
The 2025 honorees are:
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Katherine “Kati” Ahern, associate professor, English Department — Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service
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Lisa Czirr, associate librarian, Memorial Library — Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Librarianship
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Katherine Hicks, professor, Chemistry Department — Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities
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Daniel Radus, associate professor, English Department — Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
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Tracy Rammacher, director, Marketing Office — Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service
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Kimberly Rombach ’88, M ’93, associate dean, School of Education — Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
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Abby Thomas, director, Advisement and Transition — Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service
This year’s award winners are detailed below.
Katherine “Kati” Ahern
Ahern’s service has made a difference across the university’s campus in many important areas: student writing and artificial intelligence; sustainability; diversity, equity and inclusion; and professional support for her faculty colleagues.
She is viewed as a go-to campus resource on timely artificial intelligence topics in the classroom, leading the establishment of university’s collaborative, cross-campus group known as the Generative Artificial Intelligence and Student Writing Committee. Its contributions have included GenAI policy recommendations for the SUNY Cortland Handbook, sample course syllabi statements for faculty and an upcoming pedagogy fair in May. In December, Ahern was added to SUNY’s FACT2 Optimizing AI Task Force to represent SUNY Cortland.
Under her leadership as director of writing programs, the university’s approach to teaching and assessing student writing has been reimagined in a way that motivates faculty and students.
“Dr. Ahern does more than manage the day-to-day operations of the Composition (CPN) Program … She leads the program,” wrote Laura Davies, professor of English. “She notices what the faculty and students in the program need, and then she creates support structures to address these issues.”
An advocate for environmental concerns, Ahern also serves as interim chair of the university’s Sustainability Curriculum Committee, helping to incorporate sustainability-focused topics in the classroom and establish a micro-credential in the discipline. She also has contributed to the university’s Anti-Racism Task Force, where she considers how her expertise in writing, pedagogy and artificial intelligence can improve the experience of students of color.
Ahern has supported colleagues across campus through United University Profession activities, extensive participation in search committees and teaching observations and meaningful contributions to SUNY Cortland’s Faculty Development Committee. In her portfolio, she notes that her many service outlets are not merely items on a checklist, but ways to ensure that her “heart is in the work,” borrowing the phrase from Andrew Carnegie and her undergraduate alma mater.
Ahern holds a B.A. in creative writing and decision science from Carnegie Mellon University, an M.F.A. in creative writing (fiction) from George Mason University and a Ph.D. in communication, rhetoric and digital media from North Carolina State University.
Lisa Czirr
Czirr models modern academic librarianship and instructional innovation at SUNY Cortland. Her impact across campus is significant, especially when it comes to educating future teachers.
As the manager of the university’s Fralick Teaching Materials Center, Czirr oversees Memorial Library’s most heavily circulated print collection. Since 2012, her lessons have reached an estimated 20,000 students, helping education-related majors identify teaching resources spanning children’s books to interactive games.
“No other librarian at Memorial Library has reached so many students, and her efforts play an important part in the success of creating new teachers here at SUNY Cortland,” wrote Richard Powell, instructional services librarian in Memorial Library.
Creativity and innovation also inspire Czirr’s work. The Inspiration Station in the Fralick Teaching Materials Center offers a wide range of crafting supplies so that future teachers can gain hands-on practice with helpful resources before using them in the classroom. In collaboration with colleagues, Czirr has completed a large-scale recategorization of the teaching collection in an effort to make it easier for students to locate materials and complete assignments.
Czirr also has curated an expansive collection of culturally responsive children’s books, going as far as to develop a Diversity in Children’s Literature resource to ensure teacher candidates can lead lessons that reflect people from all backgrounds. Her ability to promote active learning through hands-on pedagogical tools has earned praise from students and faculty alike.
Beyond her skill in librarianship, Czirr has demonstrated a strong track record of service to Memorial Library. She has chaired the Library Personnel Committee and served many others. One of her greatest contributions has been the development of a robust mentorship program for tenure-track librarians, one that fosters collaboration and provides a model for the SUNY Librarians Association.
She also has contributed more than 170 children’s book reviews to professional databases. This scholarly work on mentorship and inclusive children’s literature has influenced both her profession and the broader field of education.
Czirr holds a B.A. in biology from Hamilton College and M.L.S. from the University at Buffalo.
Katherine Hicks
As a biochemist, Hicks has demonstrated impressive research, undergraduate mentorship and meaningful contributions to the larger scientific community. A member of the campus community since 2013, she stands out as a model teacher-scholar at SUNY Cortland and across her field.
Hicks’s record of continuous scientific work “surpasses levels of excellence achieved by many faculty at (Research I) universities, as measured in peer-reviewed publications, broader impacts and ongoing nationally competitive external funding for her research,” wrote Jeffrey Werner, professor of chemistry. Several other colleagues note her ability to integrate responsibilities as a teacher and a researcher without sacrificing quality in either regard.
Hicks’s research focuses on enzymes, particularly those that degrade environmental pollutants. Her work, which employs a wide range of experimental approaches, is considered highly impactful. She has published 24 peer-reviewed articles, many of which appear in noteworthy journals like Biochemistry and Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. She also has contributed 14 unique protein structures to the Protein Data Bank, further solidifying her reputation as a trusted scholar in her field.
In addition to her personal accomplishments, Hicks is a dedicated faculty advisor to undergraduate scientists at SUNY Cortland. She has mentored 36 undergraduate students in her Bowers Hall laboratory and 42 students through the innovative Molecular Interactions Virtual Research Experience for Undergraduates (MIV-REU) program she helped establish — the first fully online REU funded by the National Science Foundation’s Chemistry Division.
Hicks has secured more than $979,000 in external funding through three NSF grants to support her research and the work of her students. Her efforts have been recognized by colleagues at various institutions who understand the scope and impact of her work, and this excellence was cemented most recently with the university’s 2023-2024 Outstanding Achievement in Mentoring Undergraduate Research Award.
Hicks earned a B.S. in biochemistry and cell biology from Bucknell University. She holds both an M.S. and Ph.D. in biological chemistry from the University of Michigan and completed postdoctoral studies at Cornell University.
Daniel Radus
Radus has earned a reputation as a dedicated professor who inspires students to push beyond their intellectual comfort zones — constantly motivating them to analyze challenging texts through a student-centered and discussion-oriented approach.
“He does not just tell us what we must do, he gives us the purpose of the assignment,” wrote Nora Glover ’24, a childhood/early childhood education major who enrolled in several of his courses. “For me, knowing why a professor is making us do something makes it feel more meaningful. This also shows his interest and passion for what he is teaching.”
Radus specializes in 18th and 19th century Indigenous literatures in North America, with particular interests in historical writing, book history, print culture and materialism. Since his arrival at SUNY Cortland in 2017, his undergraduate and graduate teaching has included 11 new course offerings.
These titles span introductory classes in literary study, upper-division offerings in American literature, special topics courses and several others. Regardless of the subject, Radus consistently earns perfect scores on his course teacher evaluations, with detailed student comments about the depth of his literary knowledge and his well-planned lessons that produce rich, thoughtful discussions. His expertise on Indigenous topics also has helped SUNY Cortland’s English Department teach from a diverse historical perspective.
Students praise Radus’s ability to create a supportive classroom environment that encourages them to take risks and share their ideas confidently. His ability to promote student participation through verbal discussion and in written formats is particularly meaningful.
Radus serves as a senior fellow in the Andrew W. Mellon Society of Fellows in Critical Bibliography at Rare Book School, based at the University of Virginia. His scholarship has been supported by fellowships at the American Antiquarian Society and the Newberry Library, with published work in American Literature, Studies in American Indian Literatures, Early American Literature, Criticism and other venues.
Radus earned a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. in English language and literature at Cornell University. He also holds an M.A. in English from the Pennsylvania State University.
Tracy Rammacher
Throughout a 32-year career at SUNY Cortland, from her earliest days as publications editor to her current role as director of marketing, Rammacher has made extraordinary contributions across campus — earning a reputation for her dependability, strong work ethic and leadership.
“Tracy’s quality of work, attention to detail and creativity serve as the foundation for the branding evolution that has occurred at Cortland the past three decades,” wrote Rich Coyne ’07, vice president for institutional advancement.
Rammacher has been instrumental in overseeing how the university presents itself to the outside world, navigating industry changes from print layouts by hand to an online approach informed by data. She has guided four major website redesigns, established a comprehensive Brand Identity Guide and contributed to numerous high-profile projects elevating SUNY Cortland’s visibility across academics and athletics. Her ability to understand and articulate institutional culture has generated a sense of pride that can be felt by students, faculty, staff and alums.
Beyond her job description, Rammacher has been a trusted collaborator with partners across campus, serving on more than 30 committees and leading initiatives that help shape positive perceptions of the university, from logos to signage to national television commercials. Her effort and attention to detail has consistently improved SUNY Cortland’s work tied to student recruitment, fundraising and overall engagement. She also has cultivated an office environment that promotes creativity and personal growth.
Under Rammacher’s direction, the Marketing Office has earned more than 20 awards from the State University of New York Council for Advancement (SUNYCUAD) across various mediums, from print publications to website design. Individually, she was recognized in 2011 with SUNY Cortland’s Excellence in Professional Service Award: Innovation Within Profession. Her service also extends beyond campus, most notably through the SUNYCUAD network of marketing and communications professionals, where she has served two terms on its board of directors.
Rammacher holds a B.A. in English from SUNY Fredonia and M.A. in magazine journalism from Syracuse University.
Kimberly Rombach ’88, M ’93
A former elementary school teacher with a successful academic career spanning more than 30 years, Rombach has prioritized student-centered instruction and inclusive education. She is proof of Cortland’s excellence in teacher education. Prior to her appointment as associate dean in 2023, she served as a full-time faculty member since 2004.
“In my mind, Dr. Rombach’s teaching is in a class of its own,” wrote Andrea Lachance, dean of SUNY Cortland’s School of Education. “Her wisdom, empathy, thoughtfulness, and command of her content make her an extraordinary instructor. Over my 30-plus year career in education, she is one of the finest teachers with whom I have had the pleasure of working. She is not only a model of outstanding teaching for our students, but also for our colleagues.”
Rombach is praised for embracing new technology in the classroom, adopting teaching strategies on social justice and incorporating student feedback to raise her high level of teaching. She has taught many different courses throughout her career, including field-based undergraduate courses and online graduate courses for the Master of Science in Teaching program she helped develop. Regardless of the format, she is known for prioritizing individual learning needs.
Rombach’s strong publication record includes her 2023 book, Preparing to Teach in Elementary Classrooms: An Introduction to Becoming an Effective Childhood Educator, which serves as a culmination of her experiences as a classroom teacher, teacher educator and supervisor of interns. She also co-authored a $1.4 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education as the co-principal investigator for SUNY Cortland’s IM:PACT Project, “Inclusion Matters: Partnering for Authentic Change in Teaching,” which helped assure inclusive education was central in the revision of curriculum across the university’s School of Education.
Colleagues and former students both praise the care that forms the foundation of Rombach’s teaching, from her hands-on classroom lessons to student teaching observations in the field, with letters of support calling attention to her strong work ethic, thorough feedback and support for students.
Rombach earned a B.S. and M.S. in elementary education at SUNY Cortland. She holds a Ph.D. in teaching and curriculum from Syracuse University.
Abby Thomas
SUNY Cortland’s academic advising efforts have flourished under Thomas’s direction. Throughout her 22-year career on campus, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership, creative problem-solving skills and an unwavering commitment to student success.
“Abby is a student of students,” wrote Kevin Sheets, professor of history. “Her insights into how and what our students are thinking and needing is not merely academic, though her command of the professional literature is evident. She also connects to students and listens to them. Her ‘data gathering’ through formal and informal student interactions informs her decision-making, but, it should be said, her research is not transactional. She genuinely cares for our students.”
Thomas has been instrumental in SUNY Cortland’s continued development of a faculty-supported advising model, early alert systems to monitor student academic performance and orientation programming informed by assessment and best practices. Under her guidance, Advisement and Transition has significantly expanded the office’s duties, adding responsibilities that include transfer credit evaluation, registration compliance tracking and specialized support for first-generation students and other groups.
Across campus, Thomas is highly regarded for her knowledge of academic decision-making matters. She has served on more than 25 committees during her Cortland tenure, including key groups dedicated to educational policies and the university’s General Education requirements. During the Fall 2022 semester, she was named interim director of Student Registration and Record Services, providing support during a time of transition while filling two director roles at once.
Thomas also stands out as a sought-after collaborator with many academic departments and offices, working with areas such as career services, residence life and housing, and financial aid. For five years, she also helped facilitate the university’s Crucial Conversations series dedicated to effective communication in the workplace.
Thomas has helped execute several SUNY grants to support student engagement and retention. These initiatives have created strong transfer partnerships with two-year partners, prepared new students for college-level coursework and built an informed advising culture among faculty and staff members on campus.
Thomas holds a B.A. in clinical and counseling psychology from Alfred University and M.Ed. in counseling psychology from James Madison University.