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Provost's Awards for Excellence

2015-2016 Awardees

2015-2016 Awardees Mariappan Jawaharlal, Craig W. LaMunyon, and Jeffrey S. Mio

Excellence in Teaching

Mariappan “Jawa” Jawaharlal, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, uses a hands-on approach to help students discover and learn through highly creative projects. His innovative method makes learning complex concepts simple because he relates them to everyday life. He has received numerous honors including the Northrop Grumman Award for Excellence in teaching. His robotics class was the first engineering service-learning course at Cal Poly Pomona; students and faculty visit local K-12 schools to train teachers and mentor students in robotics. The program culminates with the annual Robot Rally, which is the largest program of its kind in the country, and reaches more than 1,000 students. Jawa was instrumental in creating the Femineer program, which was recognized by the White House for increasing educational outcomes and opportunities for female Hispanic K-12 students. He is a pioneer in developing online videos for hard-to-learn concepts in STEM. 

Excellence in Scholarly and Creative Activities

Craig LaMunyon, Professor of Biology, has developed a nationally recognized research program that examines various aspects of biology, from the evolution of sexuality and the mechanisms of vitamin transport to the genetics of sperm development. His current work with nematodes (roundworms) investigates sperm motility and methods to control agricultural parasites. He has published 34 peer-reviewed papers, including several in prestigious journals, and has obtained $2.7 million in grants to support his research. His work is focused on improving the human condition, from shedding light on our understanding of the function of important genes to controlling devastating crop pests. In addition, he has trained 37 graduate and undergraduate students as well as two high school students in innovative research. As evidence of the significance of his research, several of his publications have attracted attention from high-profile media outlets.

Excellence in Service

Jeffery Scott Mio is a professor in the Department of Psychology and Sociology. He joined Cal Poly Pomona in 1994 after earning a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and spending a decade teaching at other universities. His remarkable scope of service touches Cal Poly Pomona, his profession and the community. His efforts include high-profile contributions and behind-the-scenes work. At Cal Poly Pomona, he served at the department and university levels, with particular contributions to the Asian Pacific Faculty, Staff, and Student Association. At the national level, he made numerous contributions to the American Psychological Association and the Asian American Psychological Association. He was president of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans, a media watchdog group. For this wide-ranging and influential service, he is a worthy recipient of the Provost Award for Service.