St. Lawrence University recently honored several employees with awards for “outstanding service” and promoted a number of faculty during its convocation ceremony Wednesday, Aug. 24, according to a press release from the college.

Mary Jane Smith, associate professor of history, received the Louis and Frances Maslow Award and Erin McCarthy, professor of philosophy, received the J. Calvin Keene Award.

Lorie MacKenzie, associate dean of academic administration and registrar, received the John P. “Jack” Taylor Distinguished Career Service Award and Kevin Wilcox, skilled trades, received the Thomas F. Coakley Distinguished Career Service Award.

In addition, the following faculty received tenure and were promoted to associate professor:

• Sarah Barber, associate professor of English

• Jayantha Jayman, associate profess of global studies

• Shelley McConnell, associate professor of government

• Alexander Stewart, associate professor of geology

The following faculty were promoted to professor:

• Edwin Harcourt, professor of computer science

• Pamela Thacher, professor of psychology

The Maslow Award was established in 1980 and goes to the faculty member who has shown “the most interest in and understanding of the education and welfare of the student body as a whole,” according to a press release from the college.

Smith has worked to make the St. Lawrence campus “a more inspiring, inclusive and supportive place, not just for her own students but for every student and member of our community,” the release said.

Her nominators said that “no other faculty member has worked so tirelessly on improving the education and community experience for St. Lawrence students. Her work benefits not just under-represented groups, but everyone on campus.”

As a member of the President’s Diversity Commission and current Diversity Committee, she has shaped the university’s path toward being a more inclusive, supportive community for all its members, the release said.

The Keene Award was established in 1975 and is given to a faculty member “in recognition of high standards of personal scholarship, effective teaching and moral concern,” according to the release.

McCarthy is the author of more than 30 individual journal articles, book chapters and other pieces of published scholarship.

She has also written an influential book in her primary area of research, with another in progress.

She has contributed to the university community as a department chair, administrator and a member of other key university committees.

But her nominators note that some of her most valuable contributions have come through her “dedication and skill in mentoring both students and colleagues, often in informal ways, within her department and across the campus,” the release said.

One nominator wrote that “she makes time to care for her students in ways that are incredibly moving, effective, and profound.”

The Coakley Award was established in 2010 and honors distinguished service to the university by an active, permanent hourly employee who has worked at St. Lawrence for a minimum of 10 years, the release said.

As a carpenter Wilcox has crafted and refurbished furniture throughout campus, created wooden wall paneling, crown moldings, door casings, even the wooden footwear holders at the entrance of the multipurpose room in Newell.

As a sign maker, this person creates engraved signs to honor donor gifts and directional signs to assist guests.

And as a locksmith, he completes his duties in a timely professional manner for all student, faculty and staff requests, the release said.

The Taylor Award was established in 1995 and recognizes distinguished service to the university by an administrator who has worked at least 12 years at St. Lawrence, according to the release.

With her long tenure, MacKenzie “commands enormous knowledge and never tires of helping new colleagues with budgets and policies,” the release said.

She is considered ethical, fair, consistent and equitable; she communicates promptly and clearly; she listens well and respectfully; and, she has a strong, independent mind that others hold in highest regard, the release said.

Nominated by several colleagues, MacKenzie was “lauded for her positive attitude, even in one of the most stressful positions on campus with a strong dedication to student welfare,” the release said.