CANTON - St. Lawrence University faculty and staff received awards for outstanding service at convocation, held on campus August 24, marking the start of the academic year.

Professor of Anthropology Alice Pomponio received the J. Calvin Keene Award; Associate Professor of Global Studies Martha Chew Sanchez won the Louis and Frances Maslow Award; Melissa Miller, facilities manager, received the John P. Taylor Award; and Louise Parks, recently retired from the human resources office, won the Thomas Coakley Award.

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." Pomponio is a cultural anthropologist and linguist who has conducted extensive field research in Papua New Guinea and Italy; her research in Italy was funded through a Fulbright grant. She has also co-directed the University's program of study in Kenya, and is the author of several books. Pomponio is currently compiling an encyclopedic dictionary of Mutu, an endangered language from the Siassi Islands, Papua New Guinea. The Maslow Award 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." Chew Sanchez has taken students to the U.S.-Mexico border on regular basis as part of the course La Frontera: Cultural Identities in the U.S.-Mexico Border. In 2008-2009, she directed the University's program of study in Spain and is the coordinator of St. Lawrence Caribbean and Latin American Studies program.

The John P. "Jack" Taylor Distinguished Career Service Award was established in 1995 at Taylor's retirement as dining services director, recognizing distinguished service to the University by an administrator who has worked at least 12 years at St. Lawrence and who sustains the high standards of performance exemplified by Taylor. Miller, manager of custodial operations, has been employed by the University for some 30 years. In announcing her as the recipient of the Taylor Award, President William Fox stated of Miller, "This year's recipient is one of those 'behind-the-scenes' persons who makes life at St. Lawrence better for our students every day. Her positive attitude and amazing work ethic are worthy of recognition, as is her long-time service."

The Thomas F. Coakley Distinguished Career Service Award, established in 2010, honors distinguished service to the University by an active, permanent hourly employee who has worked at St. Lawrence for a minimum of 10 years as of August 1st of the year. The award is presented to an hourly employee who, in the eyes of fellow employees, offers high standards of performance and dedication to St. Lawrence as exemplified by Coakley's own service to the University. Parks, who worked for the University for 23 years before her retirement in July, was responsible for record-keeping and data management. Fox stated that nominees described Parks as "totally reliable, thoroughly knowledgeable and always genuine," and possessing a "tireless work ethic."

Also recognized at Convocation were faculty promoted to full professor: Professor of Global Studies John Collins and Professor of Philosophy Erin McCarthy.

In addition, faculty recently awarded tenure and promotion were recognized: Associate Professor of Art and Art History Kasarian Dane, Associate Professor of Psychology William DeCoteau, Associate Professor of Art and Art History Mark Denaci, Associate Professor of Biology and Psychology Ana Estevez, Associate Professor of Biology Lorraine Olendzenski, Associate Professor of Psychology Cheryl Stuntz and Associate Professor of Music Christopher Watts.