2024 Faculty & Staff Awards
In 2023, CDS hosted its inaugural Faculty & Staff Appreciation & Awards event in which it offered three community awards for citizenship and for distinguished leadership. Fast forward one year—12 months grounded in significant growth—CDS proudly recognized eight faculty, staff, and students with awards for outstanding achievement in teaching, citizenship, leadership, and professional excellence. In addition, it recognized 18 other CDS community members who secured awards from BU and beyond for their exceptional contributions to the university and society.
"As we continue on our path of growth and explore new and innovative programming and opportunities, this annual event is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate each other successes," said Associate Provost Azer Bestavros. "It is incredibly meaningful to spend time together and reflect on our units' successes."
The awards ceremony was held on May 2, 2024, on the 17th floor of the Center for Computing & Data Sciences building. The afternoon event welcomed over 80 CDS faculty, staff, and a wide range of community members including CDS Faculty Fellows, Wexler Fellows, CDS Student Government, and many more.
"CDS has a uniquely prosocial mission, linking to every part of the university. The CDS community needs to be diverse to rise to that institutional calling," ," said Faculty Chair Wesley Wildman. "The Celebration and Awards event was a moment to recognize the manifold ways we are moving in that direction."
Award recipients received a framed citation and a hand-carved, wooden model of the Center for Computing & Data Sciences, courtesy of Micah Sieber, director of Academic Programs. Learn more about the models here.
Below is a list of this year's award recipients and community acknowledgements.
2024 Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences Award Recipients
- Teaching Excellence Award for Undergraduates: Zach Gentile (CDS'26)
- Teaching Excellence Award for Graduates: Carmen Pelayo Fernandez (MSDS'25)
- Teacher of the Year Award: Thomas Gardos, Associate Professor of the Practice
- Citizenship Award (Staff): Lydia Holck, Operations Director BU Spark!
- Citizenship Award (Faculty): Kevin Gold, Associate Professor of the Practice
- Distinguished Service Award: Dan Yang, Assistant Director of Graduate Programs
- Professional Excellence Award: Micah Sieber, Director of Academic Programs
- Distinguished Leadership Award: Ziba Cranmer, Director of BU Spark!
Teaching Excellence Award for Undergraduates: Zach Gentile (CDS'26)
This award recognizes undergraduate students who have demonstrated exceptional teaching skills and contributions as a class assistant. The recipient of the 2024 Teaching Excellence Award for undergraduates is Zach Gentile.
Nomination Quote: "Zach has been a superb undergraduate class assistant. He handles his responsibilities promptly and is often shockingly fast to turn back grades to students. He goes above and beyond to attend weekly meetings with the TAs, informing the teaching team about any issues from among the students. He is loyal and dedicated to everything he does in CDS."
Teaching Excellence Award for Graduates: Carmen Pelayo Fernandez (MSDS'25)
This award recognizes graduate students who have demonstrated exceptional teaching skills and contributions as a teaching fellow. The recipient of the 2024 Teaching Excellence Award is Carmen Pelayo Fernandez.
Nomination Quote: "Carmen is not only a top-flight graduate student, she is a superb teaching assistant. She is compassionate and clear in her communication with her students, and inventive in devising methods to convey material and foster interaction in discussion sections. She is hardworking, thorough, and a superb team member."
Teacher of the Year Award: Thomas Gardos, Associate Professor of the Practice
This award recognizes a CDS faculty member who demonstrates exceptional teaching abilities, fosters a supportive and inclusive learning environment, and exhibits a strong commitment to student success. The awardee will exhibit a deep understanding of their subject matter, utilize innovative teaching methods, and consistently inspire and motivate their students to reach their full potential. The recipient of the 2024 Teacher of the Year Award is Thomas Gardos.
Nomination Quote: "Tom excels in creating lectures that balance essential background knowledge with state-of the-art insights. He uses extremely effective visualizations, which greatly aids in understanding model structures. He is also creative in devising projects that help students learn vital material, and he provides ample opportunities for students to ask questions and receive guidance from him. Tom is a superb teacher."
Distinguished Service Award: Dan Yang, Assistant Director of Graduate Programs
This award recognizes a staff member who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences or university. The recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Service Award is Dan Yang.
Nomination Quote: "Dan miraculously spanned up an entire masters program in less than a year. All the while, she offers care and attention to a large and growing student population, creating meaningful events such as the Lunar New Year celebration, and being the go-to person for many students who are thousands of miles away from home. Dan's service is wholly remarkable."
Citizenship Award (Staff): Lydia Holck, Operations Director, BU Spark!
This award recognizes staff members who consistently demonstrate outstanding commitment to their community and exemplify the values of good citizenship. Recipients exhibit leadership skills and qualities, such as initiative, vision, and the ability to inspire and motivate others, and actively engage in initiatives that promote positive change and social cohesion. They demonstrate respect for diversity, uphold ethical principles, and serve as role models for others, inspiring a spirit of unity and cooperation within their community. The recipient of the 2024 Citizenship Award for staff is Lydia Holck.
Nomination Quote: "Lydia has brought stability, continuity, and order to the Spark! program, setting it on a sustainable track for its new future in our new building. She's put in the hours and the hard work necessary for that to happen. She handles a staggeringly diverse array of tasks and responsibilities with poise, thoughtfulness, and care. She's a strong and convicted leader, and a role model for all CDS staff."
Citizenship Award (Faculty): Kevin Gold, Associate Professor of the Practice
This award recognizes faculty members who consistently demonstrate outstanding commitment to their community and exemplify the values of good citizenship. Recipients exhibit leadership skills and qualities, such as initiative, vision, and the ability to inspire and motivate others, and actively engage in initiatives that promote positive change and social cohesion. They demonstrate respect for diversity, uphold ethical principles, and serve as role models for others, inspiring a spirit of unity and cooperation within their community. The recipient of the 2024 Citizenship Award for faculty is Kevin Gold.
Nomination Quote: "Kevin is a model citizen faculty member. He is dedicated to the teaching craft and helping others master their craft as educators. Many faculty attend his "teaching teas" because they are impactful and educational. He took this initiative to create an opportunity for his faculty colleagues to discuss the complexities and subtleties of teaching, and thereby to identify best practices and create better experiences for students. He's always willing to step up for invisible service roles such as meeting with candidates and giving sample lectures at open houses. He sets a high standard for being a good citizen faculty in CDS and we are in his debt."
Professional Excellence Award: Micah Sieber, Director of Academic Programs
This is a one-off special award to recognize a special contributor to the life of CDS. The recipient of the Professional Excellence Award is Micah Sieber.
Nomination Quote: "Micah contributions to CDS exemplify exceptional dedication and professionalism. Serving as the Director for Academic Programs, Micah has navigated the challenges accompanying the introduction of new academic degrees with remarkable skill and resilience. His adept leadership has been instrumental in guiding the academic team towards efficient operations, innovative solutions, and a supportive work environment, prioritizing the wellbeing of students and colleagues alike. His ability to balance professionalism with genuine care has made him not only a respected leader but also a cherished friend to the entire academic programs team."
Distinguished Leadership Award: Ziba Cranmer, Director of BU Spark!
This award recognizes a CDS faculty member who embodies exemplary leadership qualities, demonstrating vision, integrity, and a commitment to fostering growth and development within the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences and the Greater BU community. They inspire others through their actions, effectively navigate challenges, and cultivate a culture of collaboration and excellence. Their transformative leadership leaves a lasting and positive impact on those they lead and the broader community they serve. The recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Leadership Award is Ziba Cranmer.
Nomination Quote: "Ziba exhibits outstanding commitment to the BU Spark! community. As its imaginative and relentless Director, she has expanded the program significantly, fostering community building and enhancing social impact. Her initiatives include numerous workshops, hackathons, and collaborations with computing clubs and industry leaders, all of which serve to equip students with essential skills and valuable opportunities."
"Ziba is approachable and supportive, creating an environment where staff and students thrive. She motivates her team to pursue their passions and develop professionally, significantly increasing their job satisfaction and personal growth. She is deeply committed to inclusivity, often working beyond regular hours to meet students' needs and ensure that marginalized groups have equal opportunities for success. Her respect for diversity and ethical conduct, alongside her dedication to BU's mission and values, establish her as a model of leadership for the entire CDS community."
