Centioli Faculty Excellence Awards
During his first two years as an Assistant Professor at Gonzaga University, Danny has dedicated himself to excellence in both research and teaching, embodying the Jesuit value of Cura Personalis. He has pioneered research on animal welfare consumption, aligning with Jesuit values by promoting sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of factory farming. His work emphasizes respect for all animals, and he presented his innovative research at the Association for Consumer Research, where it was commended for its originality. Danny is preparing to build on this success with future publications.
In the classroom, Danny creates an engaging and supportive learning environment. In his Marketing Research course, he applied metacognitive teaching strategies, encouraging students to select projects that sparked their curiosity, like analyzing the potential Elon Musk vs. Mark Zuckerberg martial arts match. This approach fostered intrinsic motivation and helped students overcome their initial fears, resulting in highly positive evaluations and a strong connection between students and the material.
Annie has made significant intellectual contributions in both research and teaching. In October, she was invited by the executive editor of Public Health Post to write a guest article, a recognition of her expertise. Her article, "Cannabis and Collisions," was published online in January 2024 after editorial review. This research aligns with the mission of promoting social justice and public health.
Annie’s teaching embodies her commitment to mission-centered education. Each semester, she teaches Global Economic Issues, a course that explores topics like sustainable development, climate change, and global poverty, engaging students with pressing social and environmental challenges. Her dynamic teaching style and passion for economics have inspired many students to change their majors, driven by a desire to deepen their understanding of the subject.
In addition to her formal teaching, Annie mentors students, both formally and informally. Notably, she closely guided a female senior through the graduate school application process, resulting in the student’s acceptance to a prestigious economics program. Annie’s service extends to her involvement in various university committees and advising activities, demonstrating her dedication to student success and community engagement.
Over the past year, Shan has made significant strides in her teaching, professional development, and service. She has deepened her commitment to student and community engagement by collaborating with the Career Center to prepare students for the FUSE career fair, offering real-world learning opportunities outside the classroom. Shan fully embraces the university's mission to support and care for students, creating a welcoming environment where they feel comfortable discussing their challenges and academic interests with her. Building these relationships has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her work.
Shan is also dedicated to integrating sustainability into her courses, participating in the Cataldo Project to align her teaching with Jesuit values and emphasize social responsibility. In her scholarly activity, she published a journal article and actively engaged in the academic community by serving as a reviewer and associate editor for multiple journals and conferences.
Her service extends beyond the university, as she volunteers at a local non-profit, where she leads a team conducting data analytics to support their business operations. Shan is grateful for the opportunities and challenges of the past year and remains committed to supporting her students and contributing to the School of Business Administration's mission.