Faculty and Staff Honored, Awarded Promotions at 2024 Convocation Ceremony
The St. Lawrence University community came together under the canopy of the Herring-Cole Grove in the Enchanted Forest on Aug. 28 to celebrate the start of a new academic year and recognize the outstanding contributions of faculty and staff.
St. Lawrence University’s Vice President of the University and Dean of Academic Affairs Alison Del Rossi awarded the Louis and Frances Maslow Award to Professor of Mathematics Patti Frazer Lock. She awarded the J. Calvin Keene Award to Associate Professor of Anthropology Shinu Abraham.
President Morris presented the John P. “Jack” Tayler Distinguished Service award to Randy “Braker” LaBrake ’80, senior associate director of Athletics and business manager. She presented the Thomas F. Coakley Distinguished Career Service Award to Suzy Noble, Student Life administrative assistant.
Louis and Frances Maslow Award 2024 Recipient
Patti Frazer Lock
The Maslow Award, established in 1980, honors faculty members who have demonstrated the most interest in and understanding of the education and welfare of the entire student body. This year’s recipient, Patti Frazer Lock, exemplifies this through her work as an educator, mentor, and advocate over her remarkable career at St. Lawrence.
Colleagues noted that Lock went above and beyond to welcome them into the community and the department. One said Lock “is a fierce advocate for building an inclusive and community-driven department."
Students have also felt the profound impact of Lock’s mentorship. One student shared that Lock’s recommendation to become a PQRC Mentor helped them adjust as an international student and “opened doors to friendships and deeper engagement in departmental activities." Lock has been a driving force behind significant cultural shifts within the department, particularly in her approach to introductory courses. Understanding the disproportionate impact of traditional "weed-out" courses on marginalized populations, she advocated for an approach that welcomes all students and helps them develop their capabilities.
Her dedication to education extends beyond St. Lawrence. Lock has co-authored multiple textbooks that emphasize conceptual understanding over rote memorization, revolutionizing how mathematics and statistics are taught. She continues to focus on equity and social justice, organizing impactful events and securing grants to support workshops for local female high school students interested in mathematics.
Thomas F. Coakley Distinguished Career Service Award 2024 Recipient
Suzy Noble
The Thomas F. Coakley Distinguished Career Service Award honors high standards of performance and dedication by a permanent hourly employee. This year’s award goes to Suzy Noble, a true hero in her division with 36 years of incredible service.
Noble is the backbone of the Student Life division, always knowing exactly what’s going on and how to handle any situation with grace and efficiency. Throughout her time at St. Lawrence, she has helped countless students through tough times with a steady hand and a kind word. Her work, while often behind the scenes, is crucial to the smooth functioning of the campus and the student life division.
Noble’s organizational skills, warm personality, and steady presence were especially invaluable during the height of the pandemic, where she was a rock for many students and colleagues, always ready with the right information and a quick response, keeping everything running smoothly. Her dedication, care, and positivity make her a most deserving recipient of the Coakley Award.
John P. “Jack” Taylor Distinguished Career Service Award 2024 Recipient
Randy “Braker” LaBrake ’80
The John P. “Jack” Taylor Distinguished Career Service Award recognizes an administrator who has demonstrated distinguished service to the University and upheld the high standards of performance exemplified by Jack Taylor. This year’s award goes to LaBrake, who is a legendary figure at St. Lawrence University.
LaBrake’s journey at St. Lawrence began in the 1980s, and after a brief time away, he returned and has been a mainstay of the University ever since. Over four decades, he has worn many hats, from managing Appleton Arena to his current role, where his nickname, “Braker,” has become synonymous with getting it done. Whether balancing budgets, booking team travel, or working tirelessly behind the scenes at countless athletic events, LaBrake’s contributions are extraordinary.
Known for his no-nonsense approach and unwavering dedication, he is also a warm, caring Laurentian at heart with a tireless commitment and positive impact on the entire University community.
J. Calvin Keene Award 2024 Recipient
Shinu Abraham
The J. Calvin Keene Award is given annually to a faculty member who upholds the high standards of personal scholarship, effective teaching, and moral concern demonstrated by Dr. Keene throughout his career. This year, the award honors Shinu Abraham, whose impact in the classroom and in her field is profound and far-reaching.
One student describes Abraham as "an incredible academic mentor" whose passion for her subject and genuine care for students inspired the student to major in the field. Her teaching is distinguished by immense knowledge of her discipline and an ability to convey this knowledge effectively, often through innovative, hands-on sessions.
Abraham challenges her students to think critically about complex issues, pushing them to question concepts like "what the word 'civilization' actually means, how the civilization concept played a role in European colonialism, and how understandings of the term today continue to shape broader social issues and global politics." Her dedication extends beyond the classroom, providing support and compassion when students face personal challenges, and adapting her plans to meet their needs.
Colleagues describe Abraham as "The world-renowned specialist" in the study of beads from ancient India, with her research providing valuable insights into the region’s development and role in Indian Ocean trade during the first millennium CE. Her scholarship, recognized with grants from National Geographic and the National Science Foundation, is published in prestigious journals like the Annual Review of Anthropology.
Faculty Receiving Tenure and Promotions
Faculty Receiving Tenure and Promoted to Associate Professor (effective September 1, 2024):
Megan Carpenter, Associate Professor of Psychology
LeAnn Holland, Associate Professor of Education
Florence Molk, Associate Professor of Sociology
Jame Sieja, Associate Professor of Government
Faculty Promoted to Professor (effective September 1, 2024):
Shinu Abraham, Professor of Anthropology
Adam Fox, Professor of Psychology and Sarah Johnson ’82
Professor in the Sciences
Allison Rowland, Professor of Performance & Communication Arts
and Maurer Director of Rhetoric & Communication
Alexander Schreiber, Professor of Biology
Faculty Awarded Endowed Professorships
Howard Eissenstat, Laurentian Professor in History
Sahar Milani, R. Sheldon & Virginia H. Johnson Professor of Economics
Neil Forkey, Archie F. MacAllaster and Barbara Torrey MacAllaster Professor in North Country Studies
Shelley McConnell, Charles D., Sarah & John D. Munsil Professor of Government
