The Dean’s Academic Achievement award goes out to students who have been selected by their academic area for their academic work and contributions to their department. HSS is delighted to feature and spotlight the following students and recognize their efforts. A warm congratulations to the awardees!
African American Studies:
The department has awarded Zenaiya Burgess with Academic Excellence in African American Studies.
Anthropology:
The department has awarded Riley Stellitano with Academic Excellence in Anthropology.
“Riley Stellitano is a senior who is double majoring in Anthropology and Math, and is a member of the Honors Program. This past Spring, Riley was recognized for the depth and breadth of her coursework in the liberal arts and sciences by being inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Faculty (me at least) know Riley as a student who always goes above and beyond in her coursework. As a member of a faculty-led research team, Riley came up with creative ideas to analyze the data she helped to collect, contributing to the research project in a significant and meaningful manner. Riley is also a member of the cross-country team. She is slated to graduate in the Spring.”
Dr. Jared Beatrice, Associate Professor of Anthropology, and Dr. Rebecca Li, Professor of Sociology
Criminology:
The department has awarded Athena Didizian, Kerri Mccarthy, Devyn Perro, and Melanie Roman with Academic Excellence in Criminology.
English:
The department has awarded Jake Hamtil with the Fred Kiley Award for Best Essay in English for his paper “Attaining Britishness: The Intersectional Experience of Irie in White Teeth” which was nominated by Dr. McMann.
In his paper, Hamtil explores how intersectionality impacts identity formation and societal perceptions in London through Irie’s journey as a Black British woman. When asked about his paper, Hamtil notes “I aimed to illuminate [Irie’s] struggle for self-acceptance amidst the weight of cultural expectations and the colonial tyranny that seeks to erase her. My greatest challenge was capturing Irie’s complex story and her transition into womanhood in a compelling manner within the confines of just 14 pages of text. Ultimately, what I’m most proud of is how I conveyed Irie’s story, capturing both the essence of her character and her lasting impact on intersectionality, particularly regarding cultural belonging and the challenges associated with navigating multiple identities.”
History:
The department has awarded Anthony Lepore with the Junior Academic Achievement Award in History.
“Since his arrival at TCNJ as a transfer student in spring 2023, Anthony has excelled in his academic coursework, achieving a 4.0 GPA. He has also participated in a number of signature academic experiences. In the summer of 2024, participated in the Mentored Undergraduate Summer Experience (MUSE), conducting research alongside Dr. Bender. This research involved conducting research and oral history interviews with surviving family members of former staff of East African Airways, an airline that existed from 1946 to 1977. In addition to this research, he also studied abroad in Rwanda, East Africa, and he conducted research on Kenyan labor history at the British National Archives in London. Anthony is deeply thoughtful about the study of history, and his writing is clear and persuasive. Most of all, he shows a deep passion for the field of history. For these reasons, he is well-deserving of this year’s award.”
Laura Hargreaves, Department of History Program Assistant
International Studies:
The department has awarded Harrison Lavelle with the International Studies Junior Achievement Award.
“Harrison’s academic achievements are among the most impressive the IS program has seen in recent years. Like all IS majors, Harrison has taken a broad array of courses in the School of HSS and the Business School, completed intermediate level foreign language courses, and studied abroad. As of the end of spring 2023, Harrison had completed 30.5 units of coursework with a 3.99 GPA. As if that accomplishment was not impressive enough, Harrison is also double majoring in Political Science, minoring in Law, Politics, and Philosophy, and is enrolled in the Honors Program. During his years at the college, he has taken upper level courses in political science, history, business, and German, along with violin lessons for credit. He also studied abroad in Berlin, Germany for one semester. However hard Harrison has worked to get where he is, he shows no signs of letting up. He is currently taking 5.5 units of coursework–the maximum allowed at TCNJ–including a mock trial course and his senior capstone course in political science.”
Dr. Toloudis, Professor of Political Science and International Studies
Philosophy, Religion, and Classical Studies:
The department has awarded Kristiana Kuras with Academic Excellence in Philosophy.
“Kristiana Kuras is a senior who is double majoring in Philosophy and Political Science, and minoring in Spanish. An outstanding student, she has repeatedly made the Dean’s Honor List despite a very challenging course load, and significant work commitments. These commitments include serving from February 2024 to May 2024 as an intern in the office of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy where she coordinated event planning responsibilities with a team of other interns, created an organizational system to track incoming mail, and assisted with substantive case inquiries. She currently serves as an outreach intern for the state of New Jersey. She has studied abroad in Spain while conducting research there, and is currently an Oral Proficiency Hour leader for a 100-level Spanish class. At present, she is writing two substantial capstone essays, one in Philosophy and another in Political Science. Slated to graduate this December, a bright future awaits her.”
Dr. Le Morvan, Professor of Philosophy
Political Science:
The department has awarded Madison Poulas and Danny Wilson with the Department of Political Science Junior Achievement Award.
“Madison’s junior tutorial paper examining how nuclear weapons acquisition affects power dynamics between East Asian states and the United States showcased her ability to grapple with sophisticated theoretical questions. She has built upon this foundation in her senior thesis, where she is conducting innovative research on the International Criminal Court, analyzing why states choose to join, abstain from, or withdraw from this international institution. This work promises important insights into international cooperation and human rights protection, demonstrating Madison’s ability to connect detailed analysis with broader global implications.”
Dr. Sarah Chartock, Department of Political Science & International Studies Department Chair
“Danny’s intellectual development is particularly evident in his approach to policy analysis. Dr. Willse reports that in POL305, Danny produced a notably sophisticated lobbying memo on gun reform legislation that displayed a nuanced understanding of both policy dynamics and political feasibility. This ability to connect theory with practice has culminated in his senior thesis examining state-level adoption of same-day voter registration reforms, where he brings clarity of thought and methodological rigor to a significant question for the status of American democracy.”
Dr. Sarah Chartock, Department of Political Science & International Studies Department Chair
Psychology:
The department has awarded Julianna Boyle and Sydney Defreitas with the Noelle Skrobola Outstanding Research Scholar Award.
Sociology:
The department has awarded Erin Stout with Academic Excellence in Sociology.
“Erin Stout is a Sociology major with a concentration in Nonprofit and Community Development and a Spanish minor, also in the Honors Program. She has excelled in her coursework, standing out as a first-year student in advanced 300-level electives and earning spots in several faculty-led research seminars. Erin’s academic projects have included a study on class on campus and research on abortion rights movements in the Southern Cone, where her Spanish skills were essential for archival work. She presented a poster on changing attitudes toward abortion in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay at MUSE. Erin’s academic excellence is matched by her passion for social justice, and she has demonstrated exceptional research skills, including conducting cross-cultural and comparative analyses. Erin is poised to make a meaningful impact in the nonprofit sector and is set to graduate in the spring.”
Dr. Elizabeth Borland, Professor of Sociology
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies:
The department has awarded Jacquelyn Anderson with Academic Excellence in Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies.
World Languages and Cultures:
The department has awarded Arianna Harley, Isabella Lombardo, Samantha Tallis, and Julia Wagner with Academic Excellence in World Languages and Cultures.