2026 Faculty Excellence Award recipients
Delaware State University recently announced the recipients of its 2025-2026 Faculty Excellence Awards in the categories of teaching, research/creative activity, University/community service, and advising. The awards were established in 1988 by Dr. William B. DeLauder, President of then-Delaware State College, as a way to recognize faculty excellence and achievements. There is a complete listing of past awardees. The awardees, who each received a plaque and $2,500, include:
Dr. Christine Craddock, Assistant Professor of Education, Department of Education, Faculty Excellence Award for Advising
Dr. Craddock’s approach to advising students emphasizes frequent and proactive communication, individualized academic planning, and multiple avenues for connection beyond advising appointments, such as game nights and field trips. She fosters a welcoming environment that supports academic progress and students’ sense of belonging. In her first year, she instituted a chapter of Collegiate Middle Level Association, a national middle-level organization and Registered Student Organization (RSO) on campus. This provides students with opportunities for research and conference grant funding. Her work also reflects leadership in programmatic reorganization and curricular realignment to improve clarity of program pathways and strengthen student support systems. Dr. Craddock remains especially proud of her students’ resilience during this period of transition and consistently advocated on their behalf to promote equitable outcomes. She views academic advising as central to student perseverance, achievement, and holistic development. Her advising practices align with her broader scholarly and professional commitment to modeling best practices in culturally responsive teaching for her future educators.
Dr. Chetanath Gautam, Professor of Educational Leadership, Department of Education
Faculty Excellence Award for Research/Creative Activity
Dr. Chetanath Gautam has built a distinguished record of scholarship on educational leadership for social justice, democracy, and equity in resource-constrained settings. His peer-reviewed work appears in Educational Administration Quarterly, The Qualitative Report, and the Journal of International Students, and he is co-editor of Educational Leadership and Critical Theory (Bloomsbury, 2023) and the forthcoming Educational Leadership and Political Literacy (Bloomsbury, in press). A former University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) Barbara L. Jackson Scholar, Dr. Gautam serves on the editorial advisory board of multiple journals and contributes nationally and internationally through AERA, UCEA, the John Dewey Society, and UCEA’s International School Leadership Development Network. He is currently researching HBCU faculty experiences with artificial intelligence, amplifying DSU’s voice in emerging national policy conversations on AI in education.
Dr. Tana Connell, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Department of Social Work, Faculty Excellence Award for Service
Dr. Tana Connell is the Director of the MSW Program at Delaware State University. Her work reflects a strong commitment to leadership, student success, professional service, and community engagement.
From 2020 to 2025, Dr. Connell chaired six committees and served on more than ten university, college, and departmental committees, contributing to curriculum development, strategic planning, and program growth. As MSW Program Director, she strengthened recruitment and admissions processes, expanded student outreach, and supported graduate student leadership through advising and mentorship.
Dr. Connell professional service includes coordinating continuing education workshops, reviewing scholarly work, and organizing conferences focused on substance use disorders. She also serves the civic community through advisory boards, community partnerships, and faith-based initiatives that promote education, behavioral health, and workforce development.
Dr. Rachel Juergensen, Assistant Professor of Special Education, Department of Education, Faculty Excellence Award for Teaching
Dr. Rachel Juergensen’s teaching philosophy is grounded in inclusive pedagogy and social constructivism. She models Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and culturally responsive practices so students experience these approaches in action, not just conceptually. Her commitment to teaching excellence is evident in the design and implementation of 11 undergraduate and 5 graduate courses in special education, as well as in curriculum alignment efforts that reflect professional standards, current research, and district needs. Student learning is deepened through authentic, experiential opportunities like mixed-reality simulations, site visits, action research, and collaborative presentations. In her classroom, assessment practices such as self-reflection and scaffolded projects encourage growth and student ownership of learning. Dr. Juergensen’s research and service inform teaching by keeping instruction aligned with current scholarship. Through grants, conference presentations, and school partnerships, she brings students into scholarly and professional work.