Contact: 

Bob Spieldenner
bobspiedenner@schev.edu
(804) 718-9443 (cell)

December 22, 2025

For immediate release

RICHMOND — The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) today announced the recipients of the 2026 Outstanding Faculty Awards, each of whom will receive a $7,500 award at an in-person ceremony on March 3, 2026, in Richmond.

Since 1987, these awards have recognized faculty at Virginia’s institutions of higher learning who exemplify the highest standards of teaching, scholarship and service.

Institutions select the nominees, then a panel of peers reviews the applications. A committee of leaders from the public and private sectors selects the final recipients. This year, the program received 81 nominations. This group narrowed to a field of 21 finalists and then to the 12 recipients.

The 2026 recipients are listed below in alphabetical order. Asterisks indicate Rising Star (early-career achievement) awards.

2026 Outstanding Faculty Awards Recipients:

Michale Bloom (George Mason University)

Michael Bloom is a professor at the George Mason University College of Public Health, where he teaches graduate-level epidemiology and mentors graduate students. His research explores the health effects and sources of exposure to environmental pollutants, with a focus on human reproduction and fetal development. He is particularly committed to addressing health disparities and supporting vulnerable populations. Dr. Bloom has co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, with research funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Fulbright Program. He earned his Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University at Buffalo, State University of New York, and completed postdoctoral training in reproductive epidemiology at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Bethesda, Maryland.

Heather Boone (Tidewater Community College)

Heather Boone is a professor of graphic design at Tidewater Community College’s Visual Arts + Design Center. Before joining TCC, she worked as an art director in New York City’s Silicon Alley, specializing in identity, interaction and print media. Professor Boone is known for her process-driven pedagogy and leadership of the “340 Art + Design Annual,” a student-produced publication noted for its ambition and longevity. Her research and creative practice explore the role of tangible objects in the digital age. Professor Boone earned an MFA in design and a BFA in painting & printmaking, both from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Rebecca Bromley-Trujillo (Christopher Newport University)

Rebecca Bromley-Trujillo is an associate professor in the department of political science at Christopher Newport University. She also serves as research director of the Wason Center for Civic Leadership where she conducts election and policy surveys, hosts community events and works with students. Dr. Bromley-Trujillo’s research and teaching interests include American political behavior, environmental policy and state politics. She is also the current editor of the “Annual Review for Publius: The Journal of Federalism.” Dr. Bromley-Trujillo received her M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from Michigan State University.

Cayelan Carey (Virginia Tech)

Cayelan Carey is a professor in freshwater science and the Roger Moore and Mojdeh Khatam-Moore Faculty Fellow at Virginia Tech. As co-director of the Virginia Tech Center for Ecosystem Forecasting, Dr. Carey strives to advance our predictive understanding of freshwaters in a changing world via high-frequency monitoring of lakes and reservoirs. Her work integrates ecosystem data with models and cultivates collaborative interdisciplinary teams of scientists, managers and other community members. Dr. Carey received her Ph.D. from Cornell University and was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was a Future Fulbright Fellow at the University of Western Australia and an Earth Leaders Fellow through the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and Future Earth. 

Scott Doney (University of Virginia)

Scott Doney is the inaugural Joe D. and Helen J. Kington Professor in Environmental Change in the department of environmental sciences at the University of Virginia. His research spans oceanography, climate science and biogeochemistry. He combines field data, satellite remote sensing and numerical models to address how the global carbon cycle and marine ecosystems respond to natural and human-driven climate change. Dr. Doney served as the assistant director for ocean climate science and policy in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. He is the author of numerous peer-reviewed research publications and co-author of a graduate-level textbook, “Modeling Methods for Marine Science.” Dr. Doney has a B.A. in chemistry from the University of California, San Diego, and earned his Ph.D. in chemical oceanography from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program in Oceanography.

Gary Dop (Randolph College)

Gary Dop is an award-winning writer, performer and educator at Randolph College. He is a professor of English, dean of innovation and director of a nationally regarded MFA in creative writing program. Professor Dop was one of the original architects of the TAKE2 curricular model and supported the development of a highly successful new program approval process for the college. He has published more than 120 original works, a bestselling poetry collection, a multimedia play and innovative 3D poetics. Professor Dop received his MFA from the University of Nebraska, and he is the recipient of the Gillie A. Larew Distinguished Teaching Award, the Great Plains Emerging Writer Prize, a Pushcart Special Mention and a Best of the Net Award.

Kazlin Mason (University of Virginia) *

Kazlin Mason is an assistant professor at the University of Virginia and director of the Imaging and Communication Outcomes Lab. Her research focuses on integrating imaging technology, 3D computer visualization and predictive analytics to improve outcomes for children with cleft and craniofacial differences. Supported by National Institute of Health and foundation funding, Dr. Mason leads interdisciplinary collaborations with engineers, surgeons and clinical teams to advance diagnostics, predict surgical outcomes and enhance care delivery. She also teaches graduate coursework in communication sciences and disorders. Dr. Mason has a B.A. and M.S. degree from the University of New York at Fredonia and earned her Ph.D. from East Carolina University. In addition, she holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech-language pathology and is licensed in Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia.

Margaret Mullholland (Old Dominion University)

Margaret Mulholland is a professor and oceanographer who studies aquatic biogeochemistry at Old Dominion University.  She conducts research on various aspects of marine and estuarine issues including nitrogen and carbon cycling, harmful algae blooms, cycling of dissolved organic matter and climate change on the Chesapeake Bay. Dr. Mulholland received a B.S. in geology and biology from the University of Notre Dame, an M.S. in biological oceanography from the University of Washington, an M.M. in marine affairs from the University of Washington and earned her Ph.D. in biological oceanography from the University of Maryland.

Amy Pruden-Bagchi (Virginia Tech)

Amy Pruden-Bagchi is the W. Thomas Rice Professor and University Distinguished Professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech. Her research and teaching bring a microbial ecological perspective to advancing control of pathogens and antibiotic resistance in the design and management of water, wastewater and recycled water systems. Dr. Pruden-Bagchi served as a lead-author on the United Nations Environment Programme Bracing for Superbugs Report. She is a member of the Virginia Academy of Science Engineering & Medicine and a Fellow of the International Water Association. She received numerous awards, including the Biocluster Grand Prize and the Water Research Innovation Award. Dr. Pruden-Bagchi earned a B.A. in biology and her Ph.D. in environmental science from the University of Cincinnati.  

Donald W. Sorah, Jr. (University of Virginia College at Wise)

Donald W. Sorah, Jr., is professor of music at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, where he integrates music, technology and innovative pedagogy to expand access and transform learning. Dr. Sorah has advanced alternative assessments and grading while authoring multiple open-access textbooks. A dedicated composer and conductor, Dr. Sorah’s creative work reflects Appalachian heritage while engaging national and international audiences. He is founder and conductor of the Winds of the Mountain Empire and director of the UVA Wise Jazz Ensemble, leading outreach that brings live music to underserved audiences and enriches the cultural life of the region. Dr. Sorah holds a Ph.D. in music education from Florida State University and earned M.M. and B.M.E. degrees from Morehead State University.

Jennifer Banning Tomás (Piedmont Virginia Community College)

Jennifer Banning Tomás is a professor of history at Piedmont Virginia Community College. She specializes in teaching United States social and political history. Her research focuses on modern American women, their civic and political engagement since the 1920s, and their efforts to secure women’s places in the formal narratives of American history during the twentieth century. Dr. Tomás recently published her book, “Reclaiming Clio: Making American Women’s History, 1900-2000.” She earned her Ph.D. in modern U.S. history from Binghamton University.

Xuesu Xiao (George Mason University) *

Xuesu Xiao is an assistant professor in the department of computer science at George Mason University. Dr. Xiao directs the RobotiXX lab and works at the intersection of motion planning and machine learning with a specific focus on developing highly capable and intelligent mobile robots that are deployable in the real world with minimal human supervision. His work has been used during search and rescue efforts after the Mexico City earthquake, the Greece refugee crisis and decommissioning efforts at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Dr. Xiao received the George Mason University Presidential Award for Faculty Excellence in Research. He earned his Ph.D. in computer science from Texas A&M University.

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The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia is the Commonwealth’s coordinating body for higher education. SCHEV develops statewide policy, conducts research and data reporting, administers financial aid and provides strategic guidance to enhance access, affordability, quality and accountability across Virginia’s postsecondary institutions