On April 25, 2025, at a shared meal between the Randolph-Macon College Board of Trustees and its faculty, President Robert R. Lindgren and Provost Alisa J. Rosenthal announced the winners of the College’s most distinguished awards for faculty.

Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Professor Award

President Lindgren awarded three recipients the Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Professor Award, the College’s highest faculty honor. Established by the late Virginia Clark Gray Backus in memory of her husband, an alumnus and former trustee of Randolph-Macon College, the honor is bestowed on a faculty member or senior administrator who has made a distinguished contribution to the College. 

Dr. Alisa J. Rosenthal, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs 

In awarding Provost Alisa Rosenthal a special Samuel Nelson Gray Award, President Lindgren noted the timing of her arrival—summer 2019, just months before the start of a global pandemic. In doing so, he described her leadership of the College’s response as “determined and compassionate.” He noted also her leadership of the accreditation of the College’s programs in physician assistant studies, nursing, and engineering; her focus and success in recruitment and retention of faculty from historically underrepresented groups; and her important role in the recent agile model of strategic planning.  

“She is a tireless advocate for RMC’s faculty, staff, and students,” President Lindgren said, “And she has been a fantastic counselor and confidante to me…I could not have asked for a better partner for these past six years.” He offered the award—his last—as the crowd rose to its feet for a standing ovation. 

Dr. Joan Conners, Charles J. Potts Professor of Social Sciences

Dr. Joan Conners, who has served the College since 2003, chairs the Department of Communication Studies, in which she teaches. A founding member of the department, she is recognized by students as a skilled teacher and accomplished scholar, with expertise in political cartoons. In announcing her award, President Lindgren particularly praised her steady and humble service to the College, in longstanding roles like her service as chair of the Committee on Assemblies and Special Events, and in more recent work as Faculty Representative to the Cabinet and a representative to the Presidential Search and Strategic Planning committees. “Among her colleagues on the faculty, she is widely known to be cooperative, patient, thoughtful, and wise about the nature of academic work and its various compromises,” Lindgren said, calling her a mentor and friend to all in her orbit. 

Dr. Deonna Woolard, Professor of Physics and Engineering 

Dr. Woolard, who serves as both a professor in and chair of the Department of Physics, Astrophysics and Engineering, arrived at RMC in 1999. Over twenty-six years of dedicated service, she has earned a reputation as an able administrator, an accomplished educator, and an exceptional advisor to students inside and outside her core discipline. President Lindgren noted her recent stewardship of the accreditation of the new engineering program as an example of her success as a team player and department chair. “Much of her work happens behind the scenes and her colleagues salute her profound selflessness in pursuing it in that manner. Her impact is quiet and subtle, yet powerful,” he said.

Thomas Branch Award for Excellence in Teaching

The Thomas Branch Award is a student-selected honor presented to faculty members. Its selection is based on the nominations and then votes of the RMC senior class.

Dr. Bart Natoli, Associate Professor of Classics, was praised as an effective and organized teacher who works hard to engage students in class and in outside research. Dr. Natoli is chair of the Department of Classics, and teaches in Classics and its sub-disciplines of Latin and Greek, as well as in courses that support the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies major. In announcing the award, Provost Rosenthal noted that students call his courses “exciting to attend” and highlighted the ways in which his teaching supports student learning across all their classes, quoting from his student nominee: “Having to be analytical and skeptical of the material we covered in this class helped me be more curious in my other classes.” 

Dr. Brittany Freelin, Assistant Professor of Criminology, was awarded the Thomas Branch award after just three productive years on the faculty. Provost Rosenthal noted her breadth of courses taught, including two courses that are new to the College. She also noted her prodigious research achievements and her willingness to serve on faculty committees. Said Rosenthal: “In short, over the last three years, Dr. Brittany Freelin has established herself as a dedicated teacher, a tremendous scholar, and a stalwart community servant, who has the confidence of her students and her colleagues alike.”

United Methodist Church Exemplary Teacher of the Year Award

The United Methodist Exemplary Teacher Award is awarded to a faculty member who demonstrates excellence in teaching, civility, and concern for students and colleagues; commitment to value-centered education; and service to students, the institution, and the community. Its recognition comes from the Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church joining with Methodist-related colleges and universities to honor the service of faculty.

Dr. Chiru Bhattacharya, Associate Professor of Mathematics, was given the United Methodist Exemplary Teacher award in recognition of her unwavering commitment to teaching, scholarship, and service. She has taught 17 separate courses, including interdisciplinary first-year experience and honors courses, and recently designed and stewarded a new interdisciplinary major in Data Science. In presenting her award, President Lindgren said her students describe “Dr. B” as easy to talk to and praise her thoroughness in explaining concepts and using examples. Her professional activity includes College service on committees like Resources and Plans, mentorship of early career mathematicians through the Mathematics Association of America, and her recent Applied Data certification from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Noe-Kilgore Award

The Noë-Kilgore Award, established in 1998 by an anonymous alumnus of the College, is named in honor of retired Randolph-Macon professors William Stanton Noë and Peter Kilgore. The award recognizes Randolph-Macon College faculty emeriti for outstanding teaching and service.  

The 2025 recipients were Dr. Aouicha Hilliard, Professor Emerita of French, and Dr. Barry Pfitzner, Emeritus Professor of Economics.   

Dr. Aouicha Hilliard, who retired in 2020, distinguished herself as a professor, mentor, scholar, assistant dean, and as director of the Office of International Education. In her retirement, she has continued to support OIE and the Modern Languages department and been active in a range of community organizations. 

Dr. Barry Pfitzner retired in 2015 after more than three decades as both a professor of economics and as the assistant women’s golf coach at RMC. His time at RMC included significant service to the College’s faculty committees and chairing the Department of Economics and Business. His varied research interests produced a wide range of conference presentations and publications.