As the 2024–25 academic year comes to a close, O’Neill faculty members are being recognized for their work throughout the year and their careers. Whether receiving awards for their teaching practices, research, support of students, or their commitment to Indiana University, 16 O’Neill faculty received recognition for their efforts.

Faculty Fellow for the Office of the Chancellor:

Tom Stucky was appointed as faculty fellow for the Office of the Chancellor at IU Indianapolis. In his role, he will collaborate with faculty, staff, and students to lead discussions on developing a clear set of values and guiding principles for the campus.

 

 

 

 

2025 Trustee’s Teaching Award:

Patrik Madaras and Christian Buerger were selected as the 2025 Trustees Teaching Award winners from the O’Neill School in Indianapolis. Each year, the Indiana University Board of Trustees selects recipients based on effective teaching strategies, their use of learner-centered approaches, and their passion for teaching and learning.   

 

 

 

Faculty of the Year awards:

Each year, O’Neill Indianapolis students nominate faculty members for O’Neill’s Faculty of the Year awards. Those nominations are reviewed by a committee of previous award winners, and four faculty members are selected as recipients. The 2025 recipients are: 

• Liz Wager: Full-time, undergraduate programs
• John Christ: Part-time, graduate programs
• Vernise Estorcien: Full-time, undergraduate programs
• Kate Dorrity and Bill Foley: Part-time graduate programs

Epitome Award winners:

Liz Wager was selected as IU Indianapolis’ 2025 Epitome Award faculty recipient and O’Neill Academic Advisor Alivia Slone received the staff Epitome Award. IUI’s Division of Undergraduate Education Epitome Award is based solely on student nominations and recognizes exemplary faculty and staff who support undergraduate success. The university selects one staff member, one resident faculty member, and one adjunct faculty member based on the number of nominations received from students.

 

Student Supervisor of the Year, Honorable Mention:

• Eric Grommon received an Honorable Mention for Student Supervisor of the Year from the Office of Student Employment at IU Indianapolis. Grommon works with students on research throughout the year, providing guidance and mentorship while exploring issues related to the criminal justice system. 

 

 

Faculty Milestone awards:

• 35 years: Louis Lopez
• 30 years: Jeff Miller
• 15 years: Debbi Fletcher and Beth White
• 10 years: Terry Tolliver and Jennifer Weinmann

 

 

 

 

 

Faculty retirements:

• Patrik Madaras is retiring after three decades of teaching in Indianapolis. While Pat spent 33 years on the Indianapolis campus, he started his teaching career as an associate instructor in Bloomington from 1971–76. In that time, he taught more than 200 sections of K-300 at O’Neill IUI. 
• Tom Guevara is retiring after eight years with Indiana University. Guevara served as the director of the IU Public Policy Institute and taught courses in both Bloomington and Indianapolis. During Tom’s time at PPI, the Institute launched the Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy, renamed the Center for Health and Justice Research, brought the Manufacturing Policy Initiative under its umbrella, and hosted gubernatorial forums to help educate Hoosier voters about pressing issues in Indiana.