Recognition of Outstanding Performance in the Department

The following is a list of Politics and Government faculty who have received awards or recognition for their teaching, research, and service in recent years.

Faculty Awards List

Jason Cieslik
- 2023 Hibbert R. Roberts Teaching Excellence Recognition Award
- 2022-23 Pre-Tenure Faculty Initiative Grant
- 2021 New Faculty Initiative Grant
Lane Crothers
- 2020-22 Thomas E. Eimermann Professorship
- 2014 Fulbright Bicentennial Distinguished Chair in American Studies, Council for the International Exchange of Scholars
- 2011, Spring (awarded December 2009) Arts and Sciences Lecturer
- 2010 University Outstanding Service Award
- 2009 Outstanding Service Award, College of Arts and Sciences
- September 2007– February 2008 Eccles Centre Visiting Professor in North American Studies at the British Library, London, UK,
- 2003 College Research Award (Social Sciences), College of Arts and Sciences
- 2001 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
Robert Freitag
- 2021 E. Burt Mercier Alumni Service Award
Michael Hendricks
- 2024 Center for Civic Engagement's Community Partner Award
- 2024 Dean's Reasearch Challenge
- 2023-24 Research Initiative Award
- 2023-24 Service Initiative Award
- 2023 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2022 Outstanding University Teacher Award - Teaching Initiative Award
- 2022 Hibbert R. Roberts Teaching Excellence Recognition Award
- 2021 Redbirds RISE to the COVID Challenge Award
- 2021 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2021 Teaching Innovations Grant
- 2021 Pre-tenure Initiative Grant
- 2020 New Faculty Initiative Grant
Meghan Leonard
- 2024 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2022 Electoral Engagement Fellow - Center for Civic Engagement Fellowship
- 2021 Hibbert R. Roberts Teaching Excellence Recognition Award
- 2014 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2013 Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Thomas McClure
- 2022 Outstanding Pro Bono Community Honoree, Prairie State Legal Service
- 2022 Lincoln Award of Excellence, McLean County Bar Association
- 2021 Life-Saver Award, Prairie State Legal Service
- 2021 Redbirds RISE to the COVID Challenge Award
- 2018 - Present "AV" Attorney Rating (5.0 out of 5.0), Martindale Hubbell
- 2018 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2013, 2016, 2017 Illinois State University Impact Award, University College
- 2015 Dedication to Mentoring, Illinois State University Red Tassel Chapter of Mortar Board
- 2014 Hibbert R. Roberts Teaching Excellence Recognition Award
- 2013 University Service Initiative Award
- 2012 Illinois State University Service Initiative Award
- 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 Illinois Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
- 2010 "These Lawyers Care" Award, Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)
Kerri Milita
- 2021 Redbirds RISE to the COVID Challenge Award
- 2020 American Political Science Association's Special Project Fund
- 2019 Democracy Fund Research Grant
- 2019 Research Initiative Award
- 2018 Hibbert R. Roberts Teaching Excellence Recognition Award
- 2017 Time-Sharing Experiments for the Social Sciences (National Science Foundation)
- 2017 Pre-Tenure Faculty Initiative Grant
- 2016 Faculty Startup Grant
- 2015 New Faculty Initiative Grant
Carl Palmer
- 2016 Hibbert R. Roberts Teaching Excellence Recognition Award
- 2009 Journal of Politics Best Paper Award, Southern Political Science Association
- 2006 Pi Sigma Alpha Award for Best Paper, Midwest Political Science Association

Erik Rankin
- 2021 Impact Award
- 2020 Redbirds RISE to the COVID Challenge Award
- 2018 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence Teaching Award
- 2017 Staff Citizenship Award, American Democracy Project
- 2015 University College Impact Award
- 2014 University College Impact Award
- 2012 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award (Co-Honor)
- 2011 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2011 Outstanding Teaching Award for an Administrative Professional, C.A.S.
- 2010 Panhellenic Association Outstanding Professor
- 2009 Alpha Delta Pi Outstanding Professor Award
- 2008 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2009 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2010 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
Sherri Replogle
- 2017 Outstanding University Teaching Award, NTT: CAS Nominee
Ali Riaz
- 2021 Redbirds RISE to the COVID Challenge Award
- 2020 President of the American Institute of Bangladesh Studies (AIBS)
- 2020 Impact Award
- 2018-2020 Thomas E. Eimermann Professorship
- 2018 Distinguished Professor
- 2012 University Professor Award
- 2006 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2005 Outstanding College Researcher
- 2004 Dean's Award for Outstanding Scholarship (Untenured)
Lori Riverstone
- 2024-2026 Thomas E. Eimermann Professorship
- 2023 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant
- 2020 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant
Yusuf Sarfati
- 2023 Scott M. Elliott Cross-Disciplinary Pilot Grant
Kam Shapiro
- 2024 Impact Award
Noha Shawki
- 2024 Hibbert R. Roberts Teaching Excellence Recognition Award
- 2024 Dean's Research Challange
- 2023 Environmental Stewardship Award
- 2021 Kenneth A. and Mary Ann Shaw Teaching Fellowship
- 2021 Student Sustainability Committee Grant
- 2021 Redbirds RISE to the COVID Challenge Award
- 2020 Impact Award
- 2020 Student Sustainability Committee Grant
- 2019 Hibbert R. Roberts Teaching Excellence Recognition Award
- 2019 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2018 Outstanding College Teacher (Social Sciences), College of Arts and Sciences
- 2017 Faculty/Staff Internationalization Award, Office of International Studies and Programs
- 2017 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2017 Hibbert R. Roberts Teaching Excellence Recognition Award
- 2016 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2015 Kenneth A. and Mary Ann Shaw Teaching Fellowship
- 2015 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2013 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2013 Hibbert R. Roberts Teaching Excellence Recognition Award
- 2011 Hibbert R. Roberts Teaching Excellence Recognition Award
- 2010 University Service Initiative Award
T.Y. Wang
- 2020 University Professor
- 2016 CAS Summer Faculty Fellowship
- 2015 CAS Outstanding College Researcher Award
- 2005 Hibbert R. Roberts Teaching Excellence Recognition Award
- 1995 University Research Initiative Award
Julie Webber
- 2022-23 Faculty Research Award
- 2021 Redbirds RISE to the COVID Challenge Award
- 2006 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2004 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
L.J. Zigerell
- 2022 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2020-21 Assessment Initiative Award
- 2020 Pi Sigma Alpha Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2020 Hibbert R. Roberts Teaching Excellence Recognition Award
- 2017 Research Initiative Award