Franklin College Faculty Receive Awards for Distinguished Service
Six members of the Franklin College faculty were honored on Thursday, Oct. 9 at the Faculty Recognition Luncheon for their outstanding contributions, both inside the classroom and beyond. The annual awards presentation is hosted by the Franklin College Board of Trustees.
Faculty receiving awards included:
Susan Crisafulli, Ph.D., received the Hann Family Award for Excellence in Teaching. This award provides a prize of $6,000 made possible through the generosity of recently retired Franklin College Board of Trustee member Dan Hann and his wife Pam. Hann was inspired to fund this award after receiving an impactful teaching award himself while serving the College in the 1980s as a professor of economics.
Crisafulli, a professor of English, joined the Franklin College faculty in 2008. She received a bachelor’s degree from Presbyterian College, a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee and a doctorate degree from Vanderbilt University. Her expertise is in the field of British and French medieval literature, Shakespeare, advanced grammar and composition pedagogy.
Crisafulli was described by one nominator as “a leader in pedagogical innovation, with an exceptional ability to challenge students, inspire critical thinking and uphold high academic standards.” She was also praised for pairing academic rigor with strong support, offering thoughtful feedback and extensive office hours to ensure student success.
Two of Crisafulli’s courses were praised – her Professional Development in English and Creative Writing course and her Communications Consulting Project course – for their lasting impact and ability to prepare students to market their professional skills, complete internships and tackle real-world challenges in partnerships with local nonprofit organizations.
Nominators also commended her for piloting The Power of Literacy Immersive Term Course, which places students in poverty-serving elementary schools. Students describe this service-learning experience as transformative as it gives them deep insight into the effects of poverty and the importance of trust-based relationships in literacy instruction.
Crisafulli’s dedication to literacy extends well beyond her role as a college professor. In 2017, she helped establish the Johnson County chapter of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, raising funds, registering families and distributing books to young readers. Today, the program is approaching 5,000 enrolled children.
The best evidence of Crisafulli’s effectiveness as a teacher comes from the responses of the alumni she has taught, many of whom have built meaningful careers in nonprofit work and writing. Through alumni survey responses and personal accounts, they point to Crisafulli’s mentorship and guidance as highly influential in their professional and personal growth.
Crisafulli is a resident of Franklin.
Jamie Bromley, Ph.D., received the Clifford and Paula Dietz Award for Faculty Excellence. The award, given by a vote of the Franklin College Board of Trustees, upon recommendation of the president and the academic dean of the college, recognizes a faculty member who demonstrates extraordinary dedication and commitment in service to the College. The award, which provides a prize of $5,000, plus a professional expense allowance of $1,000, is made possible through the generosity of late trustee Dr. Clifford Dietz and his wife, Dr. Paula Dietz, both of whom were generous donors to many areas on campus.
Bromley, a member of the Franklin College faculty since 2009, is a professor of psychology. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Dallas, a master’s degree from Duquesne University and a doctorate degree from the University of Akron. She is a counseling psychologist with experience in a variety of clinical settings including community mental health, domestic violence, private practice and university counseling centers.
One nominator shared that Bromley’s classes are widely popular, and students speak of her with admiration and respect. She fosters a vibrant department environment with traditions like Donut Days and immersive learning experiences for her students. She also champions undergraduate research, mentoring students and facilitating opportunities for them to present their work at conferences.
Bromley was praised for her professional dedication to her students. It was noted that she designs her courses and assignments to do what is best for her students to help them learn the material to the best of their ability. She commits herself to guiding senior psychology students through project design and arduous federally required processes.
Bromley’s service at Franklin College is impactful. She has served as the psychology department chair for nearly a decade, contributing significantly to curriculum revisions, program reviews, faculty searches and partnerships, including Franklin’s new nursing program. She has also chaired the Faculty Development Committee, led the Joy of Learning series and helped the Promotion and Tenure Committee revise processes to better support faculty.
One nominator highlighted her research on multitasking that she has presented at conferences and generously shared with her colleagues on campus. And not surprisingly for the professor who always has a smile on her face, she is developing a course on the psychology of happiness, which promises to be impactful.
Bromley is a resident of Franklin.
Angie Walls ’88, M.S., received the Faculty Steering Committee Distinguished Service Award. The recipient of this award is a faculty member who shows outstanding service to the College.
Walls, assistant professor of mathematics and computing, joined the Franklin College faculty in 2007. An alumna of Franklin College, she continued her education, earning a master’s degree from Purdue University. Wall’s area of expertise lies in helping students see the relationship of their major with mathematics, as she teaches students across all disciplines. “I want to share with students how interesting mathematics can be regardless of their choice of major,” explains Walls.
Walls succeeds at her objective, as nominators praised her approachable and engaging teaching style that makes mathematics more accessible and less intimidating for students. They noted countless hours spent tutoring and providing extra support for struggling students. The nominators also noted her vital role in recruiting, training and mentoring student math tutors, ensuring they are well-prepared to support their peers. Her guidance in this area not only strengthens the Math Study Center but also provides tutors with valuable teaching and leadership experiences.
One nominator commented, “She seems to have a steady stream of students stopping by her office to ask math questions, simply say hello or share updates about their lives” – evidence of the student-centered education experience she provides.
Walls was also commended for her visible, supportive presence in the Franklin College community. She is regularly seen cheering on students at athletic events and supporting performances at fine arts events. She organizes annual math events that help support student recruitment efforts across Johnson County and Indiana. One nominator commented, “She does whatever she can to help our department and the College thrive.”
Walls has been recognized in the past for her excellence with the following honors: Student Organization Advisor of the Year in 2020, the Faculty/Staff Service Award in 2015, and as the inaugural recipient of the Adjunct Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2012.
Walls is a resident of Franklin.
Jessica Mahoney ’96, MLS. received the Faculty Excellence in Scholarship Award. The award recognizes a faculty member’s scholarly achievement at the College, as well as his/her work outside the College (publications, presentations, etc.).
Mahoney serves as the director of library services & assessment and as an associate professor. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Franklin College in English and secondary education she enjoyed a career teaching at both the middle school and high school levels before pursuing a master’s degree in library science from Indiana University. She began working for Franklin College in 2011 as the information literacy librarian before being promoted.
Nominators praised Mahoney’s strong work ethic and described her as a natural collaborator and meticulous research partner. They also highlighted her ongoing support of courses across campus, whether leveraging the library’s extensive resources to enhance student learning, guest lecturing or supporting the First-Year Seminar. It was noted that “she is always focused on helping others succeed.”
She was also praised by nominators for her advocacy for Open Educational Resources, helping to make the campus community aware of freely available teaching and research materials. Mahoney was instrumental in transforming the B.F. Hamilton Library into a more welcoming and student-centered space. She has also played an important role in securing grants for the College that enabled the Spirit of Community mural through the Council of Independent Colleges and the library’s Advancing Racial Equity Collection.
Mahoney has served the College in many areas, including as past chair of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Faculty Development Committee, co-representative of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), a mentor for Building Opportunities through Support and Structure (BOSS), a member of the Faculty and Staff Digital Fluency Steering Committee, a faculty advisor for Pi Beta Phi Sorority and a co-creator of the College’s Faculty-Staff Fans group, a program designed to encourage fan participation and involvement at Franklin College athletic contests. In addition, she sits on the Board of Directors for the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) and recently completed a two-year term as an At-Large Board Member for the Academic Libraries of Indiana (ALI). She was recently selected for the Independent Colleges of Indiana Leadership Academy due to her unique perspective as an academic librarian and her important role in supporting Franklin College’s strategic planning, academic programming and student success.
Mahoney is a resident of Franklin.
Lourdes Hurtado, Ph.D., received the Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award. The award recognizes a faculty member who exhibits excellence in mastery of subject and effective communication, has respect for all students, and believes that all students can learn and provides helpful feedback to other students in several ways.
Hurtado, a professor of history, joined the faculty in 2012. She received her bachelor’s degree from the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Peru before obtaining a master’s degree and a doctorate degree from the University of Notre Dame. She specializes in the Peruvian military and the history of the Cold War in Latin America. She is also a trained anthropologist.
Hurtado was praised by her nominators for her dedication to creating culturally inclusive learning experiences that prepare students to be global citizens, going well beyond the traditional teaching methods by engaging students through literature, music, performances, podcasts, video and traditional dances.
Hurtado is a strong advocate for the Office of Global Education, consistently encouraging students to study abroad. She also designed Immersive Term courses to spark broad interest among the student body. She has co-led courses to Brazil, Greece, Morocco and beyond. She has also served as a leader of the Intercultural Honors Experience. One nominator wrote, “She pushes all students to do their best by balancing high expectations with clear guidelines and scaffolded support.”
Hurtado has also committed many years serving on the Faculty Curriculum Committee, where she has been integral in shaping the curriculum and advocating for the liberal arts. She also represented the College on a national level by participating in a faculty seminar at the National World War II Museum during the summer of 2024, showcasing her commitment to expanding her own knowledge and her commitment to her students.
Hurtado is a resident of Franklin.
The final honor bestowed at the Faculty Recognition Luncheon was the Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award. It is designed to honor a commendable faculty member who is not in a tenure-track position, has completed two or more semesters teaching and has taught a minimum of 12 credit hours at Franklin College. The award was established in 2012.
Jeremy VanAndel is the recipient of the 2025 Franklin College Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award. He serves the College as the director of professional development, instructor of business and holder of the Johnson Professor of Leadership. He began employment at Franklin College in 2019.
VanAndel received his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, earned an M.B.A. from the University of Indianapolis, and is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of the Cumberlands. He spent more than 10 years in leadership roles in the hospitality and tourism industry before shifting to a career in nonprofit fundraising and executive leadership.
Nominators were impressed with how deeply engaged VanAndel has become since joining the Franklin College community, emphasizing how his contributions have been impactful, spanning student development, entrepreneurship, organizational advising, community engagement and institutional leadership.
“He acts as a connector and builder who strengthen both academic and campus communities,” wrote one nominator, who also praised his “creativity, humor and ability to energize students and colleagues alike.”
VanAndel impacts students’ professional development profoundly through his one-on-one coaching in resume writing, networking and career discernment. He also helps connect students with alumni mentors and provides real-world business experiences as founding director of The Kite Shop, the College’s entrepreneurial hub.
VanAndel also advises the Economics, Business and Accounting Club; has helped to launch Franklin’s Collegiate DECA chapter; and has revived Franklin’s chapter of a national leadership honor society. He has also played a key role in securing and implementing a $1 million grant to enhance tech-driven student preparation. Beyond campus, VanAndel also served as the project leader and principal investigator for LAUNCH Johnson County, a regional initiative supporting entrepreneurship.
VanAndel is a resident of Indianapolis (46220).