The Student Government Association honors faculty during 2022-23 academic year

Ever since its inception, Salve Regina’s Student Government Association (SGA) has always worked alongside the Office of Student Engagement to host activities and events for the student community.

But at the beginning of the 2022-23 academic year, SGA decided they wanted to not only provide for the student body, but for the hardworking faculty as well.

Faculty recognition all academic year

In early December, the SGA created “Professor Shoutouts” where they asked students to anonymously nominate a professor through QR codes posted around campus. The QR code led to a link for students to enter their professor’s name, classes they teach, and how they go above and beyond for their students.

After submissions closed, the committee read through the nominations and selected three professors for the prizes. The professors who were highlighted were Dr. Jameson Chace, professor and chair of cultural, environmental and global studies; Dr. William Leeman, professor of history and the program director of the Pell Honors Program; and Justin Gerace, adjunct faculty of art and art history.

SGA highlighted the professors on social media, and they presented them with a gift bag consisting of Salve Regina and SGA swag, along with a $50 gift certificate to Empire Tea and Coffee. The professors also received their full nomination so they could read what students said about them.

Here’s an example of the shout outs on social media that SGA created to recognize professors in the fall 23 semester. Picture here is Justin Gerace, adjunct faculty of art and art history.

“We chose Empire because it’s close to campus and provides delicious coffee, tea and lunch,” explained Samantha Shalongo ’23, a double major in secondary education and English, as well as the academic affairs committee chair of the SGA.

As a student teacher for her secondary education major, Shalongo has seen first-hand the stressors that teachers have to handle — so helping with these awards meant a lot to her.

It also meant a lot to the professors.

“It was an incredible honor to be recognized by the student body, and I am extremely grateful,” reflected Gerace. “To be appreciated by the students means the world to me, because we have developed a trusting bond that makes us all strive for excellence.”

For all of the professors at Salve Regina, SGA hosted a Professor Appreciation Event Dec. 5-6 in the lobby of the O’Hare Academic Building. All professors were welcomed to enjoy hot chocolate, coffee, muffins and donuts provided by Ma’s Donuts.

“It was a thank you appreciation for all that the professors do,” said Shalongo. “They all got emails to come, and we completely ran out of everything the full two days we were there.”

Faculty appreciation in May 2023

Teacher Appreciation Week is a national holiday celebrated in U.S. during May, and many places turn the week into a full Teacher Appreciation Month.

The SGA wanted to honor this idea at Salve Regina. To end the academic year, the SGA plans to host an event to honor faculty on Tuesday, May 2, through Wednesday, May 3, from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the O’Hare Academic Building’s lobby.

Instead of having breakfast and coffee, SGA has decided to switch it up and will be providing popcorn, iced teas and lemonades to go along with the warm weather of spring.

Members of SGA will also be walking around campus with food for professors who can’t make it to O’Hare Academic Building during those days.

Faculty will receive an email closer to the event with specific details.

The positive responses from the faculty makes SGA want to continue this tradition of honoring faculty for years to come.

“I think it has made a big difference that it isn’t just the president or the deans doing this for them, but it has been the student body,” said Shalongo.

Story written by student writer Morgan Rizzo ’23

Featured photo is of the entire SGA governing student body, taken in fall 2023.