Distinguished Early-Career Scholar Award
The Distinguished Early-Career Scholar Award honors remarkable tenured/tenure-track investigators at Grand Valley State University who began their independent scholarship within the past six years, demonstrate mastery in their field, and show significant potential for continued success.
2026 Recipients
Sara Sutton, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Computing
Sara Sutton is a creative and energetic scholar in cybersecurity research and education, whose innovation and rigorous scholarly work demonstrates her leadership in an emerging and rapidly-evolving world. Since joining GVSU in 2022, Sutton has published three peer-reviewed articles in prestigious journals and secured significant research funding from the Michigan Space Grant Consortium as well as the National Science Foundation/National Security Agency’s Gencyber program. She actively involves undergraduate and graduate students in her work, and is a leading mentor in the Women in Cybersecurity program.
Ian Winkelstern, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Geology
Ian Winkelstern has built a student-centered research program advancing innovative approaches to carbonate geochemistry and the study of Earth processes, which has elevated GVSU’s profile and positioned himself for growing national and international recognition in the geosciences. Since 2023, he has published seven peer-reviewed articles and delivered over a dozen conference presentations, many with student co-authors, demonstrating strong scholarly impact and meaningful undergraduate engagement. Winkelstern has also established regional collaborations with research institutions and secured major external support, including a National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation award that established GVSU’s new water isotope laboratory.
About the Award
AWARD INFORMATION
The Distinguished Early-Career Scholar Award honors remarkable tenured/tenure-track investigators at Grand Valley State University who began their independent scholarship within the past six years. These scholars demonstrate mastery in their field and show significant potential for continued success. The award recipients have made major contributions to theory, research and creative practice, and they have earned national recognition for their outstanding achievements. In addition to the honor of being designated a CSCE Distinguished Early Career Scholar, recipients are awarded $500. Nominations for the Award are solicited by deans, department chairs, and faculty colleagues.
The criteria used in nominations and evaluations of nominees are: potential to develop a national reputation; major contributions to theory, research, and/or creative practice; and highest standards of professionalism.
ELIGIBILITY
All tenured and tenure-track faculty members who have been employed at GVSU a minimum of one year and a maximum of six years, and began their independent scholarship within the past six years, are eligible.
How to Nominate
NOMINATE
Each college may nominate a faculty member for one of the four University-wide awards. Recipients will be recognized as distinguished scholars. The Faculty Award Committee for each college will select one faculty member (except CLAS, which selects up to seven, and Seidman College of Business, which selects up to two) to be considered for the award. Faculty Award Committee members are selected by the Dean. Faculty Award Committee membership will be a minimum of three faculty. Nominations for the award may come from the college Dean, Department Chair, and faculty colleagues. Self-nominations are not accepted.
NOMINATION PACKET MATERIALS
Packets with missing items will not be reviewed. Nomination packets must include:
- Completed Declaration Page
- A statement from the nominee, one or two pages in length, of the nominee's professional accomplishments deemed most significant.
- Two letters of support from faculty colleagues who have knowledge of the nominee’s ability as a scholar, and who are not committee members. The letters should address the criteria for the award.
- A current Curriculum Vitae.
** Please note: ONLY the above stated documents, combined into a single PDF, will be accepted as a complete nomination packet. No additional documents will be accepted.
DEADLINE
Yearly on November 1st. The nominee’s unit is responsible for obtaining pertinent data and providing the required information. Please check with your Dean for any deadline requiring you to submit to the Dean's office for review and signatures prior to being sent to CSCE by November 1st.
REVIEW PROCESS
The Faculty Research and Development Committee will review all candidates, and CSCE will forward the names of recipients to the Provost and recipients' Dean by December 15th. The Dean's office will inform the receipient of the award. CSCE will inform nominees who are not selected. Up to four awards will be made each year. Each recipient will receive $500. An individual faculty member may not receive the award more than once.