Kelli Slunt, professor of chemistry at the University of Mary Washington, has been recognized with the J. Christopher Bill Outstanding Faculty Service Award for her contributions to the university as well as involvement and leadership in the community.
Slunt, who joined UMW in 1995, served as chair of the chemistry department for six years and led the chemistry program’s successful accreditation by the American Chemical Society. She has served on numerous departmental and academic committees, including the first-year seminar, general education, and promotion and tenure committees.
She shares her love of science in the community. With UMW’s American Chemistry Society’s student affiliate, she developed a science promotional video for elementary students called “Make Chemistry Your Possibility.” She also created after-school science enrichment programs for elementary and middle school students, and volunteers as an exhibits interpreter at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond.
In addition, Slunt developed the Science Inquiry in the Environment (SINE) program through a $200,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Education Mathematics and Science Partnership. The program provides inquiry-based science content and support for more than 70 elementary school teachers in four school districts.
“Kelli Slunt is, in the words of her department chair, a ‘paragon of service’ to the university, the chemistry department and the community,” said Richard Finkelstein, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
A 1991 alumna of Mary Washington, Slunt received a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Virginia.
An endowment that funds the service award was established through the generosity of the late Christopher Bill’s former students, colleagues, friends and family members. It recognizes his extraordinary service as a member of the UMW teaching faculty from 1972 to 2001. Bill died in December 2001.
The selection criteria for the award stipulates that the recipient must have served a minimum of seven years as a member of the Mary Washington teaching faculty and must have been heavily and consistently involved in a variety of service capacities, including departmental, university-wide and community service. Nominations may be submitted by any member of the teaching faculty, staff or student body of the university.