Member Awards

Outstanding Member Award

The CHHE Outstanding Member Award is awarded annually. The recipient of this award will receive a $200 gift card, and their name is added to the Outstanding Award Member plaque. The awardee is a full member or staff, chosen by the Director (with input from the IAC), who through their research and/or service have demonstrated:

1. Excellence in their contributions toward the CHHE mission
2. Advancement of the Center’s impact
3. Contributions toward the growth of other members of the CHHE or the stakeholders that we serve

2024 – David Collier

Professor, MD, Department of Pediatrics
East Carolina University

Since this time last year (according to PubMed), Dr. Collier has co-authored 9 manuscripts (including one in a journal with an impact factor over 45), co- led the writing and development of the thoughts and figures in the Translational Research Support Core (TRSC) component of the 2024 Center grant renewal, led the development of new partnerships in the TRSC, co-led the development and orchestration of the Summer CHHE retreat, taught CE classes in which he included CHHE work, attended all IAB meetings (providing detailed ECU and TRSC updates), and worked full time as a pediatrician at ECU Health.

2023 – Jane Hoppin

Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University Faculty Scholar
NC State University

This award is given in recognition of Jane’s outstanding research and service contributions to the Cape Fear River communities whose water and air have been polluted with PFAS with uncharacterized health effects. Publications by Jane and her colleagues in ES&T, EHP, and STOTEN in the last year have advanced the stature and impact of the Center and changed the lives of those living in affected communities. Additionally, Jane served as the Interim Director of CHHE for the last year and a half, making pivotal decisions to hire a data analyst, and served as the RIG lead for Emerging Contaminants for several years.

2021 – Katlyn May

CEC Director
NC State University

This award is given in recognition of Katy’s outstanding contributions to community engagement and to the Center. Katy has advanced the stature and impact of the Center through her important contributions to the Center involving her work with teachers and their students, the NIEHS-funded High School Teacher’s Summer Program, community groups in Durham, Raleigh and Wilmington Community especially during these challenging pandemic times and on expanding environmental literacy in NC.

2020 – Michael Bereman

Associate Professor, University Faculty Scholar
NC State University

Dr. Bereman’s work is focused on underlying mechanisms of etiology of ALS and the development of innovative and quantitative analytical methodologies. He has been a leader of the proteomics initiative within the CHHE since his arrival in 2013 and this has grown under his leadership to a more advanced Systems Technologies Core and partnership with METRIC.

2020 – Michael Cowley

Associate Professor, Director of the Toxicology Graduate Program
NC State University

Dr. Cowley’s work is aimed at understanding how the developmental environment can program susceptibility to metabolic disease later in life through modulating imprinted gene activity early in life.  He has advanced the stature of the Center through his research and through his role as Co-leader of CHHE’s Environmental Epigenetics and Genetics RIG and participation in the High School Teacher’s Summer Program and community engagement.

2019 – Dereje Jima

Senior Bioinformatics Research Scholar
NC State University

2019 – Nadine Kotlarz

Research Scholar
NC State University

Legacy Award

Given biannually and based on nominations from the CHHE members and staff, this award goes to a senior or advisory member or staff who has demonstrated visionary commitment to the success of the CHHE and left their positive impact or “legacy” on the Center. 

2023 – Rob Smart

Goodnight Distinguished Chair in Molecular Toxicology
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, NC State University

This award is given in recognition of the decade of service that Rob has made to the CHHE. He was the founding Director of the CHHE and assembled the support needed at the Chancellor level for our first AND second EHS cluster hire. He has already volunteered to be part of the Advisory team for our Career Development Core going forward to ensure that ESI in CHHE are given every opportunity to succeed. The CHHE thanks you, and would likely not exist without your contributions, Rob!!