Thirty-two U-M faculty members received university awards this fall in recognition of their notable contributions in the areas of teaching, mentoring, service and scholarship. The recipients were honored at a Faculty Awards Celebration on Nov. 11.
Sara McClelland
Professor of women’s and gender studies; and professor of psychology, LSA
McClelland is a scholar of gender psychology and social justice whose research has influenced reproductive rights litigation and mentored emerging scholars. She earned a B.A. from Brandeis University (1992), an M.A. from the California Institute of Integral Studies (1998), and an M.A. (2006) and Ph.D. (2009) from the City University of New York. She joined U-M as a postdoctoral fellow in 2009. Her research examines reproductive rights, experiences of pain and loss among marginalized groups, and sexual assault among undergraduate women. Her abortion-access studies have informed expert testimony for the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood and others challenging mandatory waiting periods. She has served on more than 40 dissertation committees, chairing 10, and helps students navigate academic careers. Her honors include the Rackham Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award (2025) and the American Psychological Association’s Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Mentoring in Qualitative Inquiry Award (2025).
L. Monique Ward
Arthur F. Thurnau Professor; and Jacqueline S. Mattis Collegiate Professor of Psychology, LSA
Ward is recognized for research documenting how media shapes young people’s understanding of gender and sexuality. She earned a B.A. in psychology from Yale University (1987) and a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (1995), joining U-M in 1997. Her scholarship examines how media use and parental messages influence sexual and gender socialization. Her research has demonstrated that exposure to sexualized media reinforces different expectations for women and men, with consequences including poorer mental health and greater acceptance of sexual violence. She has also contributed to understanding gender development among African American, Asian and Latino adolescents. Ward has published nearly 100 peer-reviewed articles in the past decade and was recognized among the most-cited scientists in 2021 and 2022. A fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, she received the Distinguished Leader for Women in Psychology Award (2017) and Raymond D. Fowler Award for graduate mentorship (2022).
