Lawrence's Hilt, Pickett, Sattler honored for their excellence in the classroom

Three Lawrence University faculty members—Lori Hilt ’97, Megan Pickett, and Elizabeth Sattler—were honored during the June 11 Commencement ceremony with annual faculty awards, among the highest honors given at Lawrence.

See coverage of Commencement 2023

The faculty awards were presented as part of Commencement, with each of the three faculty members called to the stage.

Lori Hilt ’97

Hilt, professor of psychology, received the Excellence in Scholarship & Creative Activity Award.

She returned to her alma mater in 2011 and has done impressive scholarly work in the field of psychology. A licensed clinical psychologist, much of Hilt’s research has focused on adolescent depression, rumination, and self-injury. She has been lauded in scholarly and popular media for research that combines the insights of clinical psychology and neuroscience. It is research that her colleagues have called “life-changing, indeed, potentially life-saving,” said Peter Blitstein, provost and dean of faculty.

“The influence of your research, well-funded by the National Institutes of Health among other sources, is more than matched by its significance,” Blitstein said in a citation presented to Hilt.

Megan Pickett

Pickett, associate professor of physics, received the Excellence in Teaching Award.

She joined the Lawrence faculty in 2006 and has been a passionate and accomplished teacher of astrophysics. She has contributed to the redesign of the introductory physics curriculum, has led First-Year Studies, and has been innovative in celebrating the joys of science. Colleagues and students have spoken of Pickett’s “infectious” wonderment of science.

“Many of us have met you on days when you appear before your class in costume portraying unrecognized scientists of the past,” Blitstein said in a citation presented to Pickett. “And you have introduced the Science of Superheroes to the Lawrence curriculum.”

Elizabeth Sattler

Sattler, assistant professor of mathematics, received the Early Career Teaching Award.

She has been a member Lawrence’s mathematics faculty since 2018. She has collaborated with colleagues to revise the calculus sequence and develop a course in discrete mathematics. Sattler also is co-developing a course for the Summer Institute, Starting STEM-Savvy, demonstrating a commitment to developing students’ quantitative skills at all levels.

“Your colleagues recognize your dedication and excellence as a teacher, describing you as a ‘superb’ instructor with ‘fantastic’ pedagogical instincts,” Blitstein said in presenting Sattler her citation.