Faculty to be Honored with Awards at 2024 Commencement Ceremony

Three faculty members will be honored for their excellence in service, teaching and research at Saint Joseph’s University’s 2024 Commencement exercises. Maria S. Marsilio, PhD, professor and director of classical studies, will receive the Catherine S. Murray Lifetime Service Award; Nancy Ruth Fox, PhD, professor of economics, will receive the Christian R. And Mary F. Lindback Award For Distinguished Teaching; and David B. Allan, MBA ’99, PhD, professor of marketing and Dirk Warren ’50 Sesquicentennial Chair for Business, will receive the Tengelmann Distinguished Teaching And Research Award. Marsilio and Fox will be honored in the College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education and Human Development ceremony on May 18, 2024, at 1 p.m., and Allan will be honored at the Erivan K. Haub School of Business ceremony on May 17, 2024, at 1 p.m.

Catherine S. Murray Lifetime Service Award

From her earliest days at Saint Joseph’s University as a visiting faculty member in 1995–96, Maria S. Marsilio, PhD, professor and director of classical studies, has devoted herself to the growth and development of classics. In 10 years, she transformed a sporadic and fragmentary curriculum into one of the leading academic programs of the University. As a distinguished teacher and scholar, she inspired hundreds of students to undertake rigorous study research in a discipline that had previously seemed remote and intimidating. 

Her tireless devotion to the University mission was also apparent in her commitment to administration. For three years, she served as chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and subsequently became director of the Honors program, which she guided with exemplary skill and vision for eight more years. Her achievements in Honors reflected her passion for scholarly excellence and academic distinction. She initiated a mandatory research thesis that, for many students, became the defining experience of Honors education, and she introduced a first-year seminar program that acted as a vital gateway to the program for academically motivated first-year students.

The range of Marsilio’s service — a member of APP and FPP, the Board of Rank and Tenure, the Faculty Review Board, the Institutional Planning Committee, and the College of Arts and Sciences Council — testify to her work ethic and institutional dedication. Throughout her entire career, she has demonstrated Jesuit principles in action, collaborating with administrators, colleagues and students in a spirit of humility, respect and fairness. In her character and accomplishments, she incarnates the spirit of cura personalis.

Christian R. And Mary F. Lindback Award For Distinguished Teaching

Since joining the faculty of Saint Joseph’s University as a member of the Department of Economics in 1986, Nancy Ruth Fox, PhD, professor of economics, has been committed to academic excellence. She is a master teacher and advisor — serving as a model for junior faculty of the importance of caring for students inside and outside of the classroom. 

Known for her commitment to engagement in the classroom, Fox strives to make her students excited about economics and provide them with the skills to think like an economist throughout their lives. In addition to teaching core courses in economics, Fox has taught in the Honors program, the Freshman Seminar program and the Service-Learning program. She is well known for her innovative teaching methods and creating courses that are rigorous, interesting and timely. As a former student writes, “Dr. Fox is the epitome of what it means to be a Jesuit educator. Her classes are thought provoking, dynamic, intriguing and most of all, incredibly needed. She loves her students deeply and this is shown through her respect and acceptance of the needs of all. Truly a star.” 

During her time at Saint Joseph’s, Fox has served in a variety of capacities including as an associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences and as the academic director of the Faith-Justice Institute. In these positions, she spearheaded programs that exemplify her commitment to the principles of Jesuit education. She was the driving force behind SJU Reads, a program for matriculating first-year students. She was also responsible for implementing PSIP — a program that brings first-year students, faculty and staff together to explore the city of Philadelphia in a day of service. The Saint Joseph’s University community is privileged to have had such a passionate and dedicated teacher among us.

Tengelmann Distinguished Teaching And Research Award

David B. Allan, MBA ’99, PhD, is professor of marketing and the current Dirk Warren ’50 Sesquicentennial Chair for Business in the Erivan K. Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph’s University. He received a Bachelor of Arts in communications from American University, a Master’s of Legal Studies in entertainment law from the University of Southern California, an MBA from Saint Joseph’s University, and a PhD in mass media and communications from Temple University. 

Allan has published numerous journal articles related to music marketing, but his work also extends to the “real world.” He has authored three books on music and advertising (including “This Note’s for You”), as well as many case studies about the impact of music celebrities such as Taylor Swift and Beyoncé on popular culture. 

He is often consulted by media outlets including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal for his views about the impact of music in advertising. Allan also is a beloved teacher and advisor, and he received the American Marketing Association (AMA) Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with students. Prior to his academic career, Allan spent over 20 years in the radio industry, including Power 99FM in Philadelphia. 

To learn more about Commencement, visit sju.edu/commencement.