Faculty, Staff Awards
Professor Elizabeth Trobaugh receives Marieb Award
Holyoke Community College English Professor Elizabeth Trobaugh of Amherst is the recipient of the 2025 Elaine Marieb Faculty Chair for Teaching Excellence Award, HCC's highest faculty honor.
As this year’s awardee, she will lead the procession of graduates and give the keynote faculty address at the college’s 78th Commencement ceremony on May 31 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.
The award was one of six presented during HCC’s annual, end-of-the-year staff and faculty awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 21.
“I’d like to thank everyone at the college for creating the ecosystem that allows me to do what I love so much, which is to be in the classroom with students,” Trobaugh said from the stage of the Leslie Phillips Theater. “I know the work that you do is what enables me to do the work I do that gives me so much pleasure and the opportunity to see students succeed, and that is the biggest gift. I am grateful to my students, who, over these 20 plus years, continuously, perpetually inspire me to do my best for them, because they are working hard and pursuing something so valuable and noble.”
The Marieb Award, endowed by the late HCC professor emeritus Elaine Marieb '80, recognizes a full-time member of the faculty for outstanding classroom teaching. Award recipients serve for one year, receive a small stipend for professional development, lead the procession at Commencement, and give the keynote graduation speech.
Trobaugh has been teaching at HCC since 2003. She has a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University and a master’s degree and PhD from the University of Massachusetts. Her three children – Hannah, Tess, and Gabe – and son-in-law all attended HCC.
“I know how wonderful it is to be a proud parent of an HCC alum,” she said. “I’ve seen how HCC changes lives.”
The college also presented the Christina Royal Equity in Action Award to Adina Gianelli of Conway, assistant professor of criminal justice; the Idelia Smith Adjunct Faculty Award to Erin Jackson of Glastonbury, Conn., an instructor in the veterinary technician program; the Outstanding Professional Staff Award to Allison Wrobel of Holyoke, HCC registrar; the Outstanding Classified Staff Award to Lindsy Providenti of Granby, administrative assistant in the BSTEM division; and the Outstanding Part-Time Staff Award to Lucien Dalton of South Hadley, a math tutor and engineering pathways coordinator.
PHOTO: President George Timmons, left, and Marlowe Washington, vice president of people, equity, and culture, present the 2025 Marieb Award to English Professor Elizabeth Trobaugh.
