2013 Exemplary Contributions in Service: Catharine 'Sunny' Saelinger, PhD

Whoever first said, "If you want to get something done, ask a busy person to do it” was probably thinking of Catharine "Sunny” Saelinger, PhD.

In addition to her duties as a professor in the department of molecular genetics, biochemistry and microbiology, she has served on countless committees during her almost four decades as a member of the UC faculty.

Nominator and colleague Richard Thompson, PhD, estimates that she has served tens of thousands of committee hours in that time. In the past year alone, she has served on more than 25 committees and task forces, chairing seven.

For her work, she has been selected as the 2013 recipient of the Faculty Award for Exemplary Contributions in Service to the University of Cincinnati. She was honored at the All-University Faculty Awards celebration April 17, 2013.

Nominators unfailingly cited her 12 years of service on the College of Medicine Appointment, Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee, chairing it for 10 of those years (she was repeatedly asked to extend her term). During that time, nominator Lynda Price said, she helped transform the committee into a body of colleagues committed to providing fair and balanced evaluations of all College of Medicine faculty at each career stage.

She also served on the task force charged with constructing the College of Medicine’s innovative new curriculum, which integrates hands-on clinical training in the first year, and played an active role in the college’s accreditation self-study.

"Sunny’s dedication is truly amazing,” said nominator Sandra Degen, PhD, interim chair of the department of molecular genetics, biochemistry and microbiology. "I know of no one else who is such an outstanding citizen and ambassador for the University of Cincinnati and its faculty.”