This year's recipient of the Thomas P. Madden Award is Prof. Rebecca Surman of the Department of Physics and Astronomy.  This is the citiation for her award:

The Thomas P. Madden Award honors a faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in the teaching of first-year students. Described by students as an “exceptional educator” who “champions both her subject and her students,” Rebecca Surman teaches students the rigors of physics while inspiring them to consider themselves potential scientists. As the primary instructor for the yearlong introductory Physics A and B sequence, Professor Surman’s lectures are engaging and thoughtfully designed to help first-year students build a strong foundation in physics. She encourages active participation, fostering a classroom environment where students are comfortable asking questions. Students have highlighted her remarkable ability to break down complex topics into understandable components in ways that enhanced their ability to solve problems. Their admiration, which has also been noted by peers and senior faculty, reflects her demonstrated investment in students’ well-being and future success—including connecting them to research opportunities at prestigious labs such as Argonne National Laboratory. As one student summarized her impact, she “has encouraged me to make the most of my educational opportunity of being at Notre Dame and challenge myself by taking her class.”

Past recipients of the Thomas P. Madden Award from the Department of Physics and Astronomy include Randy Ruchti (Emeritus), Prof. Chris Kolda, and Prof. Mike Hildreth (Dean of the Graduate School).