HAZLETON, Pa. — Frantisek Marko, distinguished professor of mathematics at Penn State Hazleton, has been named the 2020-21 University College Faculty Scholar Award recipient.
The award is presented annually to a University College faculty member who demonstrates excellence in research, scholarship or creative accomplishment. A congratulatory letter Marko received from Senior Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses and Executive Chancellor Madlyn L. Hanes notes he was selected from a competitive group of talented candidates for his outstanding achievements.
“This award means a lot to me,” said Marko, who is in his 20th year at Penn State Hazleton. “I’m very honored to receive this recognition of the quality of my lifelong research productivity.”
The recognition is the latest accolade in Marko’s career at Penn State Hazleton. He received the campus faculty scholar award in 2013 and 2019. The award recognizes full-time faculty for outstanding achievement in research, scholarship or creative accomplishment.
In 2019, he was named a distinguished professor by the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs. The special academic title recognizes a limited number of outstanding professors who are leaders in their fields of research or creative activity; exhibit excellent teaching skills; and demonstrate significant leadership in raising the University’s teaching standards, research or creativity activity, and service.
“Frank’s sustained success in research and scholarship is an inspiration to us all,” said Elizabeth Wright, associate dean for academic affairs for Commonwealth Campuses and director of academic affairs at Penn State Hazleton. “We congratulate him on earning this well-deserved award.”
Marko, whose research focuses mainly on algebra and the representation theory of supergroups, has been published more than 60 times in academic journals and proceedings, he said. He also recently published results in fields including algebraic number theory, cryptography, topology and geometry.
Marko received a plaque and $1,000 stipend for winning the award. He also will have a seat on the University College Faculty Scholar Award review committee during the 2021-22 academic year.