Two Southern Connecticut State University faculty members have been recognized by the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) for excellence in research and teaching, including one who received a prestigious system-wide honor.
Dr. Miriah M. Russo Kelly, associate professor in the Department of Environment, Geography, and Marine Sciences, earned the System-wide Board of Regents Research Award, while Dr. Patricia Bode, associate professor and coordinator of art education in the Department of Art and Design, received a Campus-based Board of Regents Teaching Award.
The annual awards recognize faculty members across the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system who demonstrate excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity.
The Connecticut Board of Regents announced the 2025-26 Faculty Award recipients on June 4, recognizing 16 faculty members from institutions across the state.
“Our faculty play a vital role in advancing student success across our colleges and universities system,” said Dr. Aynsley Diamond, CSCU vice chancellor of academic affairs. “This year’s award recipients exemplify the very best of CSCU through their outstanding teaching, research, and creativity. Their dedication enriches our institutions and leaves a lasting impact on the students they serve. We are proud to recognize their achievements with this well-deserved honor.”
Advancing Climate Resilience Through Research
Kelly’s system-wide recognition places her among an elite group of faculty members across Connecticut’s public higher education system.
A mixed-methods researcher whose work bridges environmental science, communication, and public engagement, Kelly studies climate resilience, stakeholder collaboration, environmental communication, and climate change adaptation. Her scholarship examines how communities, organizations, and policymakers work together to address environmental challenges, particularly those affecting coastal regions and vulnerable populations.
Since joining Southern in 2020, Kelly has built a strong record of research focused on climate resilience and public engagement in environmental decision-making, supported by organizations including Connecticut Sea Grant, the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA), NOAA Sea Grant, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She has also contributed to Southern’s growing presence in global climate discussions through participation in multiple United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COP), helping create opportunities for Southern students to engage with international climate policy and negotiations firsthand.
The honor comes as Southern continues to expand its research profile following its designation as Connecticut’s first and only Carnegie-classified Research 2 (R2) university. Faculty scholarship and research mentorship remain central to the university’s mission of advancing knowledge and addressing society’s most pressing challenges.
Inspiring Creativity, Compassion, and Community Through Teaching
Bode was recognized with a Campus-based Board of Regents Teaching Award for her commitment to student learning, mentorship, and community-engaged arts education.
An associate professor of art and coordinator of art education, Bode has built a reputation for helping students connect creative practice with real-world impact. Her teaching encourages students to explore how art can foster dialogue, strengthen communities, and address pressing social issues.
One of the most visible examples of that work is the Remember Love Recovery Project, an arts-based initiative Bode founded in memory of her son, Ryan Bode Moriarty, who died of an accidental heroin overdose in 2018. Inspired by Ryan’s artwork and message to “Remember Love,” the project uses art making, education, and human connection to promote healing, reduce stigma, and raise awareness surrounding substance use disorder.
Through the initiative, Bode has helped facilitate the creation of more than 4,000 handmade Recovery Flags crafted by individuals in recovery, people who are incarcerated, family members, and others impacted by addiction. Drawing inspiration from Buddhist prayer flags and the AIDS Memorial Quilt, the project has grown into a nonprofit organization and a national movement focused on remembrance, resilience, and compassion, with an aspirational goal of one day displaying the flags on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Since 2022, Bode has led workshops in correctional facilities, transitional housing programs, public libraries, museums, community centers, and other organizations in Connecticut and beyond. Southern students have played an important role in those efforts, joining Bode in creating opportunities for reflection, storytelling, and healing through art while gaining firsthand experience in community engagement and social practice.
