Professor Dina Frutos-Bencze Receives 2026 AAUP Excellence in Faculty Accomplishment Award

On the picture-perfect commencement morning of May 16, 2026, a warm breeze rippled graduation gowns as Professor Kimberly Kersey-Asbury stood before the class of 2026, their loved ones, and the Anselmian community to present cherished colleague, Professor Dina Frutos-Bencze, with the 2026 AAUP Excellence in Faculty Accomplishment Award.

Known as “one of the most present faculty [members] on campus”, Frutos-Bencze’s innate ability to connect with students and fellow professors, timeless compassion, and concern for humanity cemented her the ideal candidate for such an honor. Nominated by peers, the AAUP Award annually acknowledges professors who have gone above and beyond to shape higher education through teaching excellence and dedicated contributions to an academic community.

Since her arrival in 2013, the beloved Economics and Business Department chair has harnessed her diverse educational background in chemistry and international business and decade long multinational corporate career to support young scholars in business development and management, marketing, and social innovation. She is highly regarded for the quality of her instruction and advising and creatively collaborative approach to curriculum expansion.

Frutos-Bencze’s commitment to the campus community is further illustrated in her roles across multiple college committees, Faculty Senate, and as a student club advisor. She has co-organized events for the Ethics in Governance (EIG) Forum, helped facilitated the Women in Business Spring Luncheon, and travelled with students to New York City and Tuscania, Italy, truly living her enthusiastic beliefs on the importance of international experience and engagement, experiential learning, and global awareness.

In addition to the AAUP distinction, the student-focused academic previously earned the prestigious Fulbright Scholar Award to conduct research and teach in her birthplace—Czechia. Since then, Frutos-Bencze has published several articles on topics ranging from environmental sustainability and artificial intelligence in academia to entrepreneurship, all while continuing to define what it means to be exceptional educator.

Frutos-Bencze prefaced her acceptance with a heartfelt embrace to both Kersey-Asbury and President Joseph Favazza as an eruption of admiration and gratitude resounded over the sunny Hilltop.

Read Professor Kersey-Asbury's full remarks →