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Holy Family University Honors 2025 Taylor Award Recipients at Annual State of the University Address

Taylor Awards Receipients

Holy Family University is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Ray and Mildred Taylor Awards, which will fund six innovative and impactful research projects led by seven distinguished faculty members. These prestigious awards were presented during the annual State of the University address, delivered by Holy Family University President Dr. Anne Prisco, before a large gathering of faculty, staff, members of the Board of Trustees, alumni, and other distinguished guests.

Established through an endowment created by Carol Taylor H’22, RN, Ph.D., a former faculty member in the School of Nursing & Health Sciences, the Ray and Mildred Taylor Awards honor Dr.Taylor’s parents while supporting faculty committed to academic excellence. These awards provide funding for projects that advance research and scholarship across disciplines at Holy Family.

This year’s award recipients and their research projects include:

  • Samantha Barteld and Shana DiBenedetto – Developing educational videos to help students in the radiologic science program grasp complex topics.
  • Elizabeth Carroll – Investigating the biomagnification of harmful toxins in aquatic food webs.
  • Kimberly Dasch-Yee – Studying medical avoidance and perceptions of healthcare provider support, particularly in marginalized communities.
  • J. Barry Dickinson – Conducting a meta-analysis on factors influencing customer satisfaction in digital service delivery.
  • Robert Ficociello – Producing a children’s book, Lucia and Marcus Go to Space: Jupiter!, to inspire young scientists.
  • Dana McClain – Researching the purpose and impact of early American girls’ boarding schools.

The Taylor Awards recognize and support Holy Family faculty members who have completed at least two years of full-time teaching and have submitted formal proposals to the Ray and Mildred Taylor Committee. The projects funded by the Taylor Awards reflect a broad range of disciplines, furthering the university’s mission to foster a vibrant academic community committed to research, intellectual growth, and community engagement.

President Dr. Anne Prisco emphasized the importance of the awards as a testament to the University’s commitment to academic excellence, faculty development, and the pursuit of knowledge. “These distinguished faculty members are not only advancing their fields of study but also contributing to our broader mission of making a positive impact on the world,” said Dr. Prisco. “The Ray and Mildred Taylor Awards are a shining example of how we invest in our faculty and their important work.”