2025-26 Academic Integrity Award Winners

Sam Bell
Professor
Department of Political Science
College of Arts and Sciences

Sam is recognized for his deep commitment to academic integrity, particularly in the online learning environment. When faced with challenges in accurately assessing student learning in the age of artificial intelligence, Sam rose to the occasion. He developed new approaches to identify AI misuse, redesigned assessments, and provided clear guidance to students. Additionally, Sam has become a point person on academic integrity issues for colleagues in the Department of Political Science. He chaired a departmental committee to develop AI-related integrity policies for both undergraduate and graduate programs, helping to establish shared expectations across the department. His work reflects a strong commitment to both accountability and student learning.

Joshua Hine
Assistant Dean for Student and Academic Affairs
School of Social Work

Josh plays a central role in supporting academic integrity efforts within the School of Social Work, particularly in proactively navigating the challenges of artificial intelligence. He provides essential guidance to faculty on complex integrity cases, offering clarity and steady support. Josh also helped develop clear policies on allowable AI use in coursework and regularly presents to students on these topics. He worked closely with faculty to develop the School’s Guiding Principles for the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence, which are now shared beyond UB. Through his responsiveness and expertise, Josh has become “the” trusted resource for faculty and students alike in the School of Social Work.

Lara Hutson
Teaching Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences

Lara’s contributions to academic integrity within the Department of Biological Sciences are far-reaching. She developed comprehensive approaches to protecting exam integrity in large courses, creating clear protocols that promote fairness and reduce opportunities for dishonesty. These practices have been widely adopted by colleagues across the department. Lara is also a trusted mentor and resource, regularly advising faculty and sharing effective strategies. Her work has strengthened assessment practices and helped establish a culture in which academic integrity is clearly defined and consistently upheld.

Stephen Koury
Research Associate Professor
Department of Biotechnical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Over many years at UB, Stephen has consistently modeled integrity in his teaching and service. His efforts this year highlight this long-standing commitment. When Stephen identified a serious vulnerability in LockDown Browser that could have allowed dishonesty in online exams to go undetected, he diligently worked through the complexities of both the technology and the academic integrity process to resolve the issues. By sharing his findings with colleagues, he helped prevent similar problems across courses. Stephen’s extra effort to investigate a novel and complicated problem reflects his deep dedication to fairness and student success. 

Rachael Webb
Associate Director of Intstructional Innovation
Office of Curriculum, Assessment, and Teaching Transformation

Rachael is recognized for her leadership in embedding integrity as a foundational principle in innovation. She has developed a wide range of resources on generative artificial intelligence to help faculty navigate AI in their instruction. Described as a “problem-solver” who is always looking ahead, Rachael tracks evolving AI capabilities and how those capabilities affect academic integrity. With a consistent focus on transparency, accountability, and sound instructional design, Rachael helps faculty move from uncertainty to confidence in addressing AI-related challenges.