SALISBURY, Md. – Salisbury University associate head baseball coach, and professor of education, leadership, and athletic coaching Ron Siers, Jr., Ph.D. was announced as one of the recipients of SU's Distinguished Faculty Award on Thursday. The honor, awarded yearly, is selected by faculty to recognize faculty.

Siers has served the past 23 seasons with the Salisbury baseball program and helped guide the team to 13 Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) Championships with 20 consecutive bids in the NCAA Tournament with a postseason run dating back to the 2000 season.

In addition to his duties with the baseball team, Siers has spearheaded a contingent of SU students, student-athletes, and student organizations to assist with breakfast service Friday mornings at Salisbury's Hope and Life Outreach (HALO) Ministries for the past four years.

Former students of Siers in the Secondary and Physical Education Department lauded his vast levels of energy and motivation for teaching. "I hope that I can bring as much enthusiasm to teaching as he does," one student wrote.

Siers' dedication to the profession reaches well beyond the limits of campus, as SU's liaison for the Professional Development School Program at Mardela Middle and High School. He mentors aspiring educators at Mardela, teaching in the immersive model.

He also has published 16 peer-reviewed articles and served as the senior editor of the National Association of Professional Development Schools' publication PDS Partners.

"Dr. Siers embraces the use of innovative instruction technology, which he leverages to garner high engagement and reflective practices from his students," said Dr. Laurie Henry, dean of the Samuel W. and Marilyn C. Seidel School of Education.

SU now has honored 74 faculty with the Distinguished Faculty Award through 33 years of recognition. The names of this year's winners will be added to an honor roll listing all recipients since the award was established.