Oklahoma State University recognizes Atekwana, Masters during 2015 University Awards Convocation

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Estella Atekwana, Regents Professor of Geology in the College of Arts & Sciences, and Brenda Masters, associate professor in the Department of Statistics, took top honors as Oklahoma State University recognized the achievements of faculty, staff and administrators at the University Awards Convocation Tuesday at the OSU ConocoPhillips Alumni Center in Stillwater. 

Atekwana received the Eminent Faculty Award, which recognizes the highest level of scholarly achievement at OSU. Atekwana has sustained cutting-edge research in two very different areas of geophysics: near surface geophysics and tectonics of incipient rift systems.  She is a recognized world leader as evidenced by her long list of publications in geoscience journals, numerous national and international conference presentations and participation on multiple scientific panels including the Department of Energy, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the National Academy of Sciences.

“Estella is an impactful teacher and mentor.  Without question, she is a highly productive scholar and influential teacher,” said Gary Sandefur, OSU provost and senior vice president.

Atekwana has served as the head of the Boone Pickens School of Geology for the past two years and under her leadership the department has significantly increased external support from industry and federal agencies.

Masters received the Loyal and True Award, which personifies the spirit of OSU through unwavering devotion, personal sacrifice and commitment of time and talents. Masters has served as director of OSU’s reaccreditation process and as interim associate provost for undergraduate education.

“During her tenure at OSU, Dr. Brenda Masters has exhibited a true devotion to OSU,” Sandefur said.

The convocation began with Sandefur introducing members of the OSU/A&M Board of Regents, campus leaders such as the OSU Leadership Team and the Executive group, the team of Academic Administrators, faculty and staff leadership groups, the faculty council and student leaders.

The full list of honorees: Photos from the event are available here.

Phoenix Award for Graduate Faculty

Jason DeFreitas, Assistant Professor in the School of Applied Health & Educational Psychology, College of Education

President’s Cup for Creative Interdisciplinarity

First Place – Addressing the Call to Increase High School Students’ STEM Awareness

Team leader: Julie Angle, Associate Professor in the School of Teaching & Curricular Leadership, College of Education

Second Place – Camp TURF: Tomorrow’s Undergraduates Realizing the Future

Team leader: Shelley Mitchell, Assistant Extension Specialist in the Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Third Place – Empowering Aspiring Entrepreneurs for Economic Success in Sub-Saharan Africa

Team leader: Craig Edwards, Professor of Agricultural Education, Communications & Leadership in the Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources

Regents Distinguished Teaching Award

Karen Hickman, Professor of Natural Resource Ecology & Management, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Christopher Ramsay, Professor of Art, Graphic Design & Art History, College of Arts and Sciences

David Schrader, Associate Professor of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences

Dennis Mott, Professor of Management, Spears School of Business

Julie Angle, Associate Professor in the School of Teaching and Curriculum Leadership, College of Education

Richard Beier, Professor of Engineering Technology, College of Engineering, Architecture, & Technology

Lyndi Gilliam, Associate Professor of Clinical Sciences at the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences

Gerwald Koehler, Association Professor of Biochemistry & Microbiology at the Center for Health Sciences

Damon Baker, Professor of Medicine at the Center for Health Sciences

Amanda Morris, Professor of Human Development & Family Sciences, College of Human Sciences

Merrick Foundation Teaching Award

Gretchen Mafi, Associate Professor of Animal Science in the Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources

Outreach Faculty Excellence Award

Bailey Norwood, Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics in the Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources

International Education Faculty Excellence Award

Hailin Qu, Regents Professor in the School of Hotel & Restaurant Administration in the College of Human Sciences

Sigma Xi Young Investigator Award

Sada Gopan Krishnan, Assistant Professor in Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences

Sigma Xi Lectureship Award

Guolong “Glenn” Zhang, Professor in Animal Science, Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources

Regents Professors

Kristopher Giles, Entomology & Plant Pathology, Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources

Charlotte Wright, Accounting, Spears School of Business

Sunderesh Heragu, Industrial Engineering & Management, College of Engineering, Architecture & Technology

Raj Singh, Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Excellence in Advising Award

Shelly Sitton, Professor of Agricultural Education, Communication & Leadership, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Dahlia Molloy, Senior Academic Counselor, Department of Sociology, College of Arts & Sciences

Z. Randall Stroope, Professor of Music, College of Arts and Sciences

Vicki Johansen, Senior Academic Counselor, Student Success Center, Spears School of Business

Jason DeFreitas, Assistant Professor in the School of Applied Health & Educational Psychology, College of Education

Greg Wilber, Associate Professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Architecture & Technology

Krystle Dick, Academic Advisor in the Student Success Center, College of Human Sciences

Jim Bruer, Jr., Academic Advisor in University College Advising, Division of Academic Affairs

Manjunath Kamath Professor of Industrial Engineering & Management, College of Engineering, Architecture & Technology, chosen as the Graduate College’s outstanding Graduate Program Coordinator

Michelle Kuehn, Senior Administrative Support Specialist at the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences

Ann Yankunas, Senior Financial Assistant, Department of Botany, College of Arts & Sciences

Land-Grant Awards For Excellence

Todd Halihan, Professor of Geology, College of Arts & Sciences

Leave the Ladder Down Award

Gerald Fitch, Professor of Animal Science in the Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources

Philip Goodwin, Associate Director of Career Services in the Division of Student Affairs

Alan Nahs, Coordinator of Food Services at the West Side Café in the College of Human Sciences

University Service Award

Christopher Fransisco, Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences

Mitch Kilcrease, Assistant Vice President in Division of Student Affairs

Diana Bateson, Information Assistant in the Department of Animal Science, Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources

Newly Appointed Chair & Professorship Holders

Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Sciences

Randy Taylor, Professor and Sarkeys Distinguished Professor in Agriculture, Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering

Rodney Jones, Associate Professor and Oklahoma Farm Credit Chair in Agricultural Economics

Garey Fox, Professor and Thomas E. Berry Professorship in Water Research & Management, Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering

College of Arts & Sciences

Jiahong Wu, Regents Professor and Noble Foundation Professorship in Technology Enhanced Learning in Mathematics

Michael Oehrtman, Associate Professor and Noble Foundation Professorship in Technology Enhanced Learning in Mathematics

Spears School of Business

Bradley Blaylock, Assistant Professor and Arthur Andersen Professorship in Accounting

John Winters, Assistant Professor and Carson Priority Excellence Chair in Business Administration, Economics & Legal Studies

Aaron Hill, Assistant Professor and William S. Spears Chair in Business Administration, Management

Cynthia Wang, Associate Professor and William S. Spears Chair in Business Administration, Management

Rebecca Greenbaum, Associate Professor and William S. Spears Chair in Business Administration, Management

Federico Aime, Associate Professor and William S. Spears Chair in Business Administration, Management

Laurie Lucas, Associate Professor and William S. Spears Chair in Business Administration, Economics & Legal Studies

Bruce Barringer, Professor and Student Ventures Chair in Entrepreneurship

Craig Watters, Clinical Associate Professor and International Entrepreneurship Chair

David Thomison, Clinical Assistant Professor and George Kaiser Family Foundation Chair in Entrepreneurship

Karen Flaherty, Associate Professor and William S. Spears Chair in Business Administration, Marketing

Andrew Urich, Associate Professor and Eastin Center for Talent Development Chair, Management

College of Education

Shelbie Witte, Associate Professor and Chuck & Kim Watson Chair in Education, Teaching & Curriculum Leadership

College of Engineering, Architecture & Technology

Jeffrey Young, Professor and Center for Innovation & Economic Development Chair in Sensor Technology, Electrical & Computer Engineering 

Rob Whiteley, Professor and Edward Bartlett Chair in Chemical Engineering 

Jamey Jacob, Professor and John Hendrix Chair in Engineering, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering 

Heather Fahlenkamp, Associate Professor and Robert N. Maddox Professorship in Chemical Engineering 

Qingsheng Wang, Associate Professor and Dale F. Janes Professorship in Fire Protection and Safety Technology, Engineering Technology

John Veenstra, Professor and Decker Dawson Chair in Civil & Environmental Engineering 

College of Human Sciences

Amy Williamson, Assistant Professor and Ramona Ware Emmons Paul Endowed Professorship, Human Development & Family Sciences

Edmon Low Library

Cinthya Ippoliti, Associate Professor and Claud D. Kniffin Professorship of Library Service & Education 

David Oberhelman, Professor and W.P. Wood Professorship in Library Services

Center for Veterinary Health Sciences

Clinton Jones, Professor and Sitlington Chair in Infectious Diseases, Veterinary Pathobiology 

Eminent Faculty Award

Estella Atekwana, Regents Professor of Geology in the College of Arts and Sciences

Loyal and True Award

Dr. Brenda Masters, Associate Professor in the Department of Statistics

Story by Alex Marianos

PHOTOS: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ostatenews/albums/72157661238329469