OSU honors pioneering mathematician and others during fall convocation
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
William “Bus” Jaco, Regents Professor and head of the department of mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences, received a top honor as Oklahoma State University recognized the achievements of faculty, staff and administrators during the University Awards Convocation Wednesday at the OSU ConocoPhillips Alumni Center.
Jaco was selected for the Eminent Faculty Award, which recognizes the highest level of scholarly achievement at OSU.
Jaco is recognized as a national expert for improving student success in entry-level math courses and he is currently leading initiatives to help mathematics instruction throughout the state and to increase diversity in math programs.
At OSU, Jaco’s achievements include the development of a new Learning Success Center, an 11 percent decline in those who dropped, failed or withdrew from math classes and a record enrollment in classes beyond calculus at OSU.
Jaco continues to pioneer in mathematics. He is a fellow of the American Mathematical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
OSU annually selects individuals who are nominated for service awards, which recognize those who quietly go about their duties while giving so much above and beyond their assigned responsibilities and make a notable difference in their units and to OSU as a whole.
Honorees for the 2017 University Service Awards included Lisa Fain, director of business operations, Spears School of Business in the administrative category; David Jones, herd manager for the Ferguson Family Dairy Center, Department of Animal Sciences in the staff category; and Udaya DeSilva, associate professor of Animal Science, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources in the faculty category.
Also recognized were the Department of Nutritional Sciences in the College of Human Sciences and the Chickasaw Nation, recipients of the C. Peter Magrath Community Engagement Scholarship Award presented last month by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.
Chris Francisco, Professor and Associate Department Head of Mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences, was recognized for being selected as one of ten faculty for the national Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award sponsored by the National Resource Center for First-Year Experience and Students in transition.
Others recognized at the convocation:
Land Grant Award for Excellence
Brian Arnall, Associate Professor of Plant and Soil Science in the Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
Leave the Ladder Down Award
Ranjith Ramanathan, Assistant Professor of Animal Science in the division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
Lesleigh Dexter, Administrative Support Specialist, Department of Animal Science
Keely James, Associate Director of Student Academic Services in the College of Arts and Sciences
Loyal & True Award
Denise Weaver, Executive Assistant to the Provost
Phoenix Award for Graduate Faculty
Gail Wilson, Natural Resource Ecology & Management, Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
President’s Cup for Creative Interdisciplinary
First Place – Low Maintenance Livestock Monitoring via Environment Powered Internet of Things
Team Leader - Sabit Ekin,
Second Place - MITO Material Solutions
Team Leader - Richard Gajan
Third Place - Using Virtual Reality to Advance STEM Education in Oklahoma Team Leader - Ed Harris
Regents Distinguished Research Award
Robert Matts, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
Flera Rizatdinova, Physics, College of Arts & Sciences
Mark Sisson, Art, Graphic Design & Art History, College of Arts & Sciences
Doug Smith, Kinesiology, Applied Health & Recreation, College of Education, Health & Aviation
Kelvin Wang, Civil & Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Architecture & Technology
Jennifer Hays Grudo, Human Development & Family Science, College of Human Sciences
Regents Distinguished Teaching Award
Shane Robinson, Agricultural Education, Communications & Leadership, Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
Ryan Gardner, Music, College of Arts & Sciences
Andrew Wadoski, English, College of Arts & Sciences
Griffin Pivateau, Economics & Legal Studies in Business, Spears School of Business
Sue Parsons, Teaching, Learning & Educational Sciences, College of Education, Health & Aviation
Steven O’Hara, Architecture, College of Engineering, Architecture, & Technology
Brenda Smith, Nutritional Sciences, College of Human Sciences
Margi Gilmour, Clinical Sciences, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences
Merrick Foundation Teaching Award
Ali Nejadmalayeri, Finance, Spears School of Business
Outreach Faculty Excellence Award
Lee Manzer, Marketing & International Business, Spears School of Business
International Faculty Excellence Award
Craig Edwards, Agricultural Education, Communications & Leadership, Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
Newly Appointed Chair and Professorship Holders
Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
David Lalman, Howard M. & Adene R. Harrington Chair in Animal Science
Chris Richards, Hitch Family Professorship in Ruminant Feedlot Nutrition
Scott Carter, Animal Science Graduates of Distinction Professorship
Jason Warren, P. E. Harrill Professorship in Crop Science
Kevin Wagner, Thomas E. Berry Professorship in Water Research & Management
Eric DeVuyst, Jean & Patsy Neustadt Chair in Agricultural Economics
Carol Jones, Orville L. & Helen L. Buchanan Chair in Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering
College of Arts & Sciences
Tamara Mix, Laurence L. & Georgia Ina Dresser Professor in Rural Sociology
Lee Brasuell, Mary Lou Lemon Endowed Professorship for Underrepresented Voices
Donald French, Edward E. Bartlett Professorship of Pedagogy in Integrative Biology
Spears School of Business
Shu Yan, Greg Massey Professorship in Finance
Emma Wang, Jay Helm Professorship in Business at OSU-Tulsa
Dave Biros, Fleming Professorship in Management Technology
John Winters, Priority: Excellence CBA Associates Chair
Harounan Kazianga, Carson Priority Excellence Chair in Business Administration
Tom Stone, Carson Priority Excellence Chair in Business Administration
Marlys Mason, William S. Spears Chair in Business Administration
Ali Nejadmalayeri, ONEOK Foundation Chair in Finance
Goutam Chakraborty, SAS Professorship in Marketing Analytics
College of Engineering, Architecture & Technology
Tyler Ley, Gorman Gilbert, Bert Cooper & W&W Steel Chair in Civil & Environmental Engineering
Kelvin C. P. Wang, Decker Dawson Chair in Civil Engineering
Randy Seitsinger, AT&T Professorship in Engineering
James Stine, Earl & Carolyn Glimp Professorship for Electrical & Computer Engineering
College of Human Sciences
Edralin Lucas, Jim & Lynne Williams Professorship in Nutritional Sciences
Newly Appointed Regents Professors
Tyrrell Conway, Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, College of Arts & Sciences
Duane Gill, Sociology, College of Arts & Sciences
Amanda Morris, Human Development & Family Science, College of Human Sciences
Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society’s Hall of Fame
Katherine Kocan, Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences
Advising Excellence Award
Sergio Abit, Plant & Soil Sciences, Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
Erika Lutter, Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, College of Arts & Sciences
Lisa Mantini, Mathematics, College of Arts & Sciences
Austin Haytko, Student Success Center, Spears School of Business
Sheri Vasinda, Teaching, Learning & Educational Sciences, College of Education, Health & Aviation
Terry Collins, Industrial Engineering & Management, College of Engineering, Architecture & Technology
Cindy Lane, Student Success Center, Honors College
Deana Hildebrand, Nutritional Sciences, College of Human Sciences
Jim Hull, University College Advising, Division of Academic Affairs
Lucinda Kershaw, Clinical Sciences, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences
Mohamed Abdel Salam, Geology, College of Arts & Sciences - Graduate College, Outstanding Program Coordinator