Dr. Kayse Shrum, Oklahoma State University's president, speaks at University Awards Convocation, which is held for faculty, staff and administrators.

2021 Fall Convocation Award Winners Announced

Friday, December 10, 2021

Media Contact: Mack Burke | Editorial Coordinator | 405-744-5540 | mack.burke_iv@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University President Kayse Shrum honored faculty, staff and administrators for their achievements in 2021 at the University Awards Convocation on Tuesday in the Student Union Ballroom.

Dr. Shrum and Dr. Jeanette Mendez, OSU's interim provost, gave out awards in 22 different categories to recipients who were nominated by their peers and supervisors.

Dr. Brandy Thomas Wells, a history professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, received three separate awards in the categories of the Dr. Patricia A. Bell Inclusive Excellence Faculty Award; the Rising Star award from the Women's Faculty Council; and the Land-Grant Award for Excellence.

Wells has been committed to the public humanities and used her awareness of the power of digital resources to empower students, illuminate history, and contribute to reconciliation endeavors. This is most evident in Women of Black Wall Street, the website she created with the students in her Digital Methods in History course.

The University Service Awards were given to Dr. Paulette Hebert from the Department of Design, Housing and Merchandising; William Ryan from the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management; Benjamin Dunagan from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; and a dual honor given to Larry Burns and Dr. David Mariott from the Department of Institutional Research and Analytics.

Hebert has an established track record of engaging students, staff and faculty members in service-learning opportunities that benefit our broader community, most recently the Stillwater Town and Gown Theater and Our Daily Bread Food Pantry.

Ryan exhibits a strong desire to connect his students, colleagues and OSU to the hospitality and tourism industry by maintaining strong personal relationships with companies and individuals. This association has created countless internship and employment opportunities for students and has also gotten employers involved in the classroom.

Dunagan took on the duty to design and generate numerous innovative advertisements that promote alumni and donor success; undergraduate, graduate and faculty research; a yearly biosymposium; and study abroad programs.

Burns and Mariott helped with OSU's COVID-19 response. As OSU entered the fall semester and the university saw COVID cases begin to rise, their newly implemented student CRM system provided a solution for OSU to track positive COVID cases, manage communications to faculty and students, and negotiate the quarantining and course adjustments that have been a constant throughout the semester.

The Eminent Faculty Award was given to Dr. Larry Mullins from the Department of Psychology.

Mullins conducted basic research that has enhanced the understanding of the treatment of children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses and the impact on their families. His applied research has translated those findings into life-changing interventions.

Full list of honorees

Phoenix Award for Graduate Faculty

The Phoenix award is the highest recognition bestowed by the Graduate Professional Student Government Association. Nominated by current graduate students, faculty nominees are recognized for their excellence in graduate student mentoring. The winner receives a $500 award.

Adel Pezeshki, Animal and Food Sciences, Ferguson College of Agriculture

Regents Distinguished Research Award

This award recognizes faculty who have shown unusually significant achievement in their field of research. Awardees receive a $2,000 permanent stipend.

Gail Wilson, Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Ferguson College of Agriculture
Brant Adams, Music, College of Arts and Sciences
Thad Leffingwell, Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
Dursun Delen, Management Science and Information Systems, Spears School of Business
Daniel Lin, Nutritional Sciences, College of Education and Human Sciences
Jamey Jacob, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Clinton Jones, Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine

Regents Distinguished Teaching Award

This award recognizes faculty who have shown unusually significant achievement in the instruction of students for an extended number of years. Awardees receive a $2,000 permanent stipend.

Wyatt Hoback, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Ferguson College of Agriculture
Paul Fili, Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
DeMond Grant, Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
Bryan Hammer, Management Science and Information Systems, Spears School of Business
Tonya Hammer, Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psychology, College of Education and Human Sciences
Tyler Ley, Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Lionel Dawson, Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine

Career Champion Award

This award recognizes a faculty or staff member who has championed career development and readiness by encouraging, fostering and promoting opportunities for students.

Jeff Edwards, Plant and Soil Sciences, Ferguson College of Agriculture

Dr. Patricia A. Bell Inclusive Excellence Faculty Award

This award recognizes a faculty member who is judged to bring to his/her students, through teaching, research and/or outreach a better understanding and appreciation of the values of diversity and inclusion as they relate to the American social, political, or economic system. The recipient receives a one-time stipend of $2,500.

Brandy Thomas Wells, History, College of Arts and Sciences
Honorable Mention: Tom Spector, Architecture, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Dr. Howard J. Shipp Jr. Inclusive Excellence Staff Award

This award is presented annually to a staff member who exemplifies extraordinary service and outstanding achievements in advancing the culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Oklahoma State University. The recipient receives a one-time stipend of $1,500.

Yokolanda Speight, Student Success Center, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Women’s Faculty Council Outstanding Achievement and Mentorship of Women Awards

These awards, with a $1,500 stipend, are given to faculty who have made significant contributions to research, scholarship and/or creative works and have a demonstrated record of encouragement, mentorship and advancement of women toward professional success.

Rising Star: Brandy Thomas Wells, History, College of Arts and Sciences
Outstanding Achievement: Jennifer Borland, Art, Graphic Design and Art History, College of Arts and Sciences
Inspiring Excellence: Noha Youssef, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Arts and Sciences

Global Education Faculty Excellence Award

Honorees are faculty who have distinguished themselves by integrating a global perspective into instruction, research and outreach. The award consists of a $1,000 stipend.

Jenn Sanders, Teaching, Learning and Educational Sciences, College of Education and Human Sciences

Online Teaching Excellence Award

This award recognizes a faculty member with a strong commitment to engaged, online teaching and student success. Criteria focus on evidence of a nominee’s use of effective and innovative online teaching practices resulting in student engagement, student satisfaction, use of effective methods of assessment of student learning, and demonstration of a commitment to fostering the academic success of online students

Wyatt Hoback, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Ferguson College of Agriculture

Outreach Faculty Excellence Award

This award recognizes an individual for their commitment to the OSU’s outreach mission as a land grant institution, evidenced by the nominee’s impact on programs, innovation and creativity in content and design, and overall implementation of outreach programs.

Raj Basu, Management, Spears School of Business

Newly Appointed Chair and Professorship Holders

Medallions are presented to outstanding faculty who have been recently appointed to endowed chair and professorship positions. These faculty are dedicated to advancing their fields of study and have a strong desire to share their knowledge with the next generation.

Ferguson College of Agriculture

Junpeng Deng, Sarkeys Distinguished Professorship in Agricultural Sciences II
Ravirajisinh Jadeja, Virgil and Marge Jurgensmeyer Research Professorship in Product Development
Haobo Jiang, Jess L. and Miriam B. Stevens Endowed Chair in Agricultural Biotechnology
Francisco Ochoa Corona, Sarkeys Distinguished Professorship in Agricultural Sciences III
Ramanjulu Sunkar, Jess L. and Miriam B. Stevens Endowed Chair in Agricultural Biotechnology
Rodney Will, Sarkeys Distinguished Professorship in Agricultural Sciences I
Blake Wilson, Hitch Family Professorship in Ruminant Feedlot Nutrition

College of Arts and Sciences

Camelia Knapp, V. Brown Monnett Chair in Petroleum Geology

Spears School of Business

Louis Piccotti, Watson Family Chair for Commodity and Financial Risk Management

College of Education and Human Sciences

Tilanka Chandrasekera, Chris Salmon Endowed Professorship in Interior Design

School of Global Studies and Partnerships

Hamed Gholizadeh, Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies Endowed Professorship(s) D
Pouya Jahanshahi, Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies Endowed Professorship(s) B
Ali Mirchi, Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies Endowed Professorship(s) C
Karl Rich, Don and Cathey Humphreys Agriculture and Natural Resource Chair(s) in the School of Global Studies

Award for Excellence in Academic Program Assessment

This award, with a $500 stipend, recognizes academic program assessment individuals or teams who demonstrate innovation, excellence and dedication to program outcomes assessment planning, reporting and implementation.

Nathan Smith, Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership, Ferguson College of Agriculture
Nick Mendoza, Art, Graphic Design and Art History, College of Arts and Sciences
Rachel Domnick, Accounting, Spears School of Business
Marshan Marick, Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psychology, College of Education and Human Sciences
Avimanyu Sahoo, Electrical Engineering Technology, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Excellence in Teaching Award for Adjunct Faculty

This award, with a $1,000 stipend, recognizes excellence in teaching and is presented to a temporary, non-tenure track faculty member with three or more years of service and whose primary assignment is instruction.

Jonette Passmore, Kinesiology, Applied Health and Recreation, College of Education and Human Sciences

Merrick Foundation Teaching Award

This award, with a $1,500 stipend, is presented to a faculty member who is judged to bring students a better understanding and appreciation of the American economic system.

Matthew Rutherford, Entrepreneurship, Spears School of Business

Advising Excellence Award

This award provides institutional recognition for outstanding academic advising by faculty and staff.

Angel Riggs, Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership, Ferguson College of Agriculture
Ilana Rivkovich, Student Success Center, College of Arts and Sciences
Marianna Patrauchan, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Arts and Sciences
Angela Weiser, Student Success Center, Spears School of Business
Jennifer Eisensmith, Student Success Center, College of Education and Human Sciences
Lori Carroll, Architecture, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Kathryn Willhoite, University College Advising, Division of Academic Affairs
Jerry Ritchey, Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine
Douglas Miller, History, College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate College’s Outstanding Graduate Coordinator

Newly Appointed Regents Professors

This honorary title is awarded to faculty judged by peers to have made outstanding contributions to their discipline through accomplishments in instruction, research, scholarship, extension and/or outreach.

Liuling Yan, Plant and Soil Sciences, Ferguson College of Agriculture
Barry Lavine, Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences
William Decker, English, College of Arts and Sciences
Mohamed Abdel Salam, Geology, College of Arts and Sciences
Edralin Lucas, Nutritional Sciences, College of Education and Human Sciences

Distinguished Early Career Faculty Award

This award recognizes faculty members awarded tenure within the past three years and who demonstrate an exceptionally strong potential for continued contributions to the University and to the honoree’s profession.

Honorees were chosen by their respective college leadership team, and each will receive a plaque and a $2,000 stipend.

Saleh Taghvaeian, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Ferguson College of Agriculture
Misty Hawkins, Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
Stephanie Link, English, College of Arts and Sciences
Louis Piccotti, Finance, Spears School of Business
Jay Dawes, Kinesiology, Applied Health and Recreation, College of Education and Human Sciences
Arvind Santhanakrishnan, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
João Lemos Brandão, Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine
Rebecca Weber, OSU Libraries

Land-Grant Award for Excellence

This award was established to recognize a faculty member whose exemplary contributions promote the land-grant mission of Oklahoma State University.

Brandy Thomas Wells, History, College of Arts and Sciences

Leave the Ladder Down Award

These awards are presented to individuals who have successfully mentored and encouraged those with whom they work or instruct to reach their fullest potential.

Faculty: David Thomison, associate professor of professional practice, School of Entrepreneurship, Spears School of Business
Administrator: Dr. Lynn Boorady, professor and head of Design, Housing and Merchandising, College of Education and Human Sciences.

University Service Award

These awards recognize individuals who quietly go about their duties — but who also give so much above and beyond their assigned responsibilities and have made a notable difference in their units, and to Oklahoma State University as a whole.

Faculty: Paulette Hebert, Professor of Design, Housing and Merchandising, College of Education and Human Sciences.
Faculty: William Ryan, Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Spears School of Business
Staff: Benjamin Dunagan, Senior Accounting Specialist in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ferguson College of Agriculture
Administrator: Larry Burns, associate director of Institutional Research and Analytics; David Mariott, director of Customer Relationship Management in IRA