2022 Fall Convocation Award Winners Announced

Monday, December 12, 2022

Media Contact: Jordan Bishop | Editor, Department of Brand Management | 405-744-7193 | jordan.bishop@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University President Kayse Shrum recognized faculty, staff and administrators for their achievements in 2022 at the University Awards Convocation on Thursday in the Student Union Ballroom.

Dr. Shrum, alongside Dr. Jeanette Mendez, OSU’s provost, awarded recipients in 23 different categories, each nominated by supervisors and colleagues.

“While this ceremony is something we do every year, I never fail to be amazed by the innovation, achievement and dedication of the OSU family,” Mendez said.

Dr. Natascha Riedinger, associate professor of geology in the College of Arts and Sciences, received awards in three separate categories: the Phoenix Award For Graduate Faculty; the Women’s Faculty Outstanding Achievement and Mentorship of Women Award; and the Advising Excellence Award.

Mendez said Riedinger has been devoted to the success of her students and has worked closely with underrepresented women to ensure they have the support and care they need to achieve their career goals.

The Distinguished Early Career Faculty Awards were presented to Dr. Ravi Jadeja from the Department of Animal and Food Sciences; Andy Mattern from the Department of Art and Art History; Dr. Josh Jansa from the Department of Political Science; Dr. Greg Eaton from the Department of Finance; Dr. Ki Cole from the School of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Aviation; Dr. Omer San from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; and Holly Reiter from the Department of the Library.

Recipients of this award were chosen based on their award of tenure within the past three years, their demonstration of strong potential for their contributions to the university, their professions, research, creative activity and Extension and/or outreach.

The Land Grant Award for Excellence was given to Dr. Andy Arena, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering.

Arena was recognized for his contributions to the fields of unmanned aircraft design and fabrication, aerospace vehicle stability, aircraft performance and aerodynamics.

The Leave the Ladder Down Awards were given to Dr. Eve Ringsmuth from the Department of Political Science; Susan Tolbart from the Department of Prospective Student Services and Scholarships at OSU-Tulsa; Dr. Ryan Chung from the Department of University Assessment and Testing; and Dr. Cynda Clary from the Ferguson College of Agriculture.

Recipients were commemorated for their mentorship and encouragement of others in their respective fields to reach their fullest potential.

The University Service Awards were given to Trevor Courouleau from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders; Candace Thrasher from the Department of Academic Affairs; and Dr. Ken Eastman, dean of the Spears School of Business.

Peers and colleagues selected the awardees based on the criteria of their extensive contributions to their respective departments.

Dr. Brett Carver from the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences was awarded the Eminent Faculty Award for his contributions to instruction and service, namely for his work in wheat variety development with the OSU Wheat Improvement Team.

The Loyal and True award was given to Missy Wikle from the departments of Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management.

Wikle has been at OSU for nearly 30 years. She began as an English composition instructor and eventually moved on to higher roles within the College of Arts and Sciences; University College Advising; New Student Orientation; and the Office of First Year Success. Throughout her various roles, she has worked to ensure the success of the students and staff around her.

List of honorees

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.

Dr. Yanqi Wu — Plant and Soil Sciences — Ferguson College of Agriculture
Dr. Mark Fishbein — Plant Biology, Ecology and Evolution — College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. G. Michael Grammer — Geology — College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. G. Reed Holyoak — Clinical Sciences — College of Veterinary Medicine

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.

Dr. Natascha Riedinger — Geology — College of Arts and Sciences

President’s Fellows Research Award

This award supports faculty by equipping them to conduct groundbreaking research. Awardees must be tenured faculty within five years of their date of tenure. Awards, up to $20,000 each, are given as one-time grants to be expended over a period of no more than one year.

Dr. Shannon Spaulding — Philosophy — College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Brian Elbing — Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering — College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Dr. Akhilesh Ramachandran — Pathobiology — College of Veterinary Medicine

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.

Dr. Ning Wang — Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering — Ferguson College of Agriculture
Dr. Mostafa Elshahed — Microbiology and Molecular Genetics — College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Thomas Lanners — Music — College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Betty Simkins — Finance — Spears School of Business
Dr. Tilanka Chandrasekera — Design and Merchandising — College of Education and Human Sciences
Dr. Guoliang Fan — Electrical and Computer Engineering — College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Dr. Akhilesh Ramachandran — 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.

Dr. Danielle Bellmer — Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering — Ferguson College of Agriculture
Dr. Christopher Fennell — Chemistry — College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Joseph Haley — Physics — College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Andy Luse — Management Science and Information Systems — Spears School of Business
Dr. Sam Emerson — Nutritional Sciences — College of Education and Human Sciences
Dr. Baski Balasundaram — Industrial Engineering and Management — College of Engineering — Architecture and Technology

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.

Dr. Karen Hickman — Department of Environmental Science — Ferguson College of Agriculture

Dr. Howard J. Ship 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 OSU. The recipient receives a one-time stipend of $1,500.

Jawauna Harding — Athletics
Honorable Mention: Sheary Johnson — Food and Agricultural Products Center — Ferguson College of Agriculture

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

These awards, each with a $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: Dr. Elizabeth McCullagh — Integrative Biology — College of Arts and Sciences
Outstanding Achievement: Dr. Natascha Riedinger — Geology — College of Arts and Sciences
Inspiring Excellence: Dr. Lucy Bailey — Educational Foundations — Leadership and Aviation — College of Education and Human 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.

Dr. Michael Amory — English — College of Arts and 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. The award includes a $2,000 stipend.

Dr. F. Bailey Norwood — Agricultural Economics — Ferguson College of Agriculture

Outreach Faculty Excellence Award

This award recognizes an individual for their commitment to 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. The award includes a $2,000 stipend.

Dr. Stacy Tomas — Hospitality and Tourism 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

Dr. Wyatt Hoback — Neustadt-Sarkeys Distinguished Professorship
Dr. Tyson Ochsner — Warth Distinguished Professorship in Agronomy

College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Amanda Morris — George Kaiser Family Foundation Chair in Developmental Neurosciences
Dr. Tony Thornton — Doug and Nickie Burns Endowed Professorship in Choral Music
Chris Whittey — Vennerberg Endowed Chair in Art

Spears School of Business

Dr. Per Bylund — Johnny D. Pope Chair in Entrepreneurship
Dr. Lindsey Greco — William S. Spears Chair in Business Administration III
Dr. Craig Sisneros — Patrick B. Dorr Professorship
Dr. Kevin Kam Fung So — William S. Spears Chair in Business
Dr. Brij Thapa — Charles W. Lanphere Professorship in Hotel and Restaurant Administration

College of Education and Human Sciences

Dr. Greg Clare — Carol Dewitt Morsani Endowed Professorship in Design
Dr. Daniel Lin — John and Sue Taylor Human Environmental Sciences Professorship
Dr. Jentre Olsen — Brock Chair in Innovative Educational Leadership

College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Dr. Heather Fahlenkamp — Bartlett Chair in Chemical Engineering
Dr. James Smay — C. F. Colcord Chair

School of Global Studies and Partnerships

Dr. Jami Fullerton — Lawrence L. Boger Professorship in International Studies
Dr. Amy Malek — Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies Chair

College of Veterinary Medicine

Joao Brandao — Debbie and Wayne Bell Endowed Professorship in Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Dr. Lyndi Gilliam — June Jacobs Chair in Veterinary Medicine

Award for Academic 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.

Dr. Robert Scott Frazier — Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering — Ferguson College of Agriculture
Dr. Julia Haley — Music — College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Carol Johnson, Dr. Teresa Lightner and Julie Weathers — Business Administration — Spears School of Business
Amy Birchfield, Dr. Alana Cluck and Dr. Tyler Kane —Nursing —College of Education and Human Sciences
Dr. Jim West and Dr. Keith Teague — Electrical and Computer Engineering — 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.

Daniel Trippett — Philosophy — College of Arts and Sciences

Merrick Foundation Teaching Award

This award, with a $2,500 stipend, is presented to a faculty member who is judged to bring students a better understanding and appreciation of the American economic system.