OSU announces 2024 university award winners

Friday, December 13, 2024

Media Contact: Sydney Trainor | Communications and Media Relations Specialist | 405-744-9782 | sydney.trainor@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University Provost Jeanette Mendez — alongside Vice Provost Dr. Chris Francisco — acknowledged the accomplishments of faculty, staff and administrators in 2024 during the University Awards Convocation held Thursday at the Student Union Ballroom.  

Recipients were recognized in 22 different categories, each nominated by supervisors and colleagues.   

“This annual celebration recognizes and commemorates the outstanding achievements of so many OSU faculty and staff,” Dr. Mendez said. “And while this ceremony is something we do every year, I continue to be amazed at the dedication and innovative spirit of the OSU family.” 

Dr. Douglas Knutson — associate professor of community health sciences, counseling and counseling psychology — received awards in three different categories. He was recognized for continuing to inspire and mentor students and to equip them with competencies needed to succeed in their chosen careers. 

The Distinguished Early Career Faculty Award recipients were Dr. Darren Hagen, animal and food science associate professor; Dr. Lucia Ciciolla, associate professor of psychology; Dr. Michael Reichert, associate professor of integrative biology; Dr. Justin Lawrence, associate professor of marketing and international business; Knutson; Dr. Yu Feng, associate professor, chemical engineering; Dr. Marten Brienen, OSU Global associate professor; Dr. Madhan Subramanian; associate professor of physiological sciences; and Patrick Daglaris, associate professor, Library. 

Dr. Jeff Sadler — assistant professor of biosystems and agricultural engineering — received the Land-Grant Award for Excellence. 

“Dr. Sadler has played a critical role in the success of the Oklahoma Well Owners Network, where he serves as the key liaison between the program and County Extension Educators throughout the state,” Mendez said. “In the past year, Sadler has organized 18 well water testing and education events throughout Oklahoma.   

“His passion for our land-grant mission is clearly demonstrated through innovative research that is crucial for the tens of thousands of well owners in Oklahoma.”  

The Leave the Ladder Down Awards were given to Dr. James Pappas, Spears School of Business; Megan Janus, Ferguson College of Agriculture; and Claude Bess, OSU Extension. 

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 Dr. Stephen Clarke, nutritional sciences professor; Angie McFarlin, administrative associate in the Department of Mathematics; and Dr. Julie Weathers, director of strategic initiatives and assessment. 

The Eminent Faculty Award is the highest honor given to a faculty member who has made sustained contributions to scholarly creative activity, instruction and service, bringing honor and recognition to the university. This year the recipient was Dr. Raj Singh, Regents Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology.   

List of Awardees: 

Phoenix Award for Graduate Faculty 

• Douglas Knutson, Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psychology, College of Education and Human Sciences 

President’s Fellows Research Award 

• Bruce Noden, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Ferguson College of Agriculture 
• John O’Hara, Computer and Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology 
• Laleh Tahsini, Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences 

Public Impact Research Award 

• Ronald Cox Jr., Human Development and Family Science, College of Education and Human Sciences 

Regents Distinguished Research Award 

• Liuling Yan, Plant and Soil Sciences, Ferguson College of Agriculture 
• Michael Long, Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences  
• Aimee Parkison, English, College of Arts and Sciences  
• Todd Arnold, Marketing and International Business, Spears School of Business  
• Sam Emerson, Nutritional Sciences, College of Education and Human Sciences 
• Brian Elbing, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology 
• Michael Davis, Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine 

Regents Distinguished Teaching Award 

• Sergio Abit, Plant and Soil Sciences, Ferguson College of Agriculture 
• Babu Fathepure, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Arts and Sciences 
• Henry Segerman, Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences 
• Sarah Johnson, Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psychology, College of Education and Human Sciences 
• Jennifer Glenn, Industrial Engineering and Management, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology  

Career Champion Award 

Faculty  

• Alexis Washington, Management, Spears School of Business 

Staff  

• Rachael Eaton, Research Engagement, College of Arts and Sciences 

Dr. Patricia A. Bell Inclusive Excellence Faculty Award 

• Michael Rhone, Nutritional Sciences, College of Education and Human Sciences 

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

• Brenda Davidson, Access and Community Impact, Center for Health Sciences 

Global Education Faculty Excellence Award 

• Skye Cooley, Media and Strategic Communications, College of Arts and Sciences 

Online Teaching Excellence Award 

• Sasha Hanrahan, Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences 

Outreach Excellence Award 

• Caitlin Barnes, Outreach, College of Arts and Sciences 

Newly Appointed Chair and Professorship Holders 

Ferguson College of Agriculture 

• Rodney Holcomb, McLaughlin Family Food Safety Chair 

College of Arts and Sciences  

• Melinda Cro, Puterbaugh Foundation Chair 
• Lori McKinnon, Peggy Layman Welch Chair in Journalism 

Spears School of Business 

• Corey Baham, William S. Spears Chair in Business Administration II 
• Xiang Fang, Jay Helm Professorship in Business at OSU-Tulsa 
• J.B. Kim, Carson Priority Excellence Chair in Business Administration 
• Bradley Lawson, Lanny G. Chasteen Chair in Accounting 
• Griffin Pivateau, Endowed Professorship in Applied Business Ethics 
• Wenyi Shen, Glenn M. Stinchcomb Family Professorship 
• Lisa Slevitch, Charles W. Lanphere Professorship in Hotel and Restaurant Administration 
• Angela Spencer, Wilton T. Anderson Chair in Accounting II 

College of Education and Human Sciences 

• Jennifer Cribbs, Bill and Billie Dean Buckles Innovation in Teaching Endowed Professorship 
• Katherine Curry, Williams Chair in Higher Education 
• Erin Dyke, Laurence L. and Georgia Ina Dresser Professorship in Rural Teacher Education 
• Ashlyn Fiegener, John A. and Donnie Brock Professorship in Educational Leadership and Policy 
• Stephanie Hathcock, Audrey E. Oaks Endowed Professorship 
• Douglas Knutson, Myron C. Ledbetter and Bob Lemon Counseling Psychology Diversity Professorship 
• DJ McMaughan, Joan Donelson Jacques Health Promotion Professorship 
• Shanedra Nowell, Stella V. Andersen Endowed Professorship 
• Hyejune Park, Carol Dewitt Morsani Endowed Professorship in Design 
• Jon Pedersen, Frank and Carol Morsani Endowed Chair in Mathematics and Science Education 
• Qiuying (Lydia) Wang, Elizabeth Jacques Munroe Professorship in Reading and Literacy Education 
• Carrie Winterowd, Jennifer Jacques Flanery Community Counseling Professorship 

College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology 

• Hanchen Huang, Donald and Cathey Humphreys Chair in CEAT 

College of Veterinary Medicine 

• Natarajan Aravindan, Kerr Foundation Endowed Chair 

Edmon Low Library 

• Mary Larson, Claud D. Kniffin Professorship of Library Service and Education 
• Juliana Nykolaiszyn, Puterbaugh Professorship for Library Services 

Excellence in Teaching Award for Adjunct Faculty 

• Kaylee Travis, Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership, Ferguson College of Agriculture 

Merrick Foundation Teaching Award 

• Eric Sisneros, Finance, Spears School of Business 

Advising Excellence Award 

• Gretchen Mafi, Animal and Food Sciences, Ferguson College of Agriculture 
• Leslie Baldwin, Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Arts and Sciences  
• Chrissi Lyles, Chesapeake Energy Business Student Success Center, Spears School of Business 
• Jason Kirkpatrick, Academic Programs and Student Success Center, College of Education and Human Sciences 
• Anndrea Jeane, Student Academic Services, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology 
• Ashleigh Snell, Student Success and Advising / LASSO Center, Division of Academic Affairs 
• Katie Parr, Student Success Center, Honors College 
• Rosslyn Biggs, Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine 
• Jill Joyce, Nutritional Sciences, College of Education and Human Sciences, Graduate College’s Outstanding Graduate Coordinator 

Newly Appointed Regents Professors 

• Ramanjulu Sunkar, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ferguson College of Agriculture 
• Tyson Ochsner, Plant and Soil Sciences, Ferguson College of Agriculture 

 Oklahoma Online Excellence Award  

• Outreach Team, Outreach, College of Arts and Sciences  

Distinguished Early Career Faculty Award  

• Darren Hagen, Animal and Food Sciences, Ferguson College of Agriculture  
• Lucia Ciciolla, Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences 
• Michael Reichert, Integrative Biology, College of Arts and Sciences 
• Justin Lawrence, Marketing and International Business, Spears School of Business 
• Douglas Knutson, Community Health Sciences, Counseling, and Counseling Psychology, College of Education and Human Sciences 
• Yu Feng, Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology 
• Marten Brienen, OSU Global 
• Madhan Subramanian, Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine 
• Patrick Daglaris, Library 

Land-Grant Award for Excellence  

• Jeff Sadler, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Ferguson College of Agriculture 

Leave the Ladder Down Award  

• James Pappas, Department of Management, Spears School of Business 
• Megan Janus, Academic Programs, Ferguson College of Agriculture 
• Claude Bess, Southeast Oklahoma Extension Office, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources 

University Service Award  

• Stephen Clarke, Nutritional Sciences, College of Education and Human Sciences 
• Angie McFarlin, Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences 
• Julie Weathers, director of strategic initiatives and assessment, Spears School of Business 

Eminent Faculty Award  

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