OSU faculty honored with 2025 DaVinci Fellowships for Creativity and Innovation in Education
Friday, April 11, 2025
Media Contact: Mack Burke | Associate Director of Media Relations | 405-744-5540 | news@okstate.edu
Two Oklahoma State University faculty members have been recognized as 2025 DaVinci Fellows by the DaVinci Institute.
Dr. Aimee Parkison of the College of Arts and Sciences has been named a DaVinci Creativity in Education Fellow, and Dr. John Hu of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology has been named a DaVinci Fellow — one of Oklahoma’s highest honors for creative and impactful educators.
The DaVinci Institute is a statewide think tank committed to nurturing creativity and innovation across the arts, sciences and humanities. Each year, it recognizes outstanding educators whose work exemplifies the ideals of Leonardo da Vinci — cross-disciplinary excellence, imagination and a passion for transformative teaching.
Parkison, professor of English, was selected for her groundbreaking integration of creative writing with scientific and ecological education.
Her “Narrating Nature” program, a certificate initiative developed with faculty across the university, bridges creative writing with STEM by encouraging students to explore biodiversity and climate change through fiction and storytelling.
Parkison’s project exemplifies the DaVinci Creativity Fellow mission of transforming education through interdisciplinary, creative pedagogy.
Hu, assistant professor and Jack H. Graham Endowed Fellow of Engineering in electrical and computer engineering, was honored for his pioneering work in semiconductor education.
Hu is tackling one of the industry’s most pressing challenges — how to teach debugging, a critical yet underrepresented skill in engineering education. By integrating AI tools like ChatGPT into his teaching, Hu empowers students to approach circuit debugging as a growth opportunity, not a failure.
His work has not only improved student success rates but is also shaping the future semiconductor workforce in Oklahoma and beyond.
“These two faculty members embody the spirit of creative excellence and interdisciplinary innovation that define the DaVinci mission,” said Dr. Adrienne Redmond-Sanogo, associate dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences and DaVinci Institute Board Member. “Their work reflects OSU’s commitment to bold ideas, student-centered learning, and impactful research that serves both local and global communities.”
The awards were presented at the annual DaVinci Institute Awards Ceremony in Oklahoma City. More information about the event and the recipients can be found at www.davinciok.org.