Kuehn Receives Graduate Award

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Michelle Kuehn of Stillwater was recently named the 2016 Outstanding Graduate Staff member.

Kuehn, a senior administrative support specialist for veterinary graduate education, was nominated by the graduate students at OSU’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. She received a certificate and $500.

The winner is selected from the nominees by a representative of GPSGA, Graduate Council, Graduate College and the immediate past winners of the Outstanding Graduate Coordinator and Program Staff awards. The selection is based on service to graduate education at OSU.

“I am just so honored that my students (and I affectionately claim them as “mine”) think enough of me to nominate me for this award,” says Kuehn.  “We’ve all worked at getting to know one another better so that my role in their graduate education can be memorable and meaningful rather than just nagging them about paperwork!  I always look forward to new students coming, but also love catching up with those who have graduated and moved on.”

Kuehn oversees the 42 graduate students pursuing a master’s or Ph.D. in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences. The students come here to study from within the United States, Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

“About one-third are clinical residents at OSU’s Veterinary Medical Hospital or full-time research staff here in Stillwater as well as in OKC and Tulsa,” says Kuehn. “Another third are teaching assistants who help with DVM courses while pursuing research. The remaining third are research assistants whose time is devoted entirely to research in their respective labs.”

Kuehn’s responsibilities include assisting with enrollment, processing graduate student payroll, keeping students on track with their paperwork and scheduling their defense when they are ready.

Originally from Duncan, Okla., Michelle and her husband, Ron, moved to Stillwater in July 1991 so Ron could pursue a master’s degree. The couple never left. They have two children and both work at OSU’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences.