Eight Ohio University faculty were honored for their accomplishments in research and teaching during a recognition ceremony Oct. 31. The event celebrated the 2018 recipients of the Presidential Research Scholars Award, Presidential Teacher Award and Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
“The selection process for these awards is rigorous. Whether you have received an award or were a finalist, you can be justifiably proud of your significant achievement in earning this recognition,” Howard Dewald, associate provost for faculty and academic planning, told the audience of faculty, administrators and the award recipients’ family members and friends gathered in Baker Center Ballroom.
Faculty members Morgan Vis and Brian Clark were recognized as the 2018 Ohio University Presidential Research Scholars for excellence in life and biomedical sciences research. Vis is a professor in the Department of Environmental and Plant Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences. Clark is a professor and the Harold E. Clybourne, D.O., Endowed Research Chair in the Department of Biomedical Sciences in the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.
The awards program recognizes mid-career faculty members who have garnered national and international prominence in research, scholarship and creative activity. Each award recipient will receive $3,000 to be used at the scholar’s discretion as an honorarium or to support research or creative works.
undefinedFrom left to right: President M. Duane Nellis, Presidential Research Scholars Morgan Vis and Brian Clark, Executive Vice President and Provost Chaden Djalali, and Interim Vice President for Research and Creative Activity David Koonce. Photo credit: Hannah Ruhoff/Ohio University. Fabian Benencia, associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences in the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, was chosen as the winner of the Presidential Teacher Award. The award is presented to a full-time, tenured (Group I) faculty member from one of OHIO’s campuses. Finalists for the award were Laura Harrison, associate professor in the Department of Counseling and Higher Education in The Patton College of Education, and Chao-Yang Lee, associate professor and coordinator in the School of Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences in the College of Health Sciences and Professions.
undefinedFrom left to right: President M. Duane Nellis, Presidential Teacher Award recipient Fabian Benencia, Presidential Teacher Award finalist Chao-Yang Lee, Executive Vice President and Provost Chaden Djalali, and Interim Vice President for Research and Creative Activity David Koonce. Not pictured: Presidential Teacher Award finalist Laura Harrison. Photo credit: Hannah Ruhoff/Ohio University. Deborah Murray, associate lecturer in the School of Applied Health Sciences and Wellness in the College of Health Sciences and Professions, was named winner of the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. The Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching is presented to a full-time non-tenure track (Group II) faculty member from one of OHIO’s campuses. Finalists for the award were Courtney Koestler, lecturer in the Department of Teacher Education in The Patton College of Education, and Marcus Barr, lecturer in the School of Applied Health Sciences and Wellness in the College of Health Sciences and Professions.
undefinedFrom left to right: President M. Duane Nellis, Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching finalist Courtney Koestler, Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching recipient Deborah Murray, Executive Vice President and Provost Chaden Djalali, and Interim Vice President for Research and Creative Activity David Koonce. Not pictured: Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching finalist Marcus Barr. Photo credit: Hannah Ruhoff/Ohio University. Both Presidential Teachers and Provost Teachers hold their titles for three years, and receive $1,000 each year. The selection committees for both awards reviewed portfolios, visited classrooms and conducted interviews of the finalists and their chairs, directors or division coordinators. The criteria include excellence in teaching and meritorious academic pursuits, both inside and outside the classroom. The event was sponsored by the offices of the Executive Vice President and Provost and Vice President for Research and Creative Activity.