Beaver Champion Award
Awarded by the Oregon State president to a person or team for outstanding effort and achievement of excellence, going beyond what is requested and performance of the highest quality that has yielded a universitywide impact.
2024 Recipient: Enrollment Management Team
Joanna Abbott, Marco Aguirre, Keri Allen, Laureana Arellano, Ezequiel Ayala Reyes, Danny Bailey, Jon Boeckenstedt, Guy Boulanger, Zoe Braun, Craig Brauner, Bodie Brooks, Noah Buckley, Jennifer Cartwright Murthy, Ashley Coleman, David Compton, Siobhan Daley, Rick DeBellis, Michael Dunn, Emily Finnan, Paige Fiske, Carla Friedt, Alex Galbreath, Chiara Gardin, Kole Garry, Karen Gescher, Jordan Hall, Melanie Hampton, Charlene Hansen, Britt Hanson, Austin Harris, Kathleen Hays, Braxton Hill, Aron Homberg, Rebecca Horlacher, Cimantha Hormel, Brian Hultgren, Regan Kaplan, Shane Kelly, Cori Kimmel, Kolbie Kopp, Kirk Lind, Jenner Little, Rebekah Lloyd, Michele Lynam, Angela Lynn, Jim Marquit, Jessica Martinez, Kaylene McLaughlin, Rosalie McVeigh-Walker, Laura Mondragon, Jasper Morrison, Matt Munger, Zola Nkansah, Grace Palmer, Emma Peterson, Peter Petryszak, Kelly Pjesky, Claire Poffenbarger, Hallie Price-Asadare, Cheyenne Pulsipher, Keith Raab, Desiree Recarte, Jenna Riccolo, Natalie Rooney, Gabriela Santos Botello, Jade Silver, Jenique Slack, Erica Smith, Ivy Snyder, Emory Spence, Kathie Stutzman, Brandon Swindon, Benjamin Todd, Hao Truong, Blake Vawter, Isis Velasquez, Rylan Wall, Heidi Ware, Bobbi Jo Williams, TaiAnn Williams, Heather Wofford, Dmitriy Zhukovskiy
Oregon State is the only R1 research institution in the nation that has had 28 consecutive years of enrollment growth, from 14,069 students in 1996 to more than 38,000 students expected this fall. The Enrollment Management team has been instrumental in driving this growth, particularly with the unprecedented challenges of the federal financial aid system in 2024.
This year, the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, was riddled with delays and errors. The team’s nominator notes how staff in undergraduate admissions, scholarships and financial aid “worked tirelessly, communicating regularly with parents, students and counselors, assuring them that OSU was going to work with them. They answered hundreds if not thousands of questions to ensure everyone was well cared for and getting reliable information.” The team also worked with state agencies to prevent potential under-awarding of the Oregon Opportunity Grant, which could have caused thousands of Oregon students to make uninformed decisions about college affordability.
As a result, “our first-year student class is right where it should be, and our new transfer student populations are booming.” Enrollment efforts span across the university, but the team’s “exceptional work and dedication made much of our success possible.”
Student Learning and Success Teamwork Award
Recognizes departments or interdisciplinary groups that have demonstrated exceptional teamwork in creating and sustaining an exemplary teaching and learning environment that advances the university’s strategic goal of student success and excellence.
2024 Recipient: Ecampus Student Success Team
Celina Long, Denisse Maciel, Leela Magdaleno, Alexandra Martino, Tay McEdwards, Cindy Middlebrooks, Marleigh Perez, Rebeka Phelps, Brandon Rodriguez, Eddie Rodriguez, Gina Rogers, Joe Schaffer, Bethany Ulman, Kyle Whitehouse, Aaron Worley
Nearly 30% of Oregon State students are enrolled in Ecampus courses and degree programs, including more than 11,000 students earning their degrees entirely online. With the goal to enroll 30,000 Ecampus students by 2030, the 15 members of the Student Success Team are vital to supporting students and maintaining Ecampus’ national reputation for excellence in online education.
The team’s faculty nominators highlight their work to improve student onboarding and collaborations with all of OSU’s academic colleges to help online students complete their degrees. One describes the team’s “positive, ‘can do’ approach” and how its members “constantly look for ways to improve the student experience.”
A group of nominating Ecampus students say they rely on the Student Success Team to help them navigate their education and feel connected to the university. The students appreciate “all of the work they do to not only support our success and provide resources but to help us feel a sense of belonging to Beaver Nation from afar.”
Exceptional Safety Team Award
Recognizes exceptional contributions by a team toward improving the safety culture at Oregon State University.
2024 Recipient: Facilities Services Landscape Shop
Tim Carpenter, Willy Doerr, Terry Folden, Kyle Gibbs, Kevin Lorain, Charlotte Pritchard, Ted Simpson, Dave Slifkin, Chris Trine, Guy Wilkins
The OSU Landscape Shop is responsible for keeping Oregon State’s 520-acre campus accessible, safe and beautiful, as well as continuing the longstanding tradition of maintaining the campus as a living laboratory. The team has fully embraced and expanded a culture of safety for its operations.
The Landscape Shop’s nominator notes how the team regularly suggests new ways of thinking about safety, keeping up with new forms of personal protective equipment and industry best practices. “It is this proactive nature that rises this group above others.”
One example of the team’s safety culture is tree work, which includes both scheduled removals and pruning as well as emergency response to storm damage, such as in this year’s ice storm. Tree work is already dangerous and requires stringent safety protocols, but “emergency work is even more hazardous. The same conditions that are extreme enough to close the campus are the conditions this crew is working in.”
Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring by a Graduate Student Award
Awarded to an OSU graduate student who has provided significant research-related mentoring to undergraduate students within the past three years.
2024 Recipient: Everardo Gonzalez
Ph.D. Student | Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering | College of Engineering
Ever Gonzalez is pursuing a Ph.D. in robotics. He has mentored five students in the Research Opportunities for Undergraduates program at OSU, a 10-week summer program where more than 20 undergraduates from across the country can gain hands-on experience.
Gonzalez’s faculty nominator says he has “dedicated significantly more time than required to ensure that every student gets the most out of this program.” His efforts to bring in students from different backgrounds, preparing challenging yet achievable research projects and follow-up after the program concludes has had “a tremendous impact on both recruiting and ensuring student success.”
One student nominator praises Gonzales for taking an interest in their academic and personal success, ready to talk about “everything under the moon. From relationships to high school robotics to Mexican food, every topic we covered, I learned something new from him. Ever has a big brain and an even bigger heart, two defining qualities all good mentors should have. Ever is the mentor we all wish we had.”
Herbert F. Frolander Graduate Teaching Assistant Award
Recognizes a graduate student who has excelled in their capacity as a teaching assistant.
2024 Recipient: Steven Tran
Graduate Student | Chemistry | College of Science
Steven Tran is a highly sought-after graduate teaching assistant among faculty in the Department of Chemistry, and while his research is in physical chemistry, he has also taught multiple organic chemistry laboratory courses.
One faculty nominator notes Tran has proven “he is capable of teaching all levels of chemistry,” and this versatility has been crucial for staffing many courses. When the department has needed a TA to step in as a last-minute substitute, “Steven has eagerly volunteered many times.” Tran is known for staying late and setting up extra sessions and office hours when students need extra help with lab work.
Another nominator says, “Steven embodies those ideals we aspire to in our community: A strong desire to help others learn, a fantastic positive attitude (which always seems to be contagious), a welcoming demeanor that immediately makes all students feel comfortable and respected, and a desire to make things better for students, the department, OSU and beyond.”
Excellence in Graduate Mentoring Award
Awarded to an OSU faculty member who best exemplifies the role of a mentor and who has provided exceptional mentoring to one or more graduate students during the previous year.
2024 Recipient: Hilary Boudet
Associate Professor | Public Policy | College of Liberal Arts
Hilary Boudet serves as director of graduate programs in the School of Public Policy, supervising the Master of Public Policy and Ph.D. programs. In this role, she has taken her work with her own students and multiplied it to support roughly 100 students in Corvallis and at Ecampus. She has served as committee chair for 15 MPP students and a committee member for 21 other master’s students, chaired three Ph.D. committees and served on 11 more.
One of her faculty nominators notes that Boudet’s mentees “praise her support as they move through our program, her accessibility, her commitment to supporting their goals, and the confidence they’ve gained from her leadership and mentoring.”
A past student notes that Boudet’s mentees “have all greatly appreciated her thorough feedback on their work.” He says Boudet encourages students to “pursue their scholarly and professional goals with full independence. Her commitment to the advancement of my career is unlike any mentor I have ever had.”
Excellence in Postdoctoral Mentoring Award
Awarded to an OSU faculty member who best exemplifies the role of a mentor and who has provided exceptional mentoring to one or more postdoctoral scholars during the previous year.
2024 Recipient: Arijit Sinha
Professor | Wood Science and Engineering | College of Forestry
Arijit Sinha has worked with five postdoc scholars since 2019. As a mentor, he prepares them to be successful researchers, providing guidance on proposal writing and budget planning that are essential skills for securing research funding. He also encourages collaboration with industry partners, helping postdocs build professional working relationships with experts in the field.
For one faculty nominator who regularly sees Sinha interact with his postdocs, “I know they receive the necessary level of time investment to ensure a positive ongoing work/mentoring relationship, and I can see the trust and mutual respect that exists.”
One postdoc notes that Sinha tailors their appointments “to provide opportunities to develop relevant skills,” including teaching, research and collaborations with industry and regulatory agencies. Another says Sinha’s approach to projects, initially very hands-on and then gradually giving the postdocs more control, “stimulates your leadership skills, critical reasoning abilities and interpersonal relationship skills. This helps you achieve expert status in no time, and this trust inspires all of his mentees.”
Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring by a Post-doc Award
Awarded to an OSU postdoc who has provided significant research-related mentoring to undergraduate students within the past three years.
2024 Recipient: Greg Goralogia
Research Associate | Forest Ecosystems and Society | College of Forestry
Greg Goralogia has mentored 12 undergraduate and 11 graduate students over the past five years, working one-on-one with students through all the stages of their research projects, from an abstract idea through experimentation and finally to results.
Goralogia’s faculty nominator says he “is extremely generous with his time” and his laboratory methods, time management and presentation tactics have been critical to student success. Goralogia has also been active in addressing diversity and equity issues and “is committed to treating all with full respect and helping to elevate the scientific potential of the less privileged and underrepresented.”
A first-generation student, having earned multiple fellowships and now entering a Ph.D. program, says Goralogia “makes me feel empowered to run headfirst into the next foreign world and not feel out of place or on my own in doing so.” Another student says, “every day, Greg brings pure enthusiasm for sharing knowledge. I have not only gained technical skills but also confidence in my abilities as a scientist.”
Postdoctoral Excellence Award
Recognizes exceptional postdoctoral scholars, fellows or research associates for their exceptional contributions to their research field, OSU and the greater postdoctoral community.
2024 Recipient: Andrzej Gładysiak
Postdoctoral Scholar | Chemistry | College of Science
Andrzej Gladysiak’s Ph.D. project focused on the rational design, synthesis and characterization of metal-organic frameworks for gas separation and sensing applications. He also studied how these materials behave as a function of temperature and pressure.
Gladysiak’s faculty nominator cites his “remarkable growth and achievements” throughout his Ph.D., as well as his “collaborative spirit and team-oriented approach. Andrzej played a pivotal role in leading measurements and assisting colleagues in representing their structures and data, thereby enriching the collective knowledge of the research group.” His ability to convey complex information that’s accessible to scientists of all levels “enhances the impact of our research efforts.”
Gladysiak has also taken on a mentorship role for nearly all of his nominator’s graduate students and a few undergraduates, earning their trust with his research acumen and critical thinking. “Witnessing Andrzej's dedication and interaction with my students is immensely gratifying, instilling confidence in his future as an exemplary and supportive mentor.”
2024 Recipient: Taylor Krueger
Postdoctoral Scholar | Chemistry | College of Science
Taylor Krueger is currently working on multiple research projects in collaboration with more than eight groups across the university, including chemistry, physics, electrical engineering and computer science, toxicology and food science and technology.
One of his faculty nominators highlights Krueger’s enthusiasm for research, outreach and service. “He has become the go-to person in the group, and his unwavering dedication to intelligent and diligent work has set exemplary routes for others. He has matured into a passionate tour-de-force researcher, spectroscopist, physical chemist and STEM educator.
Another nominator has worked with Krueger on Academia Juntos, a summer youth program encouraging Latinx students from across Oregon to pursue higher education in the STEM fields. Krueger has led lab safety presentations and science lab lessons, coordinated campus tours and even made ice cream using liquid nitrogen. He says, “I admire Dr. Krueger’s ability to connect with the youth and not only get their attention but actually get them interested in subjects that are often difficult for youth to be interested in.”
Promising Scholar Award
Awarded to a junior faculty member whose outstanding scholarship has been recognized by peers and who has demonstrated a high level of accomplishment over a relatively short time at OSU.
2024 Recipient: Xiao Fu
Associate Professor | Electrical Engineering and Computer Science | College of Engineering
Xiao Fu has been a trailblazer in bringing sophisticated mathematical theories from tensor analysis to his research in signal processing and machine learning. His research contributions span from fundamental computational and theoretical tools to applications of machine and signal intelligence in ecology, remote sensing and spectrum cartography, crowdsourcing for data labeling, wireless communications and hyperspectral imaging.
A faculty nominator notes Xiao has won 11 highly competitive research grants, 10 as the principal investigator, with his share totaling $3.3 million. He has six active grants from the National Science Foundation. “This level of grantsmanship is practically unheard of, even for senior researchers in the extremely competitive NSF funding landscape.”
Another faculty nominator says, “Students consider him a great teacher, and he is a remarkable mentor for his graduate and undergraduate students. His research output in terms of grants and publications is staggering for someone at his career stage. He serves as a great example of what a young researcher can accomplish.”
Impact Award for Outstanding Scholarship
Recognizes OSU faculty who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship in a specific project or activity resulting in substantial impact beyond the university setting.
2024 Recipient: David Xiulei Ji
Professor | Chemistry | College of Science
David Ji has continuously broken new ground with his research into sustainable battery chemistries. His innovative solutions for energy storage are critical to the transition to electric vehicles and the integration of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar into the power grid. Ji is recognized globally as a leader and disrupter in battery science and is working to commercialize his energy storage technologies.
Ji’s faculty nominators highlight his exceptional record of 175 publications, nearly 40,000 citations and 87 H-index as further evidence of the “far-reaching impact and pioneering nature of his work. His ability to translate intricate research into widely understandable terms has amplified the reach of his contributions.”
Another faculty nominator notes the diversity of students in Ji’s lab, which includes graduate, undergraduate and even high school students and an almost equal number of men and women. “His commitment to equity and inclusion is reflected in the composition of his research group and the stellar achievements of his students.”
Exceptional Leadership in Safety Award
Recognizes exceptional contributions toward improving the safety culture at Oregon State University.
2024 Recipient: Barbara Lagerquist
Research Coordinator | Marine Mammal Institute | College of Agricultural Sciences
Barbara Lagerquist oversees lab and fieldwork safety for more than 60 professors, researchers and graduate students at the Marine Mammal Institute. She attends and synthesizes information from monthly safety meetings to keep the MMI community informed on essential matters, from routine lab maintenance to hazardous waste disposal.
Lagerquist’s faculty nominators note that she has worked to update and improve environmental health and safety issues for the MMI’s lab and field work as well as for vessel operation planning. Her work has streamlined compliance for principal investigators and their lab members and ensures the well-being of colleagues and the animals under study.
Nominators praise Lagerquist for leadership and up-to-date knowledge. Her “unwavering commitment to health and safety has made the MMI a safer and more cohesive environment for research and collaboration. Her exceptional professionalism, attention to detail, proactive nature, patience and teamwork have significantly enhanced safety standards within the MMI and by extension OSU.”
Exemplary Employee Award
Awarded to professional faculty and classified staff members for their outstanding performance.
2024 Recipient, Professional Faculty: Jeff Clawson
Brewery Pilot Plant Manager | Food Science and Technology | College of Agricultural Sciences
Jeff Clawson worked with multiple stakeholders over several years to leverage a $1 million gift to the OSU brewing program into a $2 million facility that is considered the finest research and teaching brewery in North America. He supports commercial breweries in developing new products, giving 3-4 undergraduate students opportunities to develop their skills.
Clawson’s faculty nominator highlights how many former students now work throughout Oregon’s brewing industry or have started their own microbreweries. “If you visit a brewery, I encourage you to ask if they employ one of Jeff’s apprentices. I suspect you will run into them everywhere.” Another says, “by living and breathing the mission of our department and working far beyond the expectations of his position description, he is truly an exceptional employee and colleague.”
A former student, now working in the industry, says Clawson “consistently challenged me and others to think deeper about what we were doing. I attribute most of my real-world practical brewing experience to Jeff and his mentoring approach.”
2024 Recipient, Classified Staff: LaRae Wallace
Fiscal Coordinator | Finance and Operations | Division of Research and Innovation
LaRae Wallace is a cornerstone of the budget and financial team in the Division of Research and Innovation, adept at navigating complex fiscal challenges and analyzing data with efficiency. Her expertise and institutional knowledge is vast and comprehensive.
One faculty nominator highlights Wallace’s adaptability and resourcefulness, finding creative solutions to improve processes. “LaRae exemplifies the core values of OSU through her professionalism, integrity and teamwork. Her positive attitude, willingness to help others and strong work ethic create a culture of collaboration and excellence that inspires everyone around her.”
Another nominator says Wallace, “excels at investigating financial transactions and resolving outstanding issues due to her knowledge of OSU’s systems, processes and policies. Wallace has “provided exceptional budgeting and financial leadership, expertise and wisdom that have been critical to the success of our expansion,” says another. “We never need to spend time ‘bringing her up to speed.’ Her deep understanding of our operational narrative is unmatched in my time at OSU.”
University Mentoring and Professional Development Award
Awarded for excellence in mentoring, supporting and encouraging OSU employees, especially women and those from underrepresented groups or nontraditional careers.
2024 Recipient: Dwaine Plaza
Professor | Sociology | College of Liberal Arts
Dwaine Plaza has used his commitment to social justice and equity to lead institutional change at Oregon State and create careers opportunities for people who have been traditionally underserved in higher education. He has served on the President's Commission on the Status of Black Faculty and Staff Affairs and on the Oregon State ADVANCE grant from the National Science Foundation.
One of Plaza’s faculty nominators calls him “an amazing advocate for women and minorities at OSU and elsewhere,” always willing to mentor and support students and colleagues. A Black faculty member, now tenured, says Plaza “worked tirelessly to ensure that I was supported, that I understood my value, and that I seized every opportunity to contribute to the institution and the field.”
Another faculty nominator credits Plaza with mentoring throughout their doctoral program as well as creating professional opportunities “where I would thrive and develop. Dr. Plaza recognized my talent, skills and abilities and encouraged me to reach for my dreams.”
Professional Faculty Excellence Award
Recognizes exceptional service of a faculty member in a role other than the traditional areas of teaching, research or Extension.
2024 Recipient: Karley Lewis
Finance and Strategic Operations Analyst | Dean’s Office | College of Liberal Arts
Karley Lewis is a master of all things budget, providing clear, organized, readily understood information about the financial health of all units and programs within the College of Liberal Arts. She can harness large amounts of data and create tools that allow for various custom parameters, projecting the budget impact of any particular decision or action.
A group of faculty nominators say Lewis’ “visionary development of accessible, actionable tools” covering scheduling, enrollment and other elements of budgeting “means that every faculty member in the college is benefiting from her behind-the-scenes work.” They credit her generous sharing of expertise with building confidence and trust, strengthening the practice of shared governance.
Another nominator says Lewis “does the hard but often unacknowledged work to sustain our large and extremely complex college. Karley is an essential member of the CLA leadership team and someone I trust deeply to understand and guide our strategies and day-to-day management.”
Outstanding Diversity Advocate Award
Recognizes members of the university community who contribute to and enhance the environment of OSU through consistent and sustained efforts to improve opportunities for the diverse communities we serve.
2024 Recipient: Francis Chan
Associate Professor | Integrative Biology | College of Science
Frances Chan, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has created many opportunities for underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students seeking careers in marine science, a field lacking in diversity.
One faculty nominator highlights Chan’s work with the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Summer Bridge program, which builds connections with NOAA scientists. He also recruited 15 students this year to IN FISH, NOAA’s fisheries internship program. These collaborations with NOAA, “prepare students for careers in research, management and public policy, helping to build a diverse and inclusive workforce of federal scientists and managers.” In addition, Chan supports recruitment and retention efforts in the New Beginnings for Tribal Students program, “creating clear career pathways into marine science for our Tribal student population.”
Another faculty nominator says Chan regularly supports students of color in their research and education. “These efforts taken by Francis are innate. He does it because he believes it, not because it is part of his job or an expectation from society.”
International Service Award
Honors exemplary, ongoing contributions of OSU faculty and staff to the internationalization of the university by enhancing student, faculty and staff awareness and participation in international education, research and related activities.
2024 Recipient: Susan Shaw
Professor | Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies | College of Liberal Arts
Susan Shaw has expanded Oregon State’s global reach and reputation through teaching, research and service. She has taught multiple study abroad courses in London and led short-term programs in Guatemala, Spain and Costa Rica, recruiting both students and colleagues to participate. She has also developed collaborative programs with universities in India.
One faculty nominator notes Shaw “has led the way in not only developing and teaching study abroad programs, but also supporting others to do so.” To make study abroad more accessible, she has created short-term programs and has sought scholarships and funding for students.
A student nominator says Shaw’s courses “have inspired me to broaden my perspectives and view life through the eyes of others, not only from an American perspective but also from a global perspective. Dr. Shaw's eagerness to bridge gaps often created by borders equips students and communities worldwide to start conversations, listen with an open heart and mind and work to heal the wounds inflicted by generations past.”
Extension and Engagement Award
Recognizes significant and meritorious work that enhances reciprocal learning with students, partners and stakeholders through OSU outreach and engagement activities.
2024 Recipient: Larry O’Neill
Associate Professor | Oregon Climate Services | College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences
Larry O’Neill is a leading expert on high-impact climate and weather events like drought, heat waves, floods and wildfires. As Director of the Oregon Climate Service, he presents scientific information any audience can understand and view as credible via local, state, national and international media outlets as well as podcasts.
O’Neill’s faculty nominator highlights the “deep relationships he has cultivated with communities and stakeholders across the state. Larry has proven that he is not just a good speaker but also a good listener. This two-way communication is essential to effective outreach.”
A nomination from a collaborator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration cites O’Neill’s efforts to communicate complex drought and climate information that impacts Oregon, Washington and Idaho, “delivered in a way that is highly accessible to both the general public and those with scientific expertise.” A student adds that O’Neill often discusses his outreach with the media and government agencies so that students “can learn and see scientific communication in action.”
Dar Reese Excellence in Advising Award
Awarded for outstanding advising of undergraduate students by a member of the OSU faculty, as well as for demonstrated success in teaching, research and service.
2024 Recipient: Janell Johnson
Senior Instructor I and Head Academic Advisor | Animal and Rangeland Sciences | College of Agricultural Sciences
Janell Johnson directly advises 150 students and provides oversight for one of the larger advising groups within the College of Agricultural Sciences. She has created a Canvas studio site where students can connect with their academic advisor, discover internships and job openings, learn about research experience options, access scholarship opportunities and more.
One of her faculty nominators says Johnson’s “communication and interpersonal skills establish a relationship where students can feel comfortable asking questions, being connected with campus or community resources and accessing student support services.” Johnson helps students schedule classes efficiently, checks in on their progress to keep them on track for graduation and “works hard to make sure they all feel heard.”
A previous student, now an agriculture science teacher, was mentored by Johnson throughout her undergraduate and graduate degrees. “I truly believe that my entire college and educational experience would have been different if it had not been for the support and guidance that Janell offered me every step of the way.”
Academic Advising Award
Awarded in recognition of outstanding undergraduate academic advising by professional faculty rank as well as fixed-term academic rank faculty whose primary role is advising.
2024 Recipient: Cody Duncan
Academic Advisor | Integrative Biology | College of Science
Cody Duncan supports advisors across campus working with students applying for medical school, and he also oversees OSU’s medical preceptorship program. He worked with the Office of Institutional Diversity to expand the reach of the program, tripling the number of underrepresented students participating. He also advises three student clubs focused on health professions.
Duncan’s faculty nominator describes him as “humble, dedicated, collegial, professional,” with “a warm approachability that is a perfect mix for helping students navigate a complex decision tree full of both opportunities and challenges.” Duncan is widely respected among his colleagues, and “his advisees think the world of him.”
A past student, now completing a family medicine residency, credits Duncan with helping navigate their undergraduate degree and the often-difficult pathway to medicine “in a thoughtful, cautious manner. He outlined what I could do, what I should do, and how I would go about it. What will always stand out was how human, personable and accessible he was.”
Outstanding Faculty Research Assistant Award
Recognizes scholarly achievement and a level of innovation and effort that far exceeds expectations.
2024 Recipient: Dana Howe
Senior Faculty Research Assistant | Integrative Biology | College of Science
Dana Howe supports research on fundamental questions in biology using many different analytical approaches, demonstrating stellar skills in science, teamwork and project management. She has also played a key role in training more than 100 undergraduate and graduate students.
One faculty nominator describes Howe as “a positive, organized, collaborative role model for women in science.” As the lab’s research has evolved, Howe has led development of new systems, including new genome strategies to examine the DNA of different species. “Dana has demonstrated exceptional organizational and communication skills that have been essential to the success of many different research collaborations.”
Oregon’s agriculture industry has directly benefited from Howe’s research contributions. Another nominator highlights Howe’s role in the discovery of three species of nematodes — parasitic worms that could be used to control slug and snail pests that threaten important agriculture products in the Pacific Northwest. Howe “makes genuinely important contributions and without question has improved the quality of research data generated by our teams.”
Faculty Affordability Award
Recognizes a demonstrated commitment to providing affordable course learning materials to students, using no-cost or low-cost course materials in their classes.
2024 Recipient: Arien Muzacz
Associate Clinical Professor | Counselor, Adult and Higher Education | College of Education
Arien Muzacz has consistently kept the cost of materials for courses she has developed or redeveloped to $40 or less. As chair of the Laurels Black Grant, she received $38,428 in tuition waivers to support nine incoming master’s students for the 2024 academic year.
Muzacz’s faculty nominator highlights how she integrates peer-reviewed articles, videos, websites, podcasts and recorded interviews into her courses, “ensuring that students have access to contemporary and emerging practices.” Muzacz’s approach has encouraged colleagues to adopt similar practices, “amplifying the impact of her work across the university.” Another says, “Dr. Muzacz has not only reduced the financial burden on students but also elevated the quality and relevance of the learning materials.”
Two student nominators note both the required textbook and the recommended textbook for one of Muzacz’s classes were available for free through the OSU library. “Dr. M’s efforts to make the course materials accessible has made a sizeable and meaningful impact for us and our diverse group of peers.”
Faculty Innovator Award
Recognizes a faculty member whose extraordinarily high-impact research innovations are translated into transformative results that help promote economic development and social progress, specifically through commercialization.
2024 Recipient: Jonathan Hurst
Professor | Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering | College of Engineering
Jonathan Hurst has spent his career focused on understanding how animals move and translating that knowledge into machines. This innovative approach has led to robots that walk on two legs like people do, so they “can go where people go, do useful tasks in human spaces and co-exist with people,” he says.
Hurst’s research is being commercialized by Agility Robotics, a spinoff company he co-founded and where he serves as chief robot officer. Agility’s first commercial product, Digit, is the only humanoid robot currently working for customers in warehouse and logistics operations. Hurst says the goal is for Digit to “take over the dull, dangerous, dirty and repetitive tasks,” augmenting the workforce by freeing up human employees for other jobs.
Agility is scaling up manufacturing capacity for Digit at RoboFab, a new factory in Salem that will be able to produce up to 10,000 robots a year. It’s also an application for Digit —the robots are deployed in the warehouse and move material on the production floor.
Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring by a Faculty Member Award
Awarded to an OSU faculty member who has provided significant research-related mentoring to undergraduate students within the past three years.
2024 Recipient: Taylor Chapple
Assistant Professor | Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences | College of Agricultural Sciences
Taylor Chapple is director of the Big Fish Lab, focusing on sharks and other large marine predators while encouraging students to pursue research in the STEM fields. Over the past four years, he has mentored 33 undergraduates and has secured grant funding from several OSU programs to provide students with paid internships.
Chapple’s faculty nominator says because he recognizes marine field work can be intimidating and unwelcoming to many people, “he has worked tirelessly to create a learning environment with space and support for diverse thoughts, ideas, experience and identity in his lab.” Among his mentees are 12 students from historically marginalized groups and two students with disabilities.
Students cite Chapple’s patience, constructive feedback and support to develop problem-solving skills. One notes, “Taylor knows exactly where to nudge his students with guiding, challenging questions in the right direction and lead us to the solution rather than simply handing it to us, making us think critically and become even better researchers because of it."
Faculty Excellence in Online Teaching Award
Recognizes faculty who devote a significant amount of time to online teaching and development of online for-credit courses.
2024 Recipient: Staci Bronson
Instructor | Integrative Biology | College of Science
Staci Bronson designed and teaches a three-course lecture/lab series, Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology, online via Ecampus. She uses innovative multimedia resources that bring the lab experience to online students, including more than 100 videos, a blood pressure testing simulation and an interactive “bone box” where students can pick up, rotate and examine 3D scans of real human bones.
One of Bronson’s faculty nominators says her course-design and student-engagement strategies skillfully integrate best practices in online learning with appropriate pedagogical rigor. Another notes that in Bronson’s courses, “everything has been designed around creating an engaging student experience that is not only educational but also highly organized, accessible and entertaining — a virtual space you want to return to again and again.”
A student nominator who teaches high school biology and human anatomy says that as a teacher herself, she appreciates Bronson’s accessibility, organization and clarity in presentation. “It is fun to continue learning in a deeper way and bring that back to my students.”
Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
Honors unusually significant and meritorious achievement in teaching and scholarship that enhances effective instruction.
2024 Recipient: Ashley D’Antonio
Associate Professor | Forest Ecosystems and Society | College of Forestry
Ashley D’Antonio teaches three required courses in the Tourism, Recreation and Adventure Leadership Natural Resources program, one of which also fulfills the Contemporary Global Issues requirement in the Baccalaureate Core. She is also active in training and programs for the Center for Teaching and Learning.
D’Antonio’s faculty nominator notes she has implemented a pre-term and mid-term survey that allows her to tailor her approach to meet the diverse needs of her students. Her engagement with professional societies, active research programs and partnerships with the Oregon Department of Forestry and USDA Forest Service “ensures her courses reflect the latest developments in the field and are aligned with the skills and knowledge required by industry.”
A student nominator says D’Antonio “has had a direct and significant impact on my life. She reinforced and encouraged the directions I wanted to go in school and in life and helped me build better self-confidence in my school work. In addition, she has inspired me to be a better person in and out of school.”
Richard M. Bressler Senior Faculty Teaching Award
Recognizes an exemplary commitment to undergraduate instruction by an OSU faculty member.
2024 Recipient: Scott Heppell
Professor | Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences | College of Agricultural Sciences
Scott Heppell has developed or substantially modified more than a dozen courses in Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences. He has taught or co-taught almost 20 classes both in person and online via Ecampus. His teaching includes all levels of the FWCS curriculum, as well as a writing-intensive course and two courses in the Baccalaureate Core. One of these, Food from the Sea, has become one of the most popular courses on campus.
As one of his faculty nominators explains, Heppell’s leadership in course development “has had an incredibly positive influence on students not just in FWCS majors, but across the entire university.”
A past student writes, “I’ve observed few professors who can capture and maintain the attention of every student in the room from the first minute of class. Every class was rich with student engagement, which I attribute to Scott’s enthusiasm for what he teaches.”
D. Curtis Mumford Faculty Service Award
Recognizes exceptional, ongoing, dedicated and unselfish concern for and service to OSU faculty.
2024 Recipient: Daniel Faltesek
Associate Professor | New Media Communications | College of Liberal Arts
Dan Faltesek served on five committees — simultaneously — throughout the Baccalaureate Core reform process and the development of the university’s new Core Education program. In addition, his expertise and scholarship in digital communication has helped the university respond quickly to the academic challenges of artificial intelligence and ChatGPT.
One of his faculty members says, “OSU would not have been able to reform its curriculum, nor would we be as successful with Core Education implementation, without his tireless effort and focused work.” Another says, “people listen to Dan because he knows what he is talking about and puts the welfare of students and the broader OSU community first.”
A student nominator praises Faltesek’s “outstanding service on top of some of the most engaging and adaptive teaching I have ever seen. It is clear he is committed to developing a practical, rigorous curriculum that helps students develop skills that will make them competitive for the job market. He is willing to work tirelessly to ensure students are given a general education well worth their tuition.”
Elizabeth P. Ritchie Distinguished Professor Award
Recognizes an OSU faculty member for outstanding undergraduate teaching and research focused on the improvement of instruction and professional leadership.
2024 Recipient: Regan Gurung
Professor | Psychological Science | College of Liberal Arts
Regan Gurung is a national leader in teaching and learning, faculty development and pedagogical research. While typically teaching large classes with more than 400 students, he is known for building rapport with them and providing individualized attention. He also constantly assesses his teaching, measuring students’ learning based on course outcomes.
One of Gurung’s faculty nominators says, “his students report feeling important, inspired and supported. Not only is he prolific, intelligent and tremendously active, he also brings kindness and humility to his role.”
One student nominator describes how on their first day in their first year, Gurung spent the first 15 minutes of class taking pictures as the 400 students held up slips of paper with their names on them. By the next class period, any student who raised a hand was answered by name, an example of “not only how much he knew about people and how they work, but also how much he cared to both understand and share that knowledge.”
Alumni Association Distinguished Professor Award
Awarded to a faculty member who demonstrates outstanding professional achievement through teaching and scholarship, service to the university and the community, and professional leadership, nationally and internationally.
2024 Recipient: Elisar Barbar
Professor | Biochemistry and Biophysics | College of Science
Elisar Barbar is an international leader in the relatively new field of intrinsically disordered proteins, and her research on RNA-protein interactions helped increase understanding of the biology of the SARS-CoV2 virus. She spearheaded a 10-year effort to secure funding for an 800-MHz nuclear magnetic resonance instrument — the highest-field NMR in the region — which has stimulated research in multiple areas while boosting the university’s reputation.
Barbar’s faculty nominator notes she has mentored 84 undergraduates, 16 graduate students and 6 postdocs, prioritizing opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds, “ensuring her lab is an inclusive, safe environment, and helping each mentee find their best path forward.” She has helped her mentees “cultivate their talents and interests and find success.”
Two of Barbar’s past students, now completing medical degrees, call her “a giant in her field” whose “scholarly impact is irrefutable. Her proactive communication, community-building initiatives and commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion have strengthened the department and inspired confidence among faculty, staff and students alike.”