University Day

2022 University Day Award Recipients

The Excellence in Postdoctoral Mentoring Award is awarded annually to the 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. This year’s recipient is Jennifer Field, a professor with the Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology in the College of Agricultural Sciences.

The Herbert F. Frolander Graduate Teaching Assistant Award recognizes graduate students who have excelled in their capacity as teaching assistants. For 2022, this honor is given to Valeri ‘Val’ Sawiccy, a PhD student in the Department of Integrative Biology with the College of Science.

The Promising Scholar Award recognizes junior faculty whose outstanding scholarship has been recognized by peers, and who have demonstrated a high level of accomplishment over a relatively short period of time at OSU. The 2022 recipient is Elizabeth Tomasino, associate professor with the Department of Food Science and Technology in the College of Agricultural Sciences.

The OSU 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. This year’s recipient is Christopher Beaudry, a professor of chemistry in the College of Science.

The OSU Faculty Excellence in Online Teaching Award recognizes faculty who devote a significant amount of time to online teaching and online course development of for-credit courses. This year’s recipient is Marita Barth, a chemistry senior instructor II in the College of Science.

The OSU Exemplary Employee Award honors professional faculty members and classified staff members for their outstanding performance.  This year’s professional faculty members are Catherine (CJ) Clevinger and Amy Derby.

The classified staff members receiving The OSU Exemplary Employee Award are Tammy Gigoux and Carla Stables.

Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring by a Faculty Member Award recognizes outstanding undergraduate research mentoring by OSU faculty members. The current faculty member must have provided significant mentorship to undergraduate students in research-related endeavors at OSU within the past three years. This year the award goes to Maureen Walczak, assistant professor in the College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, and director of the NSF Marine Sediment Sampling Facility.

The Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring by a Graduate Student Award recognizes outstanding undergraduate research mentoring by OSU graduate students. Current graduate students must have provided significant mentorship to undergrad students in research-related endeavors at OSU within the past three years. The recipient for 2022 is Jesse Laney, a fourth-year PhD student in the Integrative Biology program in the College of Science.

The Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring by a Post-doc Award recognizes outstanding undergraduate research mentoring by OSU postdocs. The award honors postdocs who have provided significant mentorship to undergrad students in research-related endeavors at OSU within the past three years. This year’s recipient is Devrim Kaya, a postdoc in the School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering in the College of Science.

The Outstanding Diversity Advocate Award recognizes members of the OSU community who contribute to and enhance the environment of OSU through consistent and sustained efforts to improve opportunities for the diverse communities we serve. In 2022, the award goes to Vrushali Bokil, Ana Ribero and Tenisha Tevis.

The purpose of the OSU Professional Faculty Excellence Award is to distinguish exceptional service of a faculty member in a role other than the traditional areas of teaching, research or extension. That honor in 2022 goes to Cynthia Leonard, academic advisor with the Marine Studies Initiative.

The purpose of the International Service Award is to recognize exemplary, on-going 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. Michele Justice, director of international programs with the College of Forestry, is this year’s recipient.

The 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. This year’s recipients are Claire Couch  and Shahram Torabian.

The Richard M. Bressler Senior Faculty Teaching Award is given to an individual with longtime service to Oregon State University who has demonstrated a major commitment to undergraduate instruction over an extended period of time. This year’s recipient is Dwaine Plaza, a professor in the School of Public Policy in the College of Liberal Arts.

The purpose of the Outstanding Faculty Research Assistant Award is to recognize scholarly achievement and a level of innovation and effort that far exceeds expectations. This year’s recipient is Vanessa Schroeder, senior faculty research assistant with Animal and Rangeland Sciences in the College of Agricultural Sciences. 

The D. Curtis Mumford Faculty Service Award recognizes individuals for exceptional, ongoing, dedicated and unselfish concern for and service to OSU faculty. This year’s honoree is Chunhuei Chi, professor in the Center for Global Health with the College of Public Health and Human Sciences.

The OSU Alumni Association Distinguished Professor Award is given to the person who demonstrates outstanding professional achievement through teaching and scholarship, service to the university and the community, and professional leadership, nationally and internationally. This year, the recipient is Yanyun Zhao, a professor in Food Science and Technology with the College of Agricultural Sciences.

The OSU Academic Advising Award recognizes undergraduate academic advising by professional faculty rank as well as fixed-term academic rank faculty whose primary role is advising, and acknowledges advising as a profession making a pivotal contribution to the OSU community. In 2022, the honoree is Laura Relyea, academic advisor in the School of Public Policy, with the College of Liberal Arts.

The Student Learning and Success Teamwork Award recognizes departments or interdisciplinary groups at Oregon State University that have demonstrated exceptional teamwork in creating and sustaining an exemplary teaching and learning environment to advance the university’s strategic goal of student success and excellence.

This year’s award goes to the Principles of Biology Instructional Team, including Carmen Harjoe, Lori Kayes, Jeff Anderson, Meta Landys, Jeff Chang, Nathan Kirk, John Fowler, Sulochana Wasala, Noah Silva de Leonardi and Nat Young, with Integrative Biology and Botany and Plant Pathology in the College of Science and the College of Agricultural Sciences.

The OSU Faculty Teaching Excellence Award honors unusually significant and meritorious achievement in teaching and scholarship that enhances effective instruction. In 2022, the recipient is Lindsay Biga, senior instructor in Integrative Biology with the College of Science.

The Beaver Champion Award is Oregon State University President's award for outstanding effort and achievement of excellence, extra effort beyond that requested, and performance of the highest quality. Toni Doolen and Christine Pollard are receiving the 2022 Beaver Champion Award for exceptional university service.