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Faculty Awards and Honors

Here you will find information about awards and honors that are available for Oakland University faculty and staff.

Diversity Equity and Inclusion Excellence Faculty Recognition

General Purpose

Oakland University's Founders Day University Senate: Ad-Hoc committee on Faculty DEI is seeking nominations for its 2021 Diversity Equity and Inclusion Excellence Faculty Recognition commendation.

The purpose of this this recognition is to honor faculty who have made significant contributions to advancing the OU's Strategic Goal #4.

Advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in an environment of mutual trust and respect at all levels of the institution and facilitate opportunities and success for all community members.

Any member of the Oakland University faculty, including special instructors and lecturers are eligible to be nominated for this recognition in the areas of research, teaching OR service.

Selection Criteria

Teaching-Related
Candidate has helped to advance OU Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)-related efforts through significant contributions and a demonstrated commitment to strategic goal #4 through the development and implementation teaching techniques that meet the needs of diverse and under-represented group in their field of instruction.

Candidate has made significant contribution and demonstrated their commitment to strategic goal #4 through the development and successful implementation of pedagogical practices that create inclusive classroom environments.

Selection criteria:

  • Evidence of course design or curricula that meet the needs of educationally disadvantaged students
  • Evidence of successful and effective teaching strategies for the educational advancement of students from under-represented groups
  • A record of success advising women, LGBTQ, veterans, first generation college students and/or and minority students
  • Evidence of active service as faculty advisor for a student group that supports the educational and professional development of under-represented groups on campus (e.g., women, minorities, veterans, first generation college students, LGBTQ, etc).

Research or Other Creative Work
Candidate has made significant scholarly contributions to literature that examines the unique needs and perspectives of diverse and under-represented groups in their field of research. 

Selection Criteria:

  • Evidence of a research agenda that focuses on Race, ethnicity, gender, multiculturalism, and inclusion OR evidence of a research agenda that focuses on health disparities, educational access and achievement, political engagement, economic justice, social mobility, civil and human rights as it related to under-represented groups OR evidence of a research agenda related to communities historically excluded by higher education
  • Artistic expression and cultural production that reflects culturally diverse communities or voices not well represented in the arts and humanities
  • Presentations or performances for under-represented communities

Service-Related
Candidate has helped to advance OU's diversity related efforts and made significant contributions and demonstrated their commitment to creating and maintain a diverse, equitable and inclusive campus environment through their on-going university, school or department level committee work or by bringing state, national or international recognition to OU's diversity-related efforts and on-going commitment.

Selection Criteria:

  • Evidence of leadership roles in OU's diversity-related committees, activities, initiatives
  • Evidence of engagement with the community (local, national, intern in seminars, conferences, or institutes that address the concerns of women and under-represented minorities
  • Evidence of election or appointment to office, or undertaking service to professional and learning societies, including editorial work, or peer reviewing for a national or international organization addressing disparities in access to higher education
  • Evidence of selection for special public service activities or talks within a field that addresses the needs of under-represented or culturally diverse groups
  • Evidence of participation in professional or scientific associations or meetings, and presentation of papers related to the needs of communities historically excluded from higher education

Potential Candidates for this award will be identified and submitted by the unit's Dean for recognition at the Founders Day event.

Selection Process

  • Individual members of the University Senate: Ad-Hoc committee on Faculty DEI will rank nominees according to the above criteria.
  • At a meeting or meetings called by the Chair of the Faculty DEI-related Award Selection Committee, the Committee will discuss rankings and select faculty for recognition.

The deadline for submitting nominations is March 15, 2021.

Phyllis Law Googasian Award

General Purpose

The Phyllis Law Googasian Award honors and recognizes women who have contributed to the advancement of women at Oakland University and beyond through distinguished leadership, scholarship, advocacy, mentoring, program development or other activities.

Eligible Nominees

Any member of the Oakland University faculty (including special instructors and lecturers), administrators, administrative professionals, and other staff members

Eligible Nominators

Nominations are welcome from any University employee

Nomination Form

The Googasian Award nomination form is now available. Nominations are due to the committee on March 1, 2022.

Googasian Award Committee Composition

The Committee shall be composed of current members of the ACE Network Steering Committee

Criteria for Selection

  1. The candidate shall have demonstrated significant contributions to the development of the status of women.
  2. The candidate shall have demonstrated exceptional leadership through professional accomplishments or notable scholarship
  3. The candidate must be able to attend the Award ceremony in person
  4. All nominees will be asked to provide documentation in support of their nomination

Selection Process

  1. Individual members of the Googasian Award Committee will rank nominees according to the above criteria. These rankings will be tabulated to identify the top candidates for consideration.
  2. At a meeting or meetings called by the Chair of the Googasian Award Committee, the Committee will discuss rankings and select a winner.
  3. There will be one winner per year.
Faculty Emeriti Professional Development Program

Emeriti professors continue to be involved in service activities and scholarly activities on behalf of Oakland University and we gratefully appreciate their valuable contributions. To assist and encourage the scholarly pursuits of our colleagues, the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost has established a fund to support travel to professional meetings. Up to five emeriti professors will be supported each year to travel to a conference or equivalent professional/scholarly function within their discipline, to either a) attend the meeting/function for the purpose of expanding their knowledge, or b) deliver a scholarly presentation based upon their past or current work. In both cases they will bring recognition to the University and offer the potential for sharing knowledge with current faculty and students.

Emeriti professors should submit a letter of interest to the Provost to request these funds. The letter should specify the name and dates of the meeting and specify if the purpose of the travel is to attend or to present. If it is to present, the title of the presentation should be provided.

Funding will be provided in the amount of up to $750 to colleagues who present at meetings and up to $500 to those who attend and participate. Receipts will be needed to process these payments.

Other Awards

In 1988, the Oakland University Board of Trustees established the rank of Distinguished Professor to be conferred on eminent faculty members for the duration of their service at Oakland. According to the criteria for Distinguished Professor status, the individual must be preeminent in at least one of three categories: scholarship, teaching, or public or professional service. This distinction has been conferred on a small and highly select group of outstanding individuals. Honorees are selected by the Provost and the Distinguished Professor Advisory Committee.

Distinguished Professors of Oakland University

2023
David Dulio
Department:  Political Science

Huirong Fu
Department:  Computer Science and Engineering

Ravindra Khattree
Department:  Mathematics and Statistics

Announcement

2022
Andrea Eis
Department: English

Virgil Zeigler-Hill
Department: Psychology

Announcement

2021
David Garfinkle
Department: Physics

Zissimos Mourelatos
Department: Mechanical Engineering

Barbara Oakley
Department:  Industrial & Systems Engineering

2020
Linda Pavonetti
Department: Education

Karen Sheridan
Department: Theatre

Vijayan Sugumaran
Department: Decision and Information Science

2019
John-Paul White
Department: Music

Lianxiang Yang
Department: Engineering

Xiangqun Zeng
Department: Chemistry

2018
Frank Giblin
Department: Eye Research Institute

Terri L. Orbuch
Department: Sociology

2017
Yang Xia
Department: Physics

2016
Todd Shackelford
Department: Psychology

Maria Bryant
Department: Chemistry

2015
Jacqueline Wiggins
Department: Music, Theatre and Dance

Edward Hoeppner
Department: English

Meir Shillor
Department: Mathematics and Statistics

2014
Not Awarded

2013
Andrei Slavin
Department: Physics

2012
Sayed Nassar
Department: Mechanical Engineering

2011
Eddie Cheng
Department: Mathematics and Statistics

2010
Gopalan Srinivasan
Department: Physics

2009
Judith K. Brown
Department: Anthropology

2008
Not Awarded

2007
Robert C. Finucane
Department: History

2006
Not Awarded

2005
Michael D. Sevilla
Department: Chemistry

2004
Robert T. Eberwein
Department: English

Michael Chopp
Department: Physics

2003
Paul Tomboulian
Department: Chemistry

2002
Jane D. Eberwein
Department: English

Ronald L. Cramer
Department: Education

Sheldon L. Appleton
Department: Political Science

2001 and Prior
Gertrude M. White
Department: English

Venkat N. Reddy
Department: Eye Research Institute

Jack R. Moeller
Department: German Language

Laszlo J. Hetenyi
Department: Education

Karl D. Gregory
Department: Economics and Management

Faculty award winners recognized at Oakland University's yearly Faculty Recognition and Founders' Day

Recognized Faculty for 2024

College of Arts and Sciences

Jeremy Barnett - Department of Music, Theatre and Dance - Research/Scholarship

David Gram - Department of Music, Theatre and Dance - Teaching

Derek Hastings - Department of History - Research

Melissa Hoag - Department of Music, Theatre and Dance - Research

Tamás Harváth - Department of Mathematics and Statistics - Research

Marshall W. Kitchens - Department of Writing and Rhetoric - Service

Eric LaRock - Department of Philosophy - Research

Yongjin Lu - Department of Mathematics and Statistics - Service

Cecilia Saenz-Roby - Department of Modern Languages - Teaching/Service

Chiaoning Su - Department of Communications - Service

Randal Westrick - Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering - Research

School of Business Administration

Zeina AlSalman - Department of Economic Type - Research

Junwoo Kim - Department of Accounting and Finance - Teaching

School of Education and Human Services

Jessica Korneder - Service

Phyllis Ness - Teaching

School of Engineering and Computer Science

Brian Dean - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering - Service

Michael Latcha - Department of Mechanical Engineering - Teaching

Sunny Raj - Department of Computer Science and Engineering - Research 

School of Health Sciences

Sara Rivard - Service

School of Nursing

Kelly Berishaj - Service/Teaching 

School of Medicine

Carl Lauter - Department of Internal Medicine - Teaching

Victoria Lucia - Department of Foundational Medical Studies - Service

Recognized Faculty for 2023

We formally recognize these faculty members whose teaching and research excellence, creative achievements and community service have contributed to the betterment of society.

College of Arts and Sciences

Greg Giberson - Department of Writing and Rhetoric - Research

Jeffrey Insko - Department of English - Teaching 

Gerard Madlambayan - Department of Biological Sciences - Service

Rebecca Malatesta - Department of Psychology - Service 

Mark Manning - Department of Psychology - Research

Fritz McDonald - Department of Philosophy - Service 

Gregory Patterson - Department of Dance - Service

Jessica Payette - Department of Music - Research

Watoii Rabii - Department of Soc, Anthro, Social Work & Criminal Justice - Service

Alberto Rojo - Department of Physics - Teaching 

Liz Shesko - Department of History - Service 

School of Business Administration

Venugopal Balijepally - Department of Decision & Information Sciences - Service 

Yan Ling - Department of Management and Marketing - Research

School of Education and Human Services

David Strubler - Department of Organizational Leadership - Service 

Rebecca Vannest - Department of Counseling - Service 

School of Engineering and Computer Science 

Katherine Bowers - Department of Computer Science and Engineering - Teaching 

Jun Chen - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering - Research

Gerard Madlambayan - Department of Bioengineering - Service 

School of Health Sciences 

Melissa Reznar - Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences - Service 

School of Nursing 

Ellen Gajewski - Service 

School of Medicine

Stefanie Attardi - Department of Foundational Medical Studies - Teaching 

Majiid Khan - Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Molecular Imaging - Teaching 

Eye Research Institute

Kenneth Mitton - Service

Recognized Faculty for 2022


We formally recognize these faculty members whose teaching and research excellence, creative achievements and community service have contributed to the betterment of society.

College of Arts and Sciences

Maria Smith Bohannon - Department of Art and Art History - Service

Felicita Arzu Carmichael - Department of Writing and Rhetoric - Teaching

Melanie Chang - Department of Modern Languages & Literatures - Service

Erin Dwyer - Department of History - Research

Charlene Hayden - Department of Chemistry - Teaching 

Jeffrey Heisler - Department of Music - Research

Wendi Johnson - Department of Soc, Anthro, Social Work & Criminal justice - Service

Pamela Klena - Department of Music - Service

Jennifer Tillinger - Department of Chemistry - Service 

Crystal VanKooten - Department of Writing and Rhetoric - Service

Joshua Young - Department of Theatre - Teaching 

School of Business Administration

Seong Cho - Department of Accounting and Finance - Research

Michelle Hammond - Department of Management and Marketing - Research & Teaching

Yun (Ellen) Zhu - Department of Accounting and Finance - Service

School of Education and Human Services

Cynthia Carver - Department of Teacher Development & Ed Studies - Service

Michael Kranak - Department of Human Development & Child Studies - Research

School of Engineering and Computer Science

Laila Guessous - Department of Mechanical Engineering - Service 

Jonathan Maisonneauve - Department of Mechanical Engineering - Research

Amartya Sen - Department of Computer Science and Engineering - Teaching 

School of Health Sciences 

Caress Dean - Department of Public and Environmental Wellness - Teaching & Service

School of Nursing

Julie Kruse - Research

School of Medicine

Rebbeca Grysiewicz - Teaching & Service 

University Library

Katie Greer - Research

Recognized Faculty for 2021

We formally recognize these faculty members whose teaching and research excellence, creative achievements and community service have contributed to the betterment of society. 

College of Arts and Sciences

Lori Ostergaard - Department of Writing and Rhetoric - Research

Ami Harbin - Department of Philosophy - Research

Colin Wu - Department of Chemistry - Research

Luis Villa-Diaz - Department of Biological Sciences - Research

Martha Escobar - Department of Psychology - Service

Kapila Clara Castoldi - Department of Physics - Teaching

Andrea Kozak - Department of Psychology - Teaching

Lauri Hogle - School of Music, Theatre and Dance - Teaching

Angineh Djavadghazaryans - Department of Modern Languages and Literature - Teaching

Andrea Wenz - Department of History - Teaching

Jason Overfelt - Department of Linguistics - Service

School of Business Administration

Ahmad Sobhani - Department of Decision and Information Sciences - Research

Yazan Roumani - Department of Decision and Information Sciences - Teaching

Terry J. (T.J.) Wharton - Department of Decision and Information Sciences - Service

School of Education and Human Services

Robert Martin - Department of Organizational Leadership - Service

Ashley Branson - Department of Counseling - Teaching

John McEneaney - Department of Reading and Language Arts - Service

School of Engineering and Computer Science

Wing-Yue Geoffrey Louie - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering - Research

Doug Zytko - Department of Computer Science and Engineering - Teaching

Zhijun (Jason) Wu - Department of Mechanical Engineering - Service

School of Health Sciences

Christopher Wilson - Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences - Research

School of Nursing

Gary Moore - Teaching

School of Medicine

Douglas Gould - Department of Foundational Medical Studies - Service

Eye Research Institute

Andrew Goldberg

Distinguished Professor

David Garfinkle -  Department of Physics

Zissimos Mourelatos - Department of Mechanical Engineering

Barbara Oakley -  Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award

Albert Meehan - Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice

Assessment Award

Department of Management and Marketing - Capstone Course MGT 4350:  Management Strategies and Policies

Research Excellence Award

Randal Westrick - Department of Biological Sciences - Research

New Investigator Research Excellence Award

Julian Rrushi - Department of Computer Science and Engineering - Research

Excellence in Teaching Award

Shaun Moore - Department of Decision and Information Science

Online Teaching Excellence Award

Charlene Hayden - Department of Chemistry

Teaching Excellence Award

Chiaoning Su - Department of Communication, Journalism and Public Relations

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award

Jason Wasserman - Department of Foundational Medical Studies

Community Engagement Award

Rebecca Gaydos -  Department of Linguistics

Office of the Provost

Wilson Hall, Suite 3000
371 Wilson Boulevard
Rochester, MI 48309-4486
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(248) 370-2190