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CETL Awards

3rd Annual University Awards Luncheon - April 9, 2025

The University Awards Luncheon is an annual event where faculty, students, staff, and administrators gather to celebrate excellence from across the OCU campus. The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning give six awards annually to faculty, and this event recognizes the winners. The inaugural University Awards event began in 2023.

The Excellence in Teaching Award for Full-time Faculty honors a faculty member whose teaching is deemed to be exemplary. Award Criteria includes: demonstrates a mastery of the subject matter and how students learn; click here to read more and nominate a colleague.

This year's recipient was Dr. Parthena Owens.

The Excellence in Teaching Award for Adjunct Faculty honors an adjunct faculty member whose teaching is deemed to be exemplary. Award Criteria includes: demonstrates a mastery of the subject matter and how students learn; click here to read more and nominate a colleague.

This year's recipient was Dr. Heejin Jang.

The Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Scholarship of Discovery honors a faculty member whose contribution to her/his field in research and/or creative scholarship is deemed to be exemplary. Award Criteria includes: a sustained record of research or creative scholarship; click here to read more and nominate a colleague.

This year's recipient was Dr. Lisa Wolfe.

The Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Innovation of Teaching and Learning honors a faculty member whose contribution to the innovation of teaching and learning (particularly in regards to the successful integration of technology to supplement the learning environment) is deemed to be exemplary. Award Criteria includes: originality, impact, and practicality; click to read more and nominate a colleague.

This year's recipient was Dr. Brandi Stanley.

The John C. Starkey Mentoring of Undergraduate Student Research Award formally memorializes a beloved colleague who left a legacy of mentorship, care, thoughtfulness, and green ink. This award honors a faculty member whose outstanding mentoring and instruction has transformed the student’s undergraduate experience. Award Criteria includes: evidence of exceptional instructional performance leading to excellent scholarly research by undergraduate students through research assignments, guidance in and support of research (models, procedures and activities); click here to read more and nominate a colleague.

This year's recipient was Dr. Christina Hendrickson.

The Award for Distinguished Service honors a full-time employee whose contribution to the University and wider community is deemed to be exemplary. Award Criteria includes years of service and the United Methodist tradition of servant leadership to OCU and the wider community.

This year's recipient was Dr. Karen Miller.

Excellence in Teaching for Full-Time Faculty

2023 - Heather Sparks, Education

2022 - Zachary Huff, Physical Therapy

2021 - Courtney DiBello, Theatre

2020 - Tye Love, Dance & Entertainment

2019 - Laura Ables, Nursing

2018 - Karen Schiler, English

2017 - Michael Raiber, Music

2016 - David Easley, Music Theory

2015 - Staci Swim, Nursing

2014 - Frank Ragsdale, Music

2013 - Stephen Prilliman, Chemistry

2012 - Patricia Oplotnik, Dance/Arts Management


Excellence in Teaching for Adjunct Faculty

2023 - Sheri Hayden, Dance

2022 - Wendee Lentz, Physical Therapy

2021 - David Pfaff, Behavioral Sciences

2020 - Anton Rupert, Law

2019 - Jeanie Sholer, Theatre

2018 - Armand Paliotta, Law

2017 - Nancy Letassy, PA

2016 - Rachel Barnard, Vocal Music

2015 - Clare Delaney, Nursing

2014 - Jacob Johnson, Music

2013 - Monica Gallamore, History

2012 - David Wilson, Religion


Distinguished Achievement in the Scholarship of Discovery

2023 - Matt Jones, Music

2022 - Jeremy Telman, Law

2021 - Rob Roensch, English

2020 - Jake Johnson, Music

2019 - Sharon Betsworth, Religion

2018 - Marc Blitz, Law

2017 - Mohamed Daadaoui, Political Science

2016 - Tracy Floreani, English

2015 - Scott Davidson, Philosophy

2014 - Bryan Farha, Education

2013 - James Buss, History

2012 - Marc DiPaolo, English


Distinguished Achievement of Innovation in Teaching and Learning

2023 - Genevieve Clarkson, Music

2022 - Natalia Starostina, History

2021 - Beth Adele, Mass Communications

2020 - Katy Fisher-Cunningham, Nursing

2019 - Adam Ryburn, Biology

2018 - Vanessa Wright, Nursing

2017 - Cheryl Frutchey, Nursing

2016 - James Ma, Business

2015 - Dann May, Religion

2013 - Regina Clemens Fox, English

2012 - Dia Campbell-Detrixhe, Nursing


John C. Starkey Mentoring in Undergraduate Student Research

2023 - Jason Miller, ESS

2022 - Lisa Wolfe, Religion

2021 - Jennifer Ezell, Theatre

2020 - Stephen Prilliman, Chemistry

2019 - Yi Shao, Psychology

2018 - Gregory Mullen, Biology

2017 - Tony Stancampiano, Biology

2015 - Laurie Kauffman, Biology

2014 - John Starkey, Religion

2013 - Tracy Floreani, English

2012 - Alli Boolani, Kinesiology


Distinguished Service Award

2023 - Amy Osatinski, Theatre

2022 - Adam Ryburn, Biology

2021 - Autumn West, Music

2020 - Michael Gibson, Law

2019 - Mindy Windholz, University Counseling

2018 - Cary Pirrong, Alumni Engagement

2017 - Denise Burton, Nursing

2016 - Beth Landon, Biology

2015 - Liz Wilner, Education

2014 - Karen Vann, Mass Communications

2013 - Melanie Shelley, Dance/Arts Management

2012 - Dennis Jowaisas, Psychology


Faculty Teaching Academy Fellows

2022 - Zachary Huff, Physical Therapy; Natalia Starostina, History

2021 - Janice Carr; Casey Cassidy; Toni Frioux; Crystal Westmoreland; Nursing

2020 - Pam Tucker, Nursing

2019 - Courtney DiBello, Theatre; Lynette Martin, Business; Lisa Delgado Brown, Education; Susan Jurney, Business

2018 - Debra Barnett, Nursing; Staci Swim, Nursing; Mahmood Shandiz, Business; Vanessa Wright, Nursing

2017 - Cheryl Frutchey, Nursing; Regina McManigell, English (Senior); James Guzak, Management (Senior); Clare Delaney, Nursing

2016 - Gina Crawford, Nursing; Cene’ Gibson, Nursing; Amrita Sen, English (Senior)

2015 - Diana Blackmon, Nursing

2014 - Kelly Holst, Music; Alicia Hutchings, Nursing; Aaron Mooney, Theatre; Arthur Richardson, Business

2013 - Jeri Lyn Jones, Business; Beth Landon, Biology

2012 - Hyacinthe Aboudja, Computer Science; Ashley Bellet, Theatre; Regina Clemens Fox, English; Leslie Long, Religion; Amrita Sen, English; Ronnie Shaw, Business

2011 - Danita Berg, English; Sharon Betsworth, Religion; Dia Campbell-Detrixhe, Nursing; Liz Diener, Nursing
; John Goulden, Computer Science; James Guzak, Management
; Melissa Hakman, Psychology; Lynn Korvick, Nursing; Howard Kurtz, Sociology and Justice Studies; Sara Manning, Nursing; Rachelle Selensky, Nursing
; Kewei Sha, Computer Science; Christina Wolf, Library Science

2010 - Julie Cowgill, Sociology and Justice Studies; Mohamed Daadaoui, Political Science; Jason Foreman, Theatre; Brooke Hessler, English; Zahra Karimipour, Business Communications; Mostafa Moini, Economics; Nathan Ross, Philosophy; Adam Ryburn, Biology; Alex Smith, Marketing

2009 - Susan Barnes, Nursing; Denise Burton Nursing; Jim Buss, History; Linda Cook, Nursing; Lisa DeSpain, Nursing; Betty Gorrell, Nursing; Brenda Holleman, Music; Dennis Jowaisas, Psychology; Dann May, Religion; David May, Economics; Jacci Rodgers, Accounting; Klaus Rossberg, Physics; Don Skinner-Noble, Biology; Carolyn Weber, Accounting; Linda Wisener, Nursing

2008 - Dianna Bottoms, Nursing; Kent Buchanan, Biology; Hilda Crane-Smith, Nursing; Marie Hooper, History; Jody Horn, Sociology & Justice Studies; Richard Johnson, Political Science; Sheila Spurgeon, Education

For questions about nominating a colleague, please email 

[email protected]

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