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 emailÂ