K-State graduate faculty teach graduate courses, advise graduate students, serve on graduate student supervisory committees, and serve on the Graduate Council. They also demonstrate independence in scholarship, research, or creative work. Our graduate faculty have been busy this year, making important contributions to K-State and in their field of study. Read on to learn about graduate faculty awards, honors, and accomplishments from this past semester.
Below you will find very brief summaries of graduate faculty accomplishments by academic college. Each entry includes linked text to a full story, allowing you to learn more about specific recognitions of interest to you.
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
Aleksan Shanoyan, associate professor of agricultural economics – Recipient of a regional US Department of Agriculture Excellence in College and University Teaching Awards for Food and Agricultural Sciences, one of USDA’s most prestigious awards.
Mithila Jugulam, professor in agronomy – Awarded the Outstanding Research Award. This award is for researchers who have demonstrated originality and creativity and whose work has had an impact in the field of weed science.
Sarah Lancaster, assistant professor in agronomy – Selected as a recipient of The Office of Research and Development’s University Small Research Grant.
Colby Moorberg, assistant professor of agronomy – Honored with and Innovative Teaching Award, which is intended to support innovation in the post-secondary teaching of agriculture and related fields.
Karol Fike, teaching associate professor in animal science – Awarded the prestigious 2021 Mark and Eva Gardiner Innovation and Excellence Faculty Award in recognition of her excellence in teaching and advising students in creative ways.
Tiffany Rogers-Randolph, assistant professor in communication and agricultural education – Honored with an Innovative Teaching Award, which recognizes innovation in the post-secondary teaching of agriculture and related fields.
Jonathan Aguilar, associate professor for the Southwest Research Extension Center – Received the mid-career award for extension/outreach/engagement from the Universities Council on Water Resources.
Cathie Lavis, professor in horticulture and natural resources – Named National Association of Landscape Professionals 2021 Educator of the Year. The award honors university faculty for excellence in mentoring students and serving the landscape industry nationally.
Kimberly Williams, professor in horticulture and natural resources – Received the Iman Outstanding Faculty Award in recognition of her outstanding teaching.
Eduard Akhunov, university distinguished professor in plant pathology – Named as a 2021 University Distinguished Professor in recognition of his outstanding contributions to teaching, research and service to his profession and community.
Barbara Valent, distinguished professor in plant pathology – Received the Iman Outstanding Faculty Award in recognition of her outstanding research.
COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING, AND DESIGN
Genevieve Baudoin, associate professor in architecture – Selected as a recipient of The Office of Research and Development’s University Small Research Grant.
Adulsak Chanyakorn, assistant professor in architecture – Selected as a recipient of The Office of Research and Development’s University Small Research Grant.
Joseph Watson Jr., assistant professor in architecture – Was selected for the Tyson Scholar of American Art program. The Tyson Scholars of American Art Program supports research and writing on American art and visual and material culture, including architectural history and theory.
Kutay Guler, assistant professor in interior architecture and industrial design – Published an article over “Utilizing visitor simulations in exhibition design process: Evaluating designers’ perspectives” in the Journal of Simulation.
Jessica Canfield, associate professor in landscape architecture and regional and community planning – Is the 2021 Wayne Hunt McElwee Faculty Award recipient. The award is given to a faculty member for being an outstanding teacher as designated by the dean of the college based upon the recommendations of both students and faculty.
Shakil Kashem, assistant professor in landscape architecture and regional and community planning – Co-authored a paper that won the Certificate of Best Paper Award from the Islamic Finance Conference. Kashem was also selected as a recipient of The Office of Research and Development’s University Small Research Grant.
Leslie Wren, assistant professor in landscape architecture and regional and community planning – Selected as a recipient of the Office of Research and Development’s University Small Research Grant.
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Geraldine Craig, professor in art – Selected as the recipient of the Office of Research and Development’s Faculty Development Award.
Anthony Warnick, assistant professor in art – Selected as a recipient of the Office of Research and Development’s University Small Research Grant.
Anthony Joern, university distinguished professor emeritus biology – Co-authored a paper that was selected as a finalist for the 2020 Cozzarelli Prize. The paper is over “Nutrient dilution and climate cycles underlie declines in a dominant insect herbivore.”
James McVey, assistant professor in communication studies – Was selected as a recipient of the Faculty Enhancement Program, which is designed to increase the numbers and proportion of faculty members engaging in research, scholarship and creative activities.
Abigail Langston, assistant professor in geography and geospatial science – Awarded a $412,000 grant by the National Science Foundation. In this project, Langston and her graduate students will investigate controls on the development bedrock valleys on America’s first National River, the Buffalo in northwest Arkansas. Langston was also selected as a recipient of The Office of Research and Development’s University Small Research Grant.
Katherine Nelson, assistant professor in geography and geospatial science – Co-authored an article on descriptive definitions of rurality. The article, “Definitions, measures, and uses of rurality: A systematic review of the empirical and quantitative literature,” was recently published in the highly regarded, international and interdisciplinary Journal of Rural Studies
Behzad Ghanbarian, assistant professor in geology – Received 2020 Soil Physics and Hydrology Early Career Award. Each year, the Soil Physics and Hydrology Division of the Soil Science Society of America recognizes an early career scientist with an outstanding contribution. He was also awarded funding by the Saudi Aramco company to provide numerical insights for an improved hydraulic fracturing treatment.
Brice Lacroix, assistant professor in geology – Was selected to receive a grant from the United States Geological Survey EDMAP program to map the geology of a part of the Coastal Range, Central California.
David Yetter, university distinguished professor in mathematics – Named as a 2021 University Distinguished Professor in recognition of his outstanding contributions to teaching, research and service to his profession and community.
Frederick Burrack, professor in music – Published a teaching resource guide titled “Nettleton in Teaching Music through Performance in Band.”
Wayne Goins, distinguished professor in music – Published an extensive research study in the Positive Feedback magazine. The article is titled “The Great Guitar of Grant Green, Part I,” an article focused on the career of legendary jazz guitarist Grant Green. Goins also published an exclusive interview in Jazz Guitar Today called “Growing Up In The Shadow Of A Giant.”
Amy Rosine-Underwood, associate professor in music – Selected as a recipient of the Office of Research and Development’s University Small Research Grant.
Reuben Stern, assistant professor in philosophy – Stern was selected as a for the Faculty Enhancement Program, which is designed to increase the numbers and proportion of faculty members engaging in research, scholarship and creative activities.
Sam Bell, professor in political science – Selected as a recipient of The Office of Research and Development’s University Small Research Grant.
Angela Park, assistant professor in political science – Part of a team that received a National Science Foundation Science of Organizations grant. The grant is for a project where Park and her collaborators examine how interdepartmental collaboration within local governments impacts the implementation of sustainability policies. Park was also selected for the Faculty Enhancement Program, which is designed to increase the numbers and proportion of faculty members engaging in research, scholarship and creative activities.
Donald Saucier, professor of psychology – Selected as the 2021 Friend of K-State Global Campus award recipient. The award is given to an individual or individuals who have significantly contributed to the advancement of K-State Global Campus programs or services.
Sim Jung Jun, assistant professor in social work – Selected as a recipient of the Office of Research and Development’s University Small Research Grant. Jun was also the recipient of the 2021 K-State Global Campus Excellence in Online Teaching Award.
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Tuan Nguyen, assistant professor in curriculum and instruction – Co-authored an article on descriptive definitions of rurality. The article, “Definitions, measures, and uses of rurality: A systematic review of the empirical and quantitative literature,” was recently published in the highly regarded, international and interdisciplinary Journal of Rural Studies.
Suzanne Porath, assistant professor in curriculum and instruction – Co-authored a journal published in Teaching & Learning Inquiry, the official journal of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Stacy Hutchinson, professor in biological and agricultural engineering – Received funding for a water infrastructure project from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Prathap Parameswaran, Associate Professor in Civil Engineering – Received funding for a water infrastructure project from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Dunja Peric, associate professor in civil engineering – Co-authored a paper that was published in the International Journal of Geomechanics and is now the most read paper for March 2021.
Scott DeLoach, professor in computer science – Recipient of the Presidential Award for Outstanding Department Head.
Jared Hobeck, assistant professor in mechanical and nuclear engineering – Co-authored an article on “High-fidelity stochastic modeling of carbon black-based conductive polymer composites for strain and fatigue sensing” that was selected as an editor’s pick for the Springer’s Journal of Materials Science.
COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES
Jeridy Oetken, clinical assistant professor in communication sciences and disorders – Received the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Making Waves Chapter Advisor Award for Outstanding Leadership as an advisor who has served their chapter for less than five years. She was nominated as the advisor of the K-State Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association, or KSSSLHA.
COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Meena Kumari, associate professor in anatomy and physiology – Selected as a recipient of the Office of Research and Development’s University Small Research Grant.
Jeba Jesudoss Chelladurai, assistant professor in diagnostic medicine and pathobiology – Selected as a recipient of the Office of Research and Development’s University Small Research Grant.
Juergen Richt, regents distinguished professor in diagnostic medicine pathobiology – Recipient of Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Award, presented annually to honor outstanding accomplishments in research by faculty members at Kansas Board of Regents institutions.
Raelene Wouda, assistant professor of clinical sciences – Elected to the position of certification liaison for the Board of Regents and Executive Board of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. As the certification liaison, Wouda will work closely with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine staff and other volunteer leaders to facilitate and encourage activities associated with the certification process.