2026 Award Winners

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PROVOST FACULTY FELLOWS

This initiative is designed to provide faculty members an opportunity to participate in the broader activities of Academic Affairs and provide a faculty voice in helping the Office of the Provost address major issues being discussed in Academic Affairs.

• Joseph Jones, Ph.D.
  Professor, School of Music
  Reviewing and Enhancing School Policies and Procedures Documents (Fall 2025)
• Jeffrey Parr, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Health Professions
  Investigating Micro-Credentials and Badges (Spring 2026)
• Nancy Speed, Ph.D.
  Teaching Professor, School of Kinesiology and Nutrition
  Investigating Micro-Credentials and Badges (Spring 2026)

• Bradley Winton, D.B.A.
  Assistant Professor, School of Leadership
  Career Guidance and Readiness for Students (Fall 2025)

SABBATICALS 

Upon review of proposed projects by a university-level committee and the Offices of the Provost and the President, sabbaticals are awarded to enhance professional development and scholarly reputation.

• Matthew Casey, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Humanities
  Fall 2026
• Sara Jordan, Ph.D.
  Professor, School of Psychology
  Fall 2026
• Karen Kozlowski, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Social Science and Global Studies
  Spring 2027
• Chao Meng, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Marketing
  Spring 2027
• Xiaodong Zhang, Ph.D.
  Professor, School of Ocean Science and Engineering
  Fall 2026

READY FOR LIFE AWARDS

Ready for Life Champion - Individual 

• Julia Bradley, M.P.A.
  Instructor, School of Accountancy
• Claire Hamilton, M.S.
  Associate Professor, School of Construction and Design

Ready for Life Champion - School/Program 

• School of Construction and Design
  College of Arts and Sciences 
• School of Health Professions
  College of Nursing and Health Professions

Ready for Life Emerging Champion - Individual 

• Allison Mull, M.S.
  Instructor, School of Computing Sciences and Computer Engineering

Ready for Life Emerging Champion-School/Program 

• Legal Studies Program
  School of Social Science and Global Studies
  College of Arts and Sciences
• School of Marketing
  College of Business and Economic Development
• School of Psychology
  College of Education and Human Sciences 

Ready for Life - Special Commendation

• Jacob Cotton, M.F.A.
  Associate Professor, School of Performing and Visual Arts
• School of Performing and Visual Arts
  College of Arts and Sciences

AUBREY KEITH LUCAS AND ELLA GINN LUCAS ENDOWMENT FOR FACULTY EXCELLENCE AWARD

• Nicole Camlin, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences
  “Elucidating the Molecular Impact of Rare Disease-Causing Mutations Using a Novel Humanized Yeast Model”
• Matthew Casey, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Humanities
  “Two Windows into Interwar America: Foreign Policy and Domestic Intellectual Trends”
• Banu Elmadag, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Marketing
  “When Right Feels Wrong: Understanding Customer Moral Ambivalence During Frontline Employee Protests in Service Organizations”
• Faqing Huang, Ph.D.
  Professor, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
  “Develop Self-Amplifying mRNA Platform for Viral and Cancer Vaccines”
• Karen Kozlowski, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Social Science and Global Studies

and

Matthew Ward, Ph.D.
Professor, School of Social Science and Global Studies
“A Peculiar Education: How Slavery Still Drives Academic Inequality in the South Today”

• Masha Krsmanovic, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Education
  “Running the Course: The Role of Endurance Running in College Student Grit and Academic Perseverance”
• Katherine Lee, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Health Professions
  “Workload, Thermal Strain and Dietary Intake Among Mississippi Firefighters”
• Joseph Peterson, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Humanities
  “Recidivism, Race, and the Great Escape”
• Jennifer Torres, M.F.A.
  Professor, School of Performing and Visual Arts
  “Sculptural Hardware Systems Via 3D Printing and Bronze Casting"
• Alana Turner, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Kinesiology and Nutrition“
  Effects of an Adapted Swim Camp on Balance, Physical Fitness, and Executive Function for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities”
• Sangamanatha Ankmnal Veeranna, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Speech and Hearing Sciences
  “The Cost of Exposure to Marching Band Noise: Evaluating Hearing and Balance Health in Former Marching Band Members”
• Donald Yee, Ph.D.
  Professor, School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences
  “Collecting Mosquito Phenotype Data and Improving AI Research Tools"

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

Faculty Leadership Institute Fellows

• Hugh Broome, Ph.D.
  Associate Teaching Professor, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
• Jacob Esplin, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Child and Family Sciences
• Sarah Mangrum, Ed.D.
  Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Library and Information Science
• Lisa Morgan, D.N.P.
  Associate Teaching Professor, School of Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
• Jeffrey Parr, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Health Professions
• Donald Sacco, Ph.D.
  Professor, School of Psychology
• Stephanie Smith, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Psychology
• Mayantoinette Watson, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Professional Nursing Practice

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Fellows

• Terry Cullum, M.S.
  Instructor, School of Computing Sciences and Computer Engineering
• Danny Lee, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
• Laura Mathews, Ed.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Speech and Hearing Sciences
• Marion Patti, D.N.P.
  Assistant Professor, School of Professional Nursing Practice
• Rebecca Powell, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Humanities
• Jae-Hwa Shin, Ph.D.
  Professor, School of Media and Communication
• Christopher Smith, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Finance
• Kelley Tillis, Ed.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Education
• Zikai Zhou, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Leadership
• Melissa Ziegler, Ph.D.
  Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Health Professions

Innovative Teaching Mini-Grants

• Alyson Brink, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences
• Lila de Tantillo, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
• Susan Dobson, M.P.H.
  Senior Lecturer, School of Health Professions
• Matthew Hoggatt, Ph.D.
  Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Criminal Justice, Forensic Science and Security
• Danny Lee, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
• Nancy Speed, Ph.D.
  Teaching Professor, School of Kinesiology and Nutrition

Summer Grants for Improvement of Instruction

• Vishal Arghode, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Leadership
• Amy Carey, M.A.T.
  Lecturer, School of Humanities
• Gretchen Goode, Ed.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Education
• Sabrina Holley, Ed.S.
  Instructor, School of Education
• Danny Lee, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
• Wendi McLain, M.S.
  Instructor, School of Marketing
• Dustin Odom, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Management
• Brett Stamm, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Education
• Haiyan Tian, Ph.D.
  Professor, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
• Melissa Ziegler, Ph.D.
  Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Health Professions

Advancing Excellence in Teaching Grants

• Patrick Biber, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Ocean Science and Engineering
• Aisha Ghimire, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Marketing
• Amber Hatten, M.P.A.
  Professor of Practice, School of Accountancy
• Songjie He, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Ocean Science and Engineering
• Katherine Lee, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Health Professions
• Laura Mathews, Ed.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Speech and Hearing Sciences
• Hillary Scales-Lewis, M.F.A.
  Assistant Professor, School of Performing and Visual Arts
• Candice Salyers, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Performing and Visual Arts
• Christopher Smith, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Finance
• Christopher Spaide, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Humanities
• Wei Wang, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Marketing
• Tammy Williams-Loggins, B.S.
  Instructor, School of Health Professions
• Melissa Ziegler, Ph.D.
  Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Health Professions

Coursera Mini-Grant

• Lashanda Brumfield, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Health Professions
• Kevin Buckley, M.S.
  Professor of Practice, School of Marketing
• Stacy Creel, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Library and Information Science
• Ali Dogru, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Management
• Banu Elmadag, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Marketing
• Mohsen Foroughi-Sabzevar, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Construction and Design
• Aisha Ghimire, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Marketing
• Chris Gleason, Ph.D.
  Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Health Professions
• Shinhee Park, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Leadership
• Sabrina Reed, Ph.D.
  Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Marketing
• Jae-Hwa Shin, Ph.D.
  Professor, School of Media and Communication
• Alexis Stoner, M.B.A.
  Instructor, School of Marketing
• Wei Wang, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Marketing
• Gallayanee Yaoyuneyong, Ph.D.
  Professor, School of Marketing
• Zikai Zhou, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Leadership
• Melissa Ziegler, Ph.D.
  Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Health Professions

AI for Social Good

• Ali Dogru, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Management
• Mohammed Rashid, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Media and Communication
• Hillary Scales-Lewis, M.F.A.
  Assistant Professor, School of Performing and Visual Arts
• William A. Thompson IV, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Media and Communication
• Melissa Ziegler, Ph.D.
  Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Health Professions

Excellence in Online Teaching Award

• Douglas Bristol, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Humanities

Outstanding Service-Learning Faculty Award

• Vickie Reed, Ed.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Health Professions

Graduate Mentor of the Year Award

• Zhe Qiang, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Polymer Science and Engineering

Emerging Graduate Mentor Award

• Amber Hatten, M.P.A.
  Professor of Practice, School of Accountancy

Honors College Mentor of the Year Award

• Stacy Reeves, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Education
• Donald Yee, Ph.D.
  Professor, School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences

Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year Award

• YanLin Guo, Ph.D.
  Professor, School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences

ASSOCIATION FOR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY EDUCATORS (ACUE) FACULTY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

ACUE AI in Higher Education Endorsement

• Katie Angus, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Social Science and Global Studies
• Terry Cullum, M.S.
  Instructor, School of Computing Sciences and Computer Engineering
• Eric Dahlen, Ph.D.
  Professor, School of Psychology
• Mary Funk, Ph.D.
  Associate Teaching Professor, School of Leadership
• Benjamin Goudy, M.P.H.
  Adjunct Faculty, School of Health Professions
• Danny Guillory, Ph.D.
  Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Education
• Andrew Herridge, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Education
• Alecia Hollis, Ph.D.
  Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Professional Nursing Practice
• Mark Huff, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Psychology
• Kelli King, Ph.D.
  Associate Teaching Professor, School of Marketing
• Danny Lee, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
• Michelle McLeese, Ph.D.
  Associate Teaching Professor, School of Social Science and Global Studies
• LynLee Morgan, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Professional Nursing Practice
• Joyce Powell, Ed.D.
  Assistant Director, School of Leadership
• Alexis Stoner, M.B.A.
  Instructor, School of Marketing
• Jae-Hwa Shin, Ph.D.
  Professor, School of Media and Communication
• Nancy Speed, Ph.D.
  Teaching Professor, School of Kinesiology and Nutrition
• Tyler Surber, Ph.D.
  Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Psychology
• Melissa Ziegler, Ph.D.
  Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Health Professions

ACUE Distinguished Teaching Scholars

• Casey Maugh Funderburk, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Leadership
• Riley Galloway, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Kinesiology and Nutrition
• Kaeli Gretter, Ph.D.
  Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Library and Information Science
• Danny Guillory, Ph.D.
  Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Education
• Timothy Gutmann, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Humanities
• Mirsalar Kamari, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Construction and Design
• Theofanis Kitsopoulos, Ph.D.
  Director, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
• Jessica Lee Matthews, M.S.M.Ed.
  Instructor, School of Health Professions
• Anna Swann, Ph.D.
  Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences
• Amonia Tolofari, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Media and Communication
• Charles Walter, Ph.D.
  Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Social Science and Global Studies

ACUE Advanced Certificate in Effective College Instruction

• Michelle Brazeal, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Social Work
• Kendrick Buford, Ph.D.
  Associate Teaching Professor, Center for STEM Education
• Chris Croft, Ed.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Marketing
• Terry Cullum, M.S.
  Instructor, School of Computing Sciences and Computer Engineering
• Emily Holmes, Ed.D.
  Special Projects Director, Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
• Laura Clark Hunt, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Library and Information Science
• Rajamohan Kalluru, Ph.D.
  Associate Teaching Professor, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
• Aleise McGowan, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Computing Sciences and Computer Engineering
• Jeremy Scott, Ph.D.
  Associate Teaching Professor, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
• Elizabeth Tinnon, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Professional Nursing Practice
• Sarah Wright, Ph.D.
  Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS AND ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT AWARDS

Joe Paul Rising Star Award

• Andrew Garrett, B.G.S.
  Business Analyst, Office of Admissions

Peter Durkee Superstar Award

• Lemuel Boyer, B.B.A.
  Assistant Registrar for Technical Services, Office of the Registrar

Student Affairs Champion

• Shirley Arnold
  Environmental Services Supervisor, Campus Recreation

Distinguished Friends of Student Affairs

• William Hamilton
  Catering Service Supervisor, Aramark
• Martha Allen Price, M.S.
  Executive Director, Extra Table

and

Amanda Powell
Administrative & Systems Coordinator, Extra Table

Golden Momentum Award

• Teresa Crum, M.S.
  Executive Director, Housing and Residence Life

UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INNOVATION AWARDS

Academic Partnership Award

• Derek Patton, Ph.D.
  Professor, School of Polymer Science and Engineering

Applied Research Award

• Nick Rahimi, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Computing Sciences and Computer Engineering

Basic Research Award

• Kim de Mutsert, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Ocean Science and Engineering

Creative Research Award

• Jennifer Torres, M.F.A.
  Professor, School of Performing and Visual Arts

Graduate Student Research Award

• Saydul Akbar Murad
  Graduate Student, School of Computing Sciences and Computer Engineering
• Saba Shahid
  Graduate Student, School of Psychology

Multidisciplinary Research Award

• Stephanie Smith, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor, School of Psychology

Research Advocate Award

• Sermin Aras, M.S.
  Assistant Director for Research Operations, College of Nursing and Health Professions

UNIVERSITY EXCELLENCE AWARDS

STAFF EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Service Maintenance/Skilled Craft Technical Award

• Heath Trussell
  Superintendent, Physical Plant

Office Personnel

• Richard Baker, M.S.
  Director of Technology and Accessibility, Institute for Disability Studies
• Stacy Henley
  Veterans Affairs Benefits Coordinator, Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families

Professional

• Sirena Cantrell, Ph.D.
  Associate Vice President and Dean of Students, Student Affairs
• Joyce Powell, Ed.D.
  Assistant Director, School of Leadership

Jessie H. Morrison Award

• Darcie Conrad, B.A., 28 Years
  Assistant to the Director, School of Humanities
• Sharon Hughes, B.S., 28 Years
  Assistant Operations Manager, University Human Resources

Staff Service Award

• Jasmine Coleman-Miller, M.S.Ed.
  Associate Director, Office of Scholarships and Financial Wellness
• Colleen Johnson, B.B.A.
  Administrative Coordinator for Coastal Operations, Gulf Park
• Mandy Nace, M.B.A.
  Assistant to the Dean for Finance and Administration, Graduate School
• Charlotte Roberts
  Superintendent of Environmental Services, Campus Recreation

FACULTY EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Nina Bell Suggs Endowed Professorship

• Boran Ma, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Polymer Science and Engineering
• Alison Hubbard, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Marketing

Junior Faculty Outstanding Creative Research Award

• Borislava Iltcheva, D.M.
  Assistant Professor, School of Music

Junior Faculty Outstanding Research Award

• Ke Gong, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Management
• Bradley Winton, D.B.A.
  Assistant Professor, School of Leadership

Junior Faculty Outstanding Teaching Award

• Masha Krsmanovic, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor, School of Education

Excellence in Teaching

• Joanne Tran, D.B.A.
  Associate Professor, School of Marketing

Excellence in Service

Ali Dogru, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, School of Management

Excellence in University Librarianship

• Melissa Brooks, M.L.I.S.
  Associate Professor, University Libraries

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The following awards are supported through the USM Foundation:

Provost Faculty Fellows, Ready for Life Champion and Emerging Champion Awards, Aubrey K. Lucas and Ella Ginn Lucas Endowment for Faculty Excellence, Jessie H. Morrison Award, Nina Bell Suggs Endowed Professorship, Faculty Excellence Awards.

The University Research Innovation Awards are supported by the USM Research Foundation.