Office of the Provost
Faculty and Staff Award Recipients 2019–20
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Higher Education Appreciation Day Working for Academic Excellence
Each year, the Mississippi Legislature sponsors the Higher Education Appreciation Day-Working for Academic Excellence (HEADWAE). A faculty member who has exhibited outstanding accomplishments in the areas of research, teaching and service from each participating member institution of the Mississippi Association of Colleges is recognized during the HEADWAE events.
Alan Shiller, Ph.D.
Professor, Marine Science
Southern Miss Nominee, IHL Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award
Each year during Black History Month, the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) recognizes a faculty or staff member who has demonstrated excellence in diversity and inclusion through outstanding contributions to the positive advancement of diversity on campus and/or within the university community, has implemented new and progressive best practices of effective teaching and learning strategies, has exemplified the service our universities provide to local communities and the state, and whose accomplishments have benefited all Mississippians.
Susan Mayfield-Johnson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Public Health
Southern Miss Nominees, National Endowment for the Humanities Award
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) summer stipend provides faculty with the opportunity to pursue research in the humanities that contributes to scholarly knowledge and to the public’s understanding of the humanities. Two faculty members were selected to represent The University of Southern Mississippi in the 2020 NEH competition.
Douglas Bristol, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, History
Candice Salyers, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Dance
Aubrey Keith Lucas and Ella Ginn Lucas Endowment for Faculty Excellence Award
This endowment was established in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Aubrey K. Lucas to support and reward faculty excellence in instruction and research. The review committee selected the following faculty members as recipients of the Lucas Endowment for Faculty Excellence Award.
“Khaki Globe Trotters: Black GIs and their Quest for Economic Equality During World War II”
Douglas Bristol, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, History
“Discerning the Appropriate Interruption Strategy to Prevent Arterial Stiffening Following
a Prolonged Bout of Uninterrupted Sitting”
Daniel Credeur, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Kinesiology
Stephanie McCoy, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Kinesiology
“Cooperative Breeding as a Consequence of Cumulative Thermal Stress in Fiddler Crabs”
M. Zachary Darnell, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Coastal Sciences
“The News in Transition: The Decline and Rebirth of Journalism in America”
David Davies, Ph.D.
Professor, Journalism, Public Relations, and Advertising
“Internet Delivered Parent Child Interaction Therapy (I-PCIT)”
Brad Dufrene, Ph.D.
Professor, Psychology
“Project Management Professional”
Mary Funk, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Interdisciplinary Studies
“Intensification of Old-Time Fiddle Tune Choices and Performance Techniques”
Christopher Goertzen, Ph.D.
Professor, Music
“Intimacy Directing Training”
Caitlyn Herzlinger, M.F.A.
Assistant Professor, Theatre
“The CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute 2020”
J. Taylor Hightower, D.M.
Associate Professor, Music
“Data and Failure: A Collaborative Study of First-year Composition”
Joyce Inman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, English
Rebecca Powell, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, English
“Spider Log: An Interleaved Practice System with Visual Feedback”
Danilo Mezzadri, D.M.A.
Professor, Music
“The Effect of Acute Fatigue on Cognitive Attention and Balance”
Jeffrey Parr, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Rehabilitation Sciences
“Fostering Parent Engagement in Mathematics Education through Math Power”
Erin Smith, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Curriculum and Instruction
Summer Grants for Improvement of Instruction
The Summer Grants for Improvement of Instruction are awarded to faculty members who are committed to the ongoing development of new and innovative teaching strategies or techniques that ultimately result in the improvement or assessment of student learning.
Erin Smith, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Curriculum and InstructionVickie Reed, M.S.
Instructor, Public HealthJo Hawkins-Jones, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Curriculum and InstructionMariann Taylor, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Child and Family SciencesKalyn Lamey, M.S.
Instructor, MathematicsJennifer Regan, Ph.D.
Associate Teaching Professor, Cell and Molecular BiologyCharkarra Anderson-Lewis, Ph.D.
Professor, Public HealthLeah Fonder-Solano, Ph.D.
Professor, World LanguagesBryan Spuhler, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Child and Family Sciences
Association for College and University Educators Faculty Development Institute (ACUE)
Since fall 2016, The University of Southern Mississippi has selected Faculty Fellows annually to participate in the Association for College and University Educators (ACUE) Faculty Development Institute. Faculty Fellows work together in cohorts of roughly 15 over the course of three semesters to explore evidence-based techniques for effective course design, assessment of student learning, and teaching methodologies. The Institute is rooted in a 25-module online course that Faculty Fellows complete, but the heart of the program is the weekly facilitated meetings to discuss the online content with a diverse group of colleagues. We are proud of the community the Institute has built, and the national recognition this program has gained for record completion rates for the online course and exceptionally strong performance of our faculty. This program is housed within the Center for Faculty Development and continues to expand its membership.
USM Certificate in Promoting Engaged and Active Learning
LaWanda Baskin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Leadership and Advanced Nursing PracticeBanu Bas, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, MarketingEmily Bes, M.P.H.
Lecturer, Public HealthGregory Bradley, Ph.D.
Associate Teaching Professor, ManagementJ. Theresa Bush, M.F.A.
Assistant Professor, TheatreTeresa Cartwright, M.S.
Lecturer, Nutrition and Food SystemsLeffi Cewe-Malloy, M.Arch.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Construction and DesignKenneth Christensen, M.A.
Instructor, Interdisciplinary StudiesStephen Coleman, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Journalism, Public Relations & AdvertisingSusan Dobson, M.P.H.
Lecturer, Public HealthJacob Esplin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Child and Family SciencesHolly Foster, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Educational Research and AdministrationXuyang He, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, and SecurityChelsey Holden, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Child and Family SciencesAlecia Hollis, M.S.N.
Visiting Instructor, Professional Nursing PracticeCarolyn Holloway, M.S.N.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Leadership and Advanced Nursing PracticeJoann Judge, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, KinesiologyRajamohan Kalluru, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Physics and AstronomyAnn Marie Kinnell, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary StudiesWonryull Koh, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Computing Sciences and Computer EngineeringRamakalavathi Marapareddy, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Computing Sciences and Computer EngineeringWhitney Martin, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, EnglishJohn Miller, Ph.D.
Professor, Sport ManagementMaitreyee Mukherjee, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Cell and Molecular BiologyMya Rome, M.S.
Visiting Instructor, Child and Family SciencesJeremy Scott, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Physics and AstronomyLauren Smith, M.F.A.
Assistant Teaching Professor, DanceMariann Taylor, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Child and Family SciencesKarl Wallace, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Chemistry and BiochemistryWei Wang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Hospitality and Tourism ManagementFan Zhang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Construction and Design
USM Certificate in Assessment of Teaching and Learning
Jennifer Anderson, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Interdisciplinary StudiesBanu Bas, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, MarketingLaWanda Baskin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Leadership and Advanced Nursing PracticeEmily Bes, M.P.H.
Lecturer, Public HealthFrancis Bozzolo, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Biological SciencesGregory Bradley, Ph.D.
Associate Teaching Professor, ManagementAlyson Brink, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, GeologyHeather Broadhead, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Polymer Science and EngineeringJ. Theresa Bush, M.F.A.
Assistant Professor, TheatreTeresa Cartwright, M.S.
Lecturer, Nutrition and Food SystemsLeffi Cewe-Malloy, M.Arch.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Construction and DesignAllen Chen, M.F.A.
Assistant Professor, Art and DesignKenneth Christensen, M.A.
Instructor, Interdisciplinary StudiesNicholas Ciraldo, D.M.A.
Professor, MusicAdam Clay, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, EnglishStephen Coleman, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, CommunicationSusan Dobson, M.P.H.
Lecturer, Public HealthJacob Esplin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Child and Family SciencesHolly Foster, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Educational Research and AdministrationJosh Haynes, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, HistoryXuyang He, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, and SecurityChelsey Holden, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Child and Family SciencesAlecia Hollis, M.S.N.
Visiting Instructor, Professional Nursing PracticeMary Ann Holt, M.A.
Lecturer, SpanishJoann Judge, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, KinesiologyRajamohan Kalluru, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Physics and AstronomyAnn Marie Kinnell, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary StudiesWonryull Koh, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Computing Sciences and Computer EngineeringRamakalavathi Marapareddy, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Computing Sciences and Computer EngineeringWhitney Martin, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, EnglishJohn Miller, Ph.D.
Professor, Sport ManagementMaitreyee Mukherjee, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Cell and Molecular BiologyPam Rollins, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, EnglishMya Rome, M.S.
Visiting Instructor, Child and Family SciencesCandice Salyers, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, DanceJeremy Scott, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Physics and AstronomyLauren Smith, M.F.A.
Assistant Teaching Professor, DanceKelley Stricklin, Ed.D.
Associate Professor, Elementary EducationMariann Taylor, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Child and Family SciencesElizabeth Tinnon, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, NursingKarl Wallace, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Chemistry and BiochemistryWei Wang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Hospitality and Tourism ManagementFan Zhang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Construction and Design
ACUE Distinguished Teaching Scholars
Jennifer Anderson, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Interdisciplinary StudiesAmy Arrington, J.D.
Associate Teaching Professor, Public HealthChris Balaski, M.S.
Professor of Practice, MarketingLaWanda Baskin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Leadership and Advanced Nursing PracticeCatharine Bomhold, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Library and Information ScienceFrancis Bozzolo, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Biological SciencesGregory Bradley, Ph.D.
Associate Teaching Professor, ManagementAlyson Brink, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, GeologyHeather Broadhead, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Polymer Science and EngineeringSam Bruton, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, PhilosophyJoanne Cao, D.B.A.
Assistant Professor, MarketingLeffi Cewe-Malloy, M.Arch.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Construction and DesignAdam Clay, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, EnglishStephen Coleman, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, CommunicationChris Croft, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor, Sport ManagementMatthew Donahue, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, ChemistryJacob Esplin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Child and Family SciencesAaron J. Fath, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, PsychologyHolly Foster, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Educational Research and AdministrationKevin Greene, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, HistoryLaura Gulledge, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Criminal JusticeJosh Haynes, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, HistoryAngel Herring, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Child and Family SciencesChelsey Holden, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Child and Family SciencesMary Ann Holt, M.A.
Lecturer, SpanishJoyce Inman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, EnglishJoann Judge, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, KinesiologyRajamohan Kalluru, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Physics and AstronomyMaitreyee Mukherjee, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Cell and Molecular BiologyLawrence Patihis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, PsychologyPam Rollins, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, EnglishCandice Salyers, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, DanceLauren Smith, M.F.A.
Assistant Teaching Professor, DanceMarek Steedman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Political ScienceKelley Stricklin, Ed.D.
Associate Professor, Elementary EducationMariann Taylor, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Child and Family SciencesElizabeth Tinnon, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, NursingRebecca Tuuri, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, HistoryKarl Wallace, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Chemistry and BiochemistryWei Wang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Hospitality and Tourism ManagementRuss Willis, J.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, ManagementReginald Wilson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Accounting
Faculty Leadership Institute Fellows
The Faculty Leadership Institute Fellows are awarded to faculty who are invested as leaders in their professional disciplines and the interdisciplinary community and committed to ongoing leadership development.
Nicholas Ciraldo, D.M.A.
Professor, MusicDavid Cochran, Ph.D.
Professor, Geography and GeologyMatthew Donahue, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, ChemistryDana Fennell, Ph.D.
Professor, SociologySherRhonda Gibbs, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, EntrepreneurshipJulie Hammond, M.F.A.
Professor, DanceJay Howell, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Curriculum and InstructionMarti Jordan, Ph.D.
Assistant Visiting Professor, NursingSara Jordan, Ph.D.
Professor, PsychologySandra Nichols, Ph.D.
Professor, Special Education
Outstanding Service-Learning Faculty Award
The Center for Community Engagement works with numerous Southern Miss faculty who dedicate their time to innovative teaching methods that combine service and learning for a powerful impact on both students and our community. The Outstanding Service-Learning Faculty Award recognizes a USM faculty member who demonstrates teaching excellence through student learning experiences that address critical community needs.
Catharine Bomhold, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Library and Information Science
Graduate Mentor of the Year Award
The Graduate Mentor of the Year Award is presented to a faculty member with a minimum of five years of experience at USM who demonstrates a commitment to fostering the intellectual, scholarly and professional development of his/her graduate students. The recipient is nominated by a current or former graduate student and is valued for his/her accessibility to students, willingness to assist as students learn to teach and perform research, assistance in developing professional networks and providing opportunities to attend professional conferences and disseminate research findings, and high expectations for excellence.
Jameela Lares, Ph.D.
Professor, English
Division of Student Affairs Awards
Peter Durkee Superstar Award
Dr. Durkee served as the division's senior officer for 25 years, and during that time, his support for student services—such as career development and student wellness—made a significant impact on the university. This support and many additional actions have contributed to the success of thousands of Southern Miss students. The Peter Durkee Superstar Award recognizes an employee or ensemble within the Division of Student Affairs for significant contributions to the mission and realization of the vision.
Nneka Ayozie
Assistant Director, Center for Community Engagement
Joe Paul Rising Star Award
Dr. Joe Paul quickly made his mark in 1976 when he began in his first role as assistant director for the R.C. Cook Student Union and was quickly promoted to roles including dean of students and vice president for Student Affairs. The Joe Paul Rising Star Award recognizes new employees who, like the award's namesake, have also hit the ground running by displaying exemplary efforts toward advancing the division's mission and vision through our values of civility, education, engagement, integrity and wellness. All DSA full-time employees hired within the last two years are eligible for nomination.
Chelsea Clifton
Mental Wellness Counselor, USM Student Counseling Services
Pillar of Student Affairs
This commendation celebrates excellent work and dedication from the division’s office administrators and technicians and facility maintenance and housekeeping personnel. In addition to demonstrating outstanding customer service, efficiency and consistency in their work, those nominated for this award will contribute to positive environments for colleagues and students with whom they interact. In short, these individuals help make Southern Miss a place people want to be.
Gail Sledge
Lead Medical Office Assistant, Moffitt Health Center
Distinguished Friend of Student Affairs
Student Affairs interacts with partners across the university, as well as in local, regional and national communities. A Distinguished Friend of Student Affairs will be a partner whose dedication or contribution to divisional or departmental missions is especially significant and deserving of recognition. Only those who are not employed within the division are eligible for this distinction.
Laura Laughlin
Director, Orientation & Transition Programs
University Research Innovation Awards
These awards celebrate the outstanding scholarly careers of our most productive and influential faculty. Research Innovation Awards are open to tenured and non-tenured faculty, staff, graduate students and external entities.
Academic Partnership Award
The Academic Partnership Award honors a faculty member who has pioneered or sustained innovative partnerships between The University of Southern Mississippi and other institutions or groups (including but not necessarily limited to businesses, state and federal agencies, professional associations, community groups or nonprofit organizations). Nominees should demonstrate the primacy of their role in establishing and maintaining academic partnerships for the University.
Julie Cwikla, Ph.D.
Interim Director, Center for Science and Mathematics Education
Applied Research Award
The Applied Research Award honors a faculty member who has employed the results of basic research to solve specific scientific or social problems or to serve pragmatic purposes such as the practical implementation of research, or to suggest system or policy changes in his/her research area. Nominees should demonstrate a high level of external recognition.
Anna Wan, Ph.D.
Professor, Mathematics
Basic Research Award
The Basic Research Award honors a faculty member who has conducted systematic examination of observable facts in order to advance general knowledge, understand phenomena or build theories through her/his research and built the rubric of his/her research. Nominees should demonstrate a high level of external recognition.
Leila Hamdan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Coastal Sciences
Creative Activities Award
The Creative Activities Award honors a faculty member who has achieved a high degree of accomplishment in one or more areas of creative work at The University of Southern Mississippi. Discipline areas include, but are not necessarily limited to, creative writing, dance, theater, music, visual arts, film, radio, broadcast, or creative activities related to the sciences. Nominees should demonstrate a high level of external recognition.
Adam Clay, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, English
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award honors a senior faculty member whose scholarly or creative career has made an extraordinary and significant impact on their discipline, as perceived not only by our university's faculty community, but also by other members of that profession. Nominees should demonstrate a high level of external recognition.
Jameela Lares, Ph.D.
Professor, English
Multidisciplinary Award
The Multidisciplinary Awards honors a faculty member who is a pioneer in cross-disciplinary research collaboration to identify innovative solutions or intellectual accomplishments that extend beyond their field. Nominees should demonstrate high levels of external recognition.
Mohamed O. Elasri, Ph.D.
Professor, Cell and Molecular Biology
Research Advocate Award
The Research Advocate Award honors an administrator or staff member who has made significant contributions to fostering research at The University of Southern Mississippi. Nominees should demonstrate a high level of internal recognition.
Sabine Heinhorst, Ph.D.
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Research & Outreach
Graduate Student Award
The Graduate Student Award recognizes a graduate student who has demonstrated exemplary scholarly or creative achievement. Documentation of outstanding accomplishment is required from each nominee.
Brian W. Bauer
Graduate Student, Psychology
Jonathan Riccio
Graduate Student, English
Nina Bell Suggs Endowed Professorship
The Nina Bell Suggs Endowed Professorship recognizes junior faculty members (untenured, tenure-track assistant professors) for outstanding accomplishments and professional promise. Each recipient will use the title “Nina Bell Suggs Professor” until they are promoted to associate professor.
Olivia Clare Friedman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, English
Faculty Senate Junior Faculty Awards
The Faculty Senate Junior Faculty Awards were created to recognize outstanding assistant professors early in their careers at Southern Miss. This year, three junior faculty members are being recognized for excellence in creative activity, teaching and research.
Creative Activity Award
Joshua Bernstein, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, English
Research Award
Laura Stengrim, Ph.D
Assistant Professor, Communication Studies
Teaching Award
Holly Foster, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Education
University Excellence Awards
Staff Excellence Awards
The staff Excellence Awards recognize staff members that exhibit exemplary commitment
and dedication toward their position and The University of Southern Mississippi. The
recipients demonstrate integrity, a positive attitude toward work responsibilities,
co-workers and customers, serve as a role model for others, take initiative and carry
out additional responsibilities beyond regular job assignments for the good of the
campus community and have a team player attitude. Winners are selected within each
employment classification. Further, the Jessie H. Morrison Award recipient must also
have 20 consecutive years of employment.
Professional
David Magola
Senior Veterans Affairs Certification Specialist
Center for Military Veterans, Service Members & Families
Mr. Magola has been employed with USM for 6 years.
Office Personnel
Martha Resavy
Finance Administrative Specialist
School of Education
Ms. Resavy has been employed with USM for 11 years.
Service Maintenance/Skilled Craft/Technical
Bryan Wiseman
Network Administrator
i-Tech
Mr. Wiseman has been employed with USM for 5 years.
Jessie H. Morrison Award
Sally Downey
Assistant to the Dean for Finance and Administration
College of Arts and Sciences
Ms. Downey has been employed with USM for 20 years.
Faculty Excellence Awards
The Faculty Excellence Awards recognize exceptional teaching, service to the university
community, and excellence in the practice of librarianship.
Excellence in Teaching
Monika Gehlawat, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, English
Excellence in Service
Lindsay Wright, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Child and Family Sciences
Excellence in Librarianship
Sarah Mangrum, Ed.D.
University Libraries
