WCU Stories      May 5, 2020

The annual Faculty and Staff Excellence Awards program at Western Carolina University originally scheduled for Friday, April 24, is among the many spring semester activities to go by the wayside in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The event, at which faculty and staff are recognized for outstanding teaching, scholarship and service, has been canceled. Award winners will be notified by Chancellor Kelli R. Brown and interim Provost Richard Starnes later this month, followed by an email to campus and the publication of lists of award recipients in the Inside WCU online news digest.

Awards scheduled to be announced and presented during the Faculty and Staff Excellence Awards program and nominees for those awards include:

Star Staff Award – Anne Aldrich, executive assistant to the provost, Office of the Provost; Deanna Allan, student services specialist, Entertainment, Hospitality, Tourism, Marketing and Sports Management; Adrienne Applegate, public communication specialist, University Communications and Marketing; Christopher Bullock, administrative support associate, School of Nursing; Brittania Bintz, research scientist, Forensic Science; Alicia Estes, human resources consultant, Human Resources and Payroll; Phyllis Franks, building and environmental services supervisor, Residential Living; Thomas Frazier, business officer, Print Shop; Richard Gamble, senior academic adviser, Advising; Heather Hill, senior assistant director of admissions, Admissions; Karen Kimenker, administrative support associate, Intercultural Affairs; Pamela Lakey, administrative support associate, Psychology; Andrea Lance, administrative support associate, Geosciences and Natural Resources; Mike Langford, director of admissions, Admissions; Cara LeCureux, student services specialist, Registrar; Christopher Moore, environmental health safety professional, Facilities Management; Elisabeth Moore, administrative support associate, School of Art and Design; Lane Perry, executive director, Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning; Jenny Stewart, director of student success, Suite 201; and Carolyn Wiggins, administrative support specialist, Office of the Dean of the College Arts and Sciences.

Bright Idea Staff Award – Betsy Aspinwall, associate director, Counseling and Psychological Services; Ricardo Nazario-Colón, chief diversity officer, Chancellor’s Division; Tom Ford, professor, Psychology; Patrick Frazier, associate director of admissions, Admissions; Sheila Frizzell, administrative support specialist, School of Music; Richard Gamble, senior academic adviser, Advising; Melody Huddleston, business officer, Office of the Dean, College of Fine and Performing Arts; Derek Kent, director of student services, School of Nursing; Kim Kopak, event and operations assistant, Center for the Study of Free Enterprise; Andrea Lance, administrative support specialist, Geosciences and Natural Resources; Lindsay Mathis, administrative support specialist, Communication; April Newland, administrative support specialist, Registrar; Christopher Ray, facilities maintenance supervisor, Facilities Management; Rylee Roquemore, public communication specialist, University Communications and Marketing; Sarah Speed, business/technical application specialist, Information Technology Applications and Systems; Amy Strickland, director of assessment, Office of the Provost; Colin Townsend, academic adviser, Office of the Dean of the Honors College; Tacquice Wiggan-Davis, associate director of multicultural affairs, Intercultural Affairs; Jane Wiggins, events and operations assistant, Center for the Study of Free Enterprise; and Shawna Young, public communication specialist, University Communications and Marketing.

Judy H. Dowell Outstanding Staff Award –  Melissa Allen, administrative support associate, World Languages; Marilyn Beck, administrative support associate, Psychology; Wendy Buchanan, print/document services technician, Print Shop; Lee Burrell, administrative support associate, Health Services; Roderick Colton, facilities maintenance supervisor, Facilities Management; Valerie Dillard, administrative support associate, Admissions; Shelly Fulk, executive assistant, Legal Counsel and Technology Transfer; Lynley Hardie, business officer, Office of the Dean, College of Education and Allied Professions; Stephen Mercier, technical support analyst, Information Technology Applications and Systems; Elisabeth Moore, administrative support associate, School of Art and Design; Denise Royer, student services specialist, Human Services; Amelia Schlott, technical support analyst, Registrar; Carrie Shuler, building and environmental services supervisor, Residential Living; John Surber, facilities maintenance technician – mechanical trades, Facilities Management; Dina Towey, student services specialist, Admissions; Carolyn Wiggins, administrative support associate, Office of the Dean, College of Arts and Sciences; and Gabriel Williams, building and environmental services supervisor, Facilities Management.

Paul A. Reid Distinguished Service Award for Administrative Staff – Brian Boyer, residential case manager, Residential Living; Philip Cauley, assistant vice chancellor for undergraduate enrollment, Student Affairs; Alexandra Fields, associate director of residence life, Residential Living; Thomas Frazier, business officer, Print Shop; Richard Gamble, senior academic adviser, Advising; Lawrence Hammer, registrar, Registrar; Glenda Hensley, director, First Year Experience; Magen Hinson, administrative support associate, School of Stage and Screen; Pam Lakey, administrative support associate, Psychology; Brandon MacCallum, associate director, Campus Recreation and Wellness; Kellie Monteith, assistant vice chancellor, Student Affairs; Paul Perrotta, director accessibility resources, Disability Services; Lane Perry, executive director, Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning; Jamie Raynor, interim vice chancellor, Office of Advancement; Bashaun Smith, interim dean of students, Residential Living; and Bill Studenc, chief communications officer, University Communications and Marketing.

Paul A. Reid Distinguished Service Award for Faculty – Melissa Birkhofer, instructor, English; Ingrid Bego, associate professor, Political Science and Public Affairs; Lisa Bloom, Jay M. Robinson Distinguished Professor of Educational Technologies, School of Teaching and Learning; Mark Budden, associate professor, Mathematics and Computer Science; Todd Collins, Steed Distinguished Professor of Public Policy, Political Science and Public Affairs; Jane Eastman, associate professor, Anthropology and Sociology; Chad Hallyburton, assistant professor, School of Health Sciences; Ashley Hyatt, assistant professor, Physical Therapy; Niall Michelsen, associate professor, Political Science and Public Affairs; Jennifer Riseden, assistant professor, School of Nursing; Phyllis Robertson, professor, Human Services; Dolores Willey, associate professor, Accounting, Finance, Information Systems and Business Law; and Laura Wright, professor, English.

Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award – Erin Callahan, assistant professor, English; Catherine Carter, professor, English; Elizabeth Graves, assistant professor, Human Services; Amy Murphy-Nugen, assistant professor, Social Work; and Andrew Penland, assistant professor, Mathematics and Computer Science.

University Scholar Award – Albert M. Kopak, associate professor, Criminology and Criminal Justice; James M. McLachlan, professor, Philosophy and Religion; Christina L. Reitz, associate professor, Music; and P. Bradley Ulrich, professor, Music.

Excellence in Teaching Liberal Studies Award – Jonathan Bradshaw, assistant professor, English; David Henderson, associate professor, Philosophy and Religion; Heather Rimes, assistant professor, Political Science and Public Affairs, Public Policy Institute director.

Innovation Scholar Award – Annette Debo, professor, English; Elizabeth McRae, associate professor, History; Kathleen Brennan, associate professor, Anthropology and Sociology; Kim Gorman, director, Counseling and Psychological Services; Eleanor Petrone, associate professor, English; Callie Shultz, assistant professor, Human Services; Richard Tichich, professor, Art and Design; Paul Worley, associate professor, English; and Laura Wright, professor, English.

Excellence in Community Engagement Award –  John Carzoli, assistant professor, Physical Therapy; Scott Eldredge, assistant professor, Communication; Eleanor Petrone, associate professor, English; Lori Schrodt, professor, Physical Therapy; and Jessie Swigger, associate professor, History.

Last Lecture Award – Jeanne Dulworth, assistant professor, Social Work; Alicia Grande, instructor, Psychology; Rebecca Lasher, assistant professor, Social Work; Tracie Rice, department head and assistant professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders; and David Scales, assistant professor, Psychology.

Academic Program of Excellence Award – Athletic Training Program, Computer Science Program, English Department, Higher Education Student Affairs, International Studies, LatinX, Political Science and Public Affairs, and Special Education.

Administrative Program of Excellence Award – Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, and Registrar’s Office.