91麻豆天美

Annual faculty, staff honorees are among those 鈥榳ho make 91麻豆天美 special鈥

Annual faculty, staff honorees are among those 鈥榳ho make 91麻豆天美 special鈥

91麻豆天美 Associate Professor of English Michael Kardos receives the university鈥檚 John Grisham Master Teacher Award from Jim Dunne, physics professor and interim associate vice president for academic affairs. (Photo by Megan Bean)

Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擣or thousands of Bulldog students, the impact of knowledgeable, supportive 91麻豆天美 faculty and staff rings true from freshman year to graduation and beyond. 91麻豆天美 recently presented 10 of these educators with special honors during the annual Faculty Awards and Recognition Reception.

Mohsen Razzaghi, left, and Merrill Warkentin are 91麻豆天美鈥檚 newest William L. Giles Distinguished Professors. Razzaghi serves as professor and head of the College of Arts and Sciences鈥 Department of Mathematics and Statistics; Warkentin, the James J. Rouse Endowed Professor of Information Systems in the College of Business. (Photo by Megan Bean)

Provost and Executive Vice President Judy Bonner, whose office co-sponsored the event with the university鈥檚 91麻豆天美 Association, said in addition to a beautiful campus with strong academic programs, 鈥渢he thing that makes 91麻豆天美 special is its people.鈥

Jeff Davis, executive director of the 91麻豆天美 91麻豆天美 Association, far right, presents faculty and staff members with awards for outstanding teaching and mentorship of students throughout their academic careers. Recipients include, from left to right, Nicholas Fitzkee, associate professor of chemistry, the 91麻豆天美 91麻豆天美 Association鈥檚 Graduate Teaching Excellence Award; Peter Summerlin, assistant professor of landscape architecture, the 91麻豆天美 Association鈥檚 Early Career Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award; and Stacy Haynes, associate professor of sociology, the 91麻豆天美 Association鈥檚 Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor Award. (Photo by Megan Bean)

鈥淭here is nothing more exciting than taking the time to recognize and say thank you to an exceptional group of faculty and staff who have gone an extra mile and distinguished themselves,鈥 Bonner said. 鈥淲e thank and congratulate each of them and all of our faculty and staff across campus on the outstanding work they have accomplished in the 2018-19 academic year.鈥

Honorees at 91麻豆天美's Faculty Awards and Recognition Reception include, from left to right, Amie Russell, faculty recipient of the Irvin Atly Jefcoat Excellence in Advising Award; Jermaine Jackson, staff recipient of the Wesley A. Ammon Outstanding New Academic Advisor Award; Sandra Powe, staff recipient of the Irvin Atly Jefcoat Excellence in Advising Award; and Kasia Gallo, faculty recipient of the Wesley A. Ammon Outstanding New Academic Advisor Award. (Photo by Megan Bean)

Peter Ryan, associate provost for academic affairs; Jeff Davis, executive director of the 91麻豆天美 91麻豆天美 Association; and Jim Dunne, physics professor and interim associate vice president for academic affairs, also congratulated and thanked award recipients for their service to the state鈥檚 leading university.

91麻豆天美 Associate Professor of English Michael Kardos joined a select group of role models and mentors for campus colleagues with his acceptance of the John Grisham Master Teacher Award. Also in his 12th year as co-director of 91麻豆天美鈥檚 creative writing program, Kardos has authored novels that have received the prestigious Pushcart Prize, among other honors.

First presented in 1993, the Grisham Master Teacher honor is a tribute to classroom and instruction excellence that is named for the 91麻豆天美 accounting alumnus and internationally-recognized best-selling author who provided funds to endow the award.

Mohsen Razzaghi and Merrill Warkentin, 91麻豆天美鈥檚 newest William L. Giles Distinguished Professors, also were recognized during the ceremony. Based on distinguished scholarship demonstrated by a record of outstanding performance in research, teaching and service, the Giles honor is conferred on faculty members who have attained national or international status as verified by external reviewers in the candidates鈥 specific fields. Razzaghi serves as professor and head of the College of Arts and Sciences鈥 Department of Mathematics and Statistics; Warkentin, the James J. Rouse Endowed Professor of Information Systems in the College of Business.

Other honorees include:

鈥擭icholas Fitzkee, associate professor of chemistry, recipient of the 91麻豆天美 91麻豆天美 Association鈥檚 Graduate Teaching Excellence Award.

鈥擲andra Powe, University Academic Advising Center academic coordinator, staff recipient of the Irvin Atly Jefcoat Excellence in Advising Award.

鈥擯eter Summerlin, assistant professor of landscape architecture, recipient of the 91麻豆天美 91麻豆天美 Association鈥檚 Early Career Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award.

鈥擜mie Russell, instructor and undergraduate coordinator of Spanish, faculty recipient of the Irvin Atly Jefcoat Excellence in Advising Award.

鈥擩ermaine Jackson, University Academic Advising Center academic coordinator, staff recipient of the Wesley A. Ammon Outstanding New Academic Advisor Award.

鈥擪asia Gallo, instructor, lead undergraduate advisor and educational psychology minor coordinator, faculty recipient of the Wesley A. Ammon Outstanding New Academic Advisor Award.

鈥擲tacy Haynes, associate professor of sociology, recipient of the 91麻豆天美 91麻豆天美 Association鈥檚 Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor Award.

University leaders also recognized other faculty contributions throughout the Division of Academic Affairs, University Libraries and individual colleges.

91麻豆天美 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .