Oklahoma State University: Twelve From The College Of Education And Human Sciences Receive University-Wide Recognition

Press release from Oklahoma State University:

2021-12-17

Media Contact:
Katie Lacey | Communications Specialist | 405-744-9347 | katie.l.lacey@okstate.edu

Twelve faculty, staff and administrators from Oklahoma State University’s College
of Education and Human Sciences received university-wide recognition at the 2021 University
Awards Convocation on Dec. 7.

Awards highlighted excellence in teaching, mentorship, service and more. 

Lynn Boorady, Department of Design, Housing and Merchandising head, was awarded the Leave the
Ladder Down Award for successfully mentoring and encouraging others to reach their
full potential. Dr. Boorady has increased funding, staff and enrollment and has become
a positive female role model throughout the department. She also updated the graduate
student manual, making key changes to committee membership and assuring adherence
to graduate school requirements, and she developed a core plan to increase student-to-faculty
ratio in graduate courses. Not only is Boorady respected for her numerous achievements,
but she also embodies the mission of the college. 

Paulette Hebert, professor in the Department of Design, Housing and Merchandising, won the University
Service Award for her meritorious service to the university. In the last three years,
Dr. Herber provided in-person service to the following countries: Bahrain for accreditation
review; The International Association of Lighting Designers in Spain; and Khon Kaen
University, Thailand. Since 2016, she has authored no less than 16 peer reviewed articles,
refereed eight proceedings and presented 58 times. Her expertise in lighting has been
used in a variety of settings, including classrooms, museums and an aging community.
Herbert is praised for using her leadership skills to help others develop their own
areas of research.

Daniel Lin, associate professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, received the Regents
Distinguished Research Award for his continuing research investigating the bioactive compounds and the metabolic enzymes
in disease prevention. 

Tonya Hammer, assistant professor in the School of Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling
Psychology, was awarded the Regents Distinguished Teaching Award. Hammer uses her
knowledge and education to help people through the Body Image and Disordered Eating
(BIDE) Lab. She has dedicated her life to helping people and instructing students.

Jenn Sanders, professor in the School of Teaching, Learning and Educational Sciences, was awarded
the Global Education Faculty Excellence Award for outstanding work integrating a global perspective to instruction,
research and outreach.

Tilanka Chandrasekera, associate professor in the Department of Design, Housing and Merchandising, was newly
appointed to the Chris Salmon Endowed Professorship for Interior Design. He is a leader
for the Mixed Reality Lab, a state-of-the-art facility which conducts research utilizing augmented reality,
virtual reality, digital prototyping and 3D printing.

Marshan Marick, teaching assistant professor in the School of Community Health Sciences, Counseling
and Counseling Psychology, was recognized for Excellence in Academic Program Assessment.

Jonette Passmore, adjunct faculty member from the School of Kinesiology, Applied Health and Recreation,
received the Excellence in Teaching Award for Adjunct Faculty for her service and
instruction. She instructs warm water therapy courses for recreational therapy students
where they gain practical experience by providing warm water therapy to local children
with behavior, physical and psychiatric diagnoses and disabilities.

Jennifer Eisensmith, from the Student Success Center, received the Advising Excellence Award for providing
students with outstanding academic advising. Eisensmith advises nutrition and other
health majors in the college. 

Edralin Lucas, professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, was recognized as a newly appointed Regents Professor. Lucas was also recognized
for her selection for the Oklahoma Medal of Excellence in Teaching at a Research University. The Oklahoma Medal for Excellence awards are presented annually by the Oklahoma Foundation
for Excellence to honor exceptional and innovative educators in Oklahoma’s public
K-12 schools and universities. She is also this year’s winner of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence for her successful
teaching at Oklahoma State University.

Jay Dawes, associate professor from the School of Kinesiology, Applied Health and Recreation,
received the Distinguished Early Career Faculty Award for his continued contributions
to the university. The honor recognizes faculty who have achieved tenure within the
past three years and an exceptionally strong potential for continued contributions
to the University and their respective profession.

Rebeca Weber, associate professor from OSU Libraries also received the Distinguished Early Career
Faculty Award for her consistent success leading the Education and Teaching Library.

This press release was produced by Oklahoma State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.