Missouri S&T celebrated faculty excellence at an awards luncheon Dec. 4 in the Havener Center on campus. Honorees include:

Excellence in teaching, research and service awards

Dr. Colin Potts, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, recognized 29 faculty members for excellence and achievement in teaching, research and service. Additionally, the provost recognized the Governor’s Teaching Award recipient.

The Faculty Achievement Award recognizes non-tenure-track faculty who have demonstrated sustained excellence in two of the following areas: teaching, research and service. Recipients are:

• Dr. Andrew Behrendt, associate teaching professor of history and political science
• Lorie Francis, teaching professor of music
• Dr. Jillian Schmidt, associate teaching professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering
• Dr. Robert Woodley, associate teaching professor of electrical and computer engineering

The Faculty Excellence Award recognizes tenured or tenure-track faculty members who have demonstrated sustained excellence in teaching, research and service. Recipients are:

• Dr. Amy Belfi, associate professor of psychological science
• Dr. Shane Epting, associate professor of philosophy
• Dr. Catherine Johnson, Robert H. Quenon Associate Professor of Mining and Explosives Engineering
• Dr. Shun Saito, assistant professor of physics
• Dr. Daniel Shank, associate professor of psychological science

The Faculty Research Award recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in research and scholarship. Recipients are:

• Dr. Lana Alagha, Robert H. Quenon Associate Professor of Mining Engineering
• Dr. Laura Bartlett, Robert V. Wolf Chair in Metal Casting and associate professor of materials science and engineering
• Dr. Daryl Beetner, professor of electrical and computer engineering
• Dr. Rui Bo, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering
• Dr. DongHyun Kim, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering
• Dr. Hongyan Ma, associate professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering
• Dr. Jeremy Maurer, assistant professor of earth sciences and engineering
• Dr. Kathleen Sheppard, professor of history and political science

The Faculty Service Award recognizes faculty who display exemplary, sustained service to the university and to their profession. Recipients are:

• Dr. Marco Cavaglia, professor of physics
• Dr. Dimitri Feys, associate professor of civil, architectural, and environmental engineering
• Dr. David Lipke, associate professor of materials science and engineering
• Dr. Jonghyun Park, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering

 The Faculty Teaching Award recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in teaching and teaching-related activities. Recipients are: 

• Dr. Ryan Cheek, assistant professor of English and technical communication
• Dr. Amber Henslee, associate professor of psychological science
• Taylor Gruenloh, assistant professor of theater
• Dr. Dev Niyogi, professor of biological sciences
• Michelle Schwartze, associate teaching professor of education
• Dr. Pourya Shamsi, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering
• Dr. R. Joe Stanley, professor of electrical and computer engineering
• Kelly Tate, associate teaching professor of English and technical communication

The Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching is presented each year to one outstanding faculty member from each University of Missouri System campus. The award is based on effective teaching, innovative course design and delivery, effective advising, service to the university community, and success in nurturing student achievement. S&T’s recipient is:

• Dr. Joshua Schlegel, associate professor of nuclear engineering and radiation science

Experiential and service learning awards

Dr. Robin Gore, vice chancellor for student success, recognized three faculty for their roles in service and experiential learning.

The Experiential Learning Award recognizes faculty who require undergraduate students to go beyond mastering basic skills and knowledge in the application of that material to problem-solving challenges. These activities involve collaborative and reflective learning and allow students to learn in environments that align with their aptitudes. The recipients are:

• Dr. Melanie Mormile, professor of biological sciences
• Dr. Michael Bruening, professor of history and political science

The Service Learning Award recognizes faculty who involve or influence undergraduate students in academic service learning or community service activities outside the classroom. The recipient is:  

• Major Jessie Evans, assistant professor of military science and aerospace studies for the Air Force