SHAWNEE STATE UNIVERSITY FACULTY AWARDS
Celebrating Faculty

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD
Shawnee State University is a teaching institution. To acknowledge outstanding teaching, the University has established an annual award which includes a monetary prize.
Criteria for Trustees Distinguished Teaching Award: Extraordinary dedication to teaching, which is demonstrated by excellence in the following areas: impact on and involvement with students, scholarly approach to teaching and learning; contribution to undergraduate education in the institution, community and profession; and support from colleagues, current and former students. Candidate must be a full-time tenured or tenure track eligible faculty member or full time instructor who has completed three years of service at SSU at the time of nomination.
Board of Trustees Distinguished Teaching Award

PHIL BLAU
2020
Mathematics

KURT SHOEMAKER
2019
Natural Sciences

PRESTON NICHOLS
2018Â
Mathematics

JENNIFER NAPPER
2017
Biology

MITRA DEVKOTA
2016
Mathematics
Board of Trustees Distinguished Teaching Award

EUGENE BURNS
2015
Biology

J. ANTHONY WARD
2014
Athletic Training

LAVANYA VEMSANI
2013
History and Religious Studies

JENNIFER PAULEY
2012
English/British Literature
Board of Trustees Distinguished Teaching Award

VALERIE MYERS
2011
Education

NO AWARD RECIPIENT
2010

NO AWARD RECIPIENT
2009

JOHN WHITAKER
2008
Math Department
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NO AWARD RECIPIENT
2007

NO AWARD RECIPIENT
2006

DOUGLAS DARBRO
2005
Math Department

NO AWARD RECIPIENT
2004

JAMES FLAVIN
2003
English & Humanities
Board of Trustees Distinguished Teaching Award

JOHN LORENTZ
2002
Social Sciences

JULIA BASHAM
2001
Natural Sciences

PATRIC LEEDOM
2000
Education

NO AWARD RECIPIENT
1999

NO AWARD RECIPIENT
1998

JEFF BAUER
1997
Natural Sciences
Board of Trustees Distinguished Teaching Award

TOM STEAD
1996
Art

FACULTY RESEARCH AWARD
To acknowledge outstanding faculty research, the University has established an annual award. Any full-time faculty (including FTI) or full-time student may nominate any full-time tenured or tenure track eligible faculty member or full time instructor (FTI) who has completed at least one year of service at the time of the nomination at SSU.
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Criteria for Faculty Research Award: Extraordinary dedication to research demonstrated by excellence in the following areas: impact on and involvement with students, contribution to undergraduate or graduate research in the institution, community and profession, and support from colleagues and/or current and former students.
FACULTY RESEARCH AWARD

LAVANYA VEMSANI
2020
History and Religious Studies

JINLU-LI
2019
Math Department

ERIK LARSON
2018
Natural Science

SHANNON LAWSON FACULTY SERVICE AWARD
Shannon Lawson Faculty Service Award
Dr. Shannon Lawson was a vital part of Shawnee State University. Dr. Lawson served as the Director of the Teaching and Learning Center, the Celebration of Scholarship, the Faculty Festival of Achievement, and the Honors Program. She also served on university committees such as EPCC and was active with CIPA, grant writing, the Women’s Center, and People To People in Rwanda. In the community, Shannon coordinated the Pleasant Green Baptist Church food pantry and Crop Walk. In recognition of her service to both the Portsmouth area and the university, we dedicate this award in her memory. Only those currently teaching or working at SSU may nominate someone for this award.
Criteria for Faculty Service Award: Extraordinary dedication to service at SSU is demonstrated by excellence in the following areas: service to the university in the form of committee work, leadership roles in departmental, college or university projects or initiatives, leadership in service to students by sponsoring clubs, outings, academic conference travel, projects and/or activities that focus on campus service, community service such as area social service projects, youth organizations, outreach clinics, cultural events, etc.
SHANNON LAWSON FACULTY SERVICE AWARD

LOGAN MINTER
2020
Natural Science
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DEBRA SCURLOCK
2019
Master of Occupational Therapy

MICHAEL BARNHART
2018
Music

SEAN DUNNE
2017
Sociology

EARLY CAREER TEACHING AWARD
Shawnee State University is a teaching institution. To acknowledge outstanding teaching for a new member of the faculty (1-3 years) the University Faculty Senate has established an annual award.
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Criteria for Early Service Faculty Award:
The criteria for Early Career Teaching Award is extraordinary dedication to teaching, which is demonstrated by excellence in the following areas: impact on and involvement with students; scholarly approach to teaching and learning; contribution to undergraduate education in the institution, community and profession; and support from colleagues, current and former students.
EARLY CAREER TEACHING AWARD

KIMBERLY CASSIDY
2020
Education

LOGAN MINTER
2019
Natural Science

THOMAS BUNTING
2018
Political Science