Faculty Awards and Honors
Here you will find information about some of the awards and honors available for Oakland University faculty.
In 1988, the Oakland University Board of Trustees established the rank of Distinguished Professor to be conferred on eminent faculty members for the duration of their service at Oakland. According to the criteria for Distinguished Professor status, the individual must be preeminent in at least one of three categories: scholarship, teaching, or public or professional service. This distinction has been conferred on a small and highly select group of outstanding individuals. Honorees are selected by the Provost and the Distinguished Professor Advisory Committee.
2026
Sergey Golovashchenko
Department: Mechanical Engineering
James T. Hansen
Department: Counseling
Jennifer Vonk
Department: Psychology
2023
David Dulio
Department: Political Science
Huirong Fu
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Ravindra Khattree
Department: Mathematics and Statistics
2022
Andrea Eis
Department: English
Virgil Zeigler-Hill
Department: Psychology
2021
David Garfinkle
Department: Physics
Zissimos Mourelatos
Department: Mechanical Engineering
Barbara Oakley
Department: Industrial & Systems Engineering
2020
Linda Pavonetti
Department: Education
Karen Sheridan
Department: Theatre
Vijayan Sugumaran
Department: Decision and Information Science
2019
John-Paul White
Department: Music
Lianxiang Yang
Department: Engineering
Xiangqun Zeng
Department: Chemistry
2018
Frank Giblin
Department: Eye Research Institute
Terri L. Orbuch
Department: Sociology
2017
Yang Xia
Department: Physics
2016
Todd Shackelford
Department: Psychology
Maria Bryant
Department: Chemistry
2015
Jacqueline Wiggins
Department: Music, Theatre and Dance
Edward Hoeppner
Department: English
Meir Shillor
Department: Mathematics and Statistics
2014
Not Awarded
2013
Andrei Slavin
Department: Physics
2012
Sayed Nassar
Department: Mechanical Engineering
2011
Eddie Cheng
Department: Mathematics and Statistics
2010
Gopalan Srinivasan
Department: Physics
2009
Judith K. Brown
Department: Anthropology
2008
Not Awarded
2007
Robert C. Finucane
Department: History
2006
Not Awarded
2005
Michael D. Sevilla
Department: Chemistry
2004
Robert T. Eberwein
Department: English
Michael Chopp
Department: Physics
2003
Paul Tomboulian
Department: Chemistry
2002
Jane D. Eberwein
Department: English
Ronald L. Cramer
Department: Education
Sheldon L. Appleton
Department: Political Science
2001 and Prior
Gertrude M. White
Department: English
Venkat N. Reddy
Department: Eye Research Institute
Jack R. Moeller
Department: German Language
Laszlo J. Hetenyi
Department: Education
Karl D. Gregory
Department: Economics and Management
Faculty award winners recognized at Oakland University's yearly Faculty Recognition and Founders' Day
We formally recognize these faculty members whose teaching and research excellence, creative achievements, and community service have contributed to the betterment of society.
College of Arts and Sciences
Peter Felsman - Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Social Work and Criminal Justice - Teaching
Anthony Guest - Department of Theatre - Service
Katie Hartsock - Department of English - Research
Evgeniy Khain - Department of Physics - Teaching
Giselle Saylor - Department of Mathematics and Statistics - Service
Robert Sidelinger - Department of Communication and Journalism - Service
Henry So - Department of Mathematics and Statistics - Research
Ryan Standfest - Department of Art and Art History - Research
Kanako Taku - Department of Psychology- Research
School of Business Administration
Man Jin - Department of Economics - Service
Pratik Kothari - Department of Accounting and Finance - Research
Qunfeng Liao - Department of Accounting and Finance - Teaching
School of Education and Human Services
Clark Ausloos - Department of Counseling - Service
Hunter King - Department of Human Development and Child Studies - Research
Chaundra Scott - Department of Organizational Leadership - Teaching
School of Engineering and Computer Science
Sarah Beetham - Department of Mechanical Engineering - Teaching
Darrin Hanna - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering - Service
Hongwei Qu - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering - Research
School of Health Sciences
Melissa Reznar - Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences - Service
Dale Telgenhoff - Department of Clinical Diagnostic Sciences - Teaching
Emily Van Wasshenova - Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sceiences - Research
School of Nursing
Teresa Chahine - Service
Tiffany-Janelle Calderon - Teaching
Yvonne Kasine - Research
School of Medicine
Deirdre N. Hurse - Department of Foundational Medical Studies - Research
Aleida Rivera - Department of Family Medicine and Community Health- Teaching
Varna Taranikanti - Department of Foundational Medical Studies - Teaching
Virginia Uhley - Department of Foundational Medical Studies - Service
Eye Research Institute
Andrew Goldberg - Research
Kresge Library
Anne Zacharias - Service
Assessment Excellence Award (UAC)
Department of Psychology Undergraduate Program
Assessment Excellence Award (GEAC)
General Education Course CDS 2070
Kevin J. Corcoran Faculty Community Engagement Award
Cecilia Saenz-Roby - Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Research Excellence Award
Kanako Taku - Department of Psychology
New Investigator Research Excellence Award
Vandre Figueiredo - Department of Biological Sciences
Teaching Excellence Award (Tenure)
Varna Taranikanti - Department of Foundational Medical Studies
Online Teaching Excellence Award
Jennifer Heisler - Department of Communication & Journalism
Excellence in Teaching Award (Non-Tenure)
Rochelle E. Danquah - Department of History
Outstanding Grduate Mentor Award (Tenure)
Kristine Thompson - Department of Human Movement Science
Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award (Non-Tenure)
Jacqueline Scully - Department of Humna Movement Science
We formally recognize these faculty members whose teaching and research excellence, creative achievements, and community service have contributed to the betterment of society.
College of Arts and Sciences
Graham Cassano - Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work and Criminal Justice - Research
Jun Hu - Department of Mathematics and Statistics - Research
Andrea Kozak - Department of Psychology - Research
Whitney Locher - Department of Theatre - Research
Melissa McDonald - Department of Psychology - Service
Cindy Mooty - Depatment of Writing and Rhetoric - Teaching
Lori Ostergaard - Department of Writing and Rhetoric - Service
Jason Overfelt - Department of Linguistics - Research
Maria Paino - Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work and Criminal Justice - Service
Alexey Tonyushkin - Department of Physics - Research
Sara Chapman Williams - Department of History - Service
School of Business Administration
Osman Aydas - Department of Decision and Information Sciences - Research and Service
Steven Liu - Departmentof Management and Marketing - Teaching and Research
School of Education and Human Services
Lisa Hawley - Department of Counseling - Service
Jennifer Wenson - Department of Organizational Leadership - Teaching
School of Engineering and Computer Science
Shadi Alawneh - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering - Teaching
Richard Olawoyin - Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering - Service
Alycen Wiacek - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Bioengineering - Research
School of Health Sciences
Lindsay Brandt - Department of Human Movement Science - Service
Christina Lim - Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences - Service
School of Nursing
Olga Ehrlich - Service
School of Medicine
Kyeorda Kemp - Department of Foundational Medical Studies - Research
Michael Lutz - Department of Urology - Research
Eye Research Institute
Dao-Qi Zhang - Research
Assessment Excellence Award (UAC)
Department of Physics
Assessment Excellence Award (GEAC)
Department of Economics
Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award (Tenure Track)
Jun Chen - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award (Non-Tenure Track)
Maria Beam - Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work and Criminal Justice
Research Excellence Award
Qunfeng Liao - Department of Accounting and Finance
New Investigator Research Excellence Award
Ankun Yang - Department of Mechanical Engineering
Teaching Excellence Award (Tenure Track)
Jeffrey Insko - Department of English, Creative Writing, and Film
Online Teaching Excellence Award
Suzanne Spencer-Wood - Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work and Criminal Justice
Excellence In Teaching Award (Non-Tenure Track)
Randall D. Engle - Department of Religious Studies
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Faculty Recognition
Robert Martin - Department of Organizational Leadership
Kevin J. Corcoran Faculty Community Engagement Award
Kwame Sakyi - Department of Public and Environmental Wellness
We formally recognize these faculty members whose teaching and research excellence, creative achievements and community service have contributed to the betterment of society.
College of Arts and Sciences
Jeremy Barnett - Department of Music, Theatre and Dance - Research/Scholarship
David Gram - Department of Music, Theatre and Dance - Teaching
Derek Hastings - Department of History - Research
Melissa Hoag - Department of Music, Theatre and Dance - Research
Tamás Harváth - Department of Mathematics and Statistics - Research
Marshall W. Kitchens - Department of Writing and Rhetoric - Service
Eric LaRock - Department of Philosophy - Research
Yongjin Lu - Department of Mathematics and Statistics - Service
Cecilia Saenz-Roby - Department of Modern Languages - Teaching/Service
Chiaoning Su - Department of Communications - Service
Randal Westrick - Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering - Research
School of Business Administration
Zeina AlSalman - Department of Economic Type - Research
Junwoo Kim - Department of Accounting and Finance - Teaching
School of Education and Human Services
Jessica Korneder - Service
Phyllis Ness - Teaching
School of Engineering and Computer Science
Brian Dean - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering - Service
Michael Latcha - Department of Mechanical Engineering - Teaching
Sunny Raj - Department of Computer Science and Engineering - Research
School of Health Sciences
Sara Rivard - Service
School of Nursing
Kelly Berishaj - Service/Teaching
School of Medicine
Carl Lauter - Department of Internal Medicine - Teaching
Victoria Lucia - Department of Foundational Medical Studies - Service
We formally recognize these faculty members whose teaching and research excellence, creative achievements and community service have contributed to the betterment of society.
College of Arts and Sciences
Greg Giberson - Department of Writing and Rhetoric - Research
Jeffrey Insko - Department of English - Teaching
Gerard Madlambayan - Department of Biological Sciences - Service
Rebecca Malatesta - Department of Psychology - Service
Mark Manning - Department of Psychology - Research
Fritz McDonald - Department of Philosophy - Service
Gregory Patterson - Department of Dance - Service
Jessica Payette - Department of Music - Research
Watoii Rabii - Department of Soc, Anthro, Social Work & Criminal Justice - Service
Alberto Rojo - Department of Physics - Teaching
Liz Shesko - Department of History - Service
School of Business Administration
Venugopal Balijepally - Department of Decision & Information Sciences - Service
Yan Ling - Department of Management and Marketing - Research
School of Education and Human Services
David Strubler - Department of Organizational Leadership - Service
Rebecca Vannest - Department of Counseling - Service
School of Engineering and Computer Science
Katherine Bowers - Department of Computer Science and Engineering - Teaching
Jun Chen - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering - Research
Gerard Madlambayan - Department of Bioengineering - Service
School of Health Sciences
Melissa Reznar - Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences - Service
School of Nursing
Ellen Gajewski - Service
School of Medicine
Stefanie Attardi - Department of Foundational Medical Studies - Teaching
Majiid Khan - Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Molecular Imaging - Teaching
Eye Research Institute
Kenneth Mitton - Service
We formally recognize these faculty members whose teaching and research excellence, creative achievements and community service have contributed to the betterment of society.
College of Arts and Sciences
Maria Smith Bohannon - Department of Art and Art History - Service
Felicita Arzu Carmichael - Department of Writing and Rhetoric - Teaching
Melanie Chang - Department of Modern Languages & Literatures - Service
Erin Dwyer - Department of History - Research
Charlene Hayden - Department of Chemistry - Teaching
Jeffrey Heisler - Department of Music - Research
Wendi Johnson - Department of Soc, Anthro, Social Work & Criminal justice - Service
Pamela Klena - Department of Music - Service
Jennifer Tillinger - Department of Chemistry - Service
Crystal VanKooten - Department of Writing and Rhetoric - Service
Joshua Young - Department of Theatre - Teaching
School of Business Administration
Seong Cho - Department of Accounting and Finance - Research
Michelle Hammond - Department of Management and Marketing - Research & Teaching
Yun (Ellen) Zhu - Department of Accounting and Finance - Service
School of Education and Human Services
Cynthia Carver - Department of Teacher Development & Ed Studies - Service
Michael Kranak - Department of Human Development & Child Studies - Research
School of Engineering and Computer Science
Laila Guessous - Department of Mechanical Engineering - Service
Jonathan Maisonneauve - Department of Mechanical Engineering - Research
Amartya Sen - Department of Computer Science and Engineering - Teaching
School of Health Sciences
Caress Dean - Department of Public and Environmental Wellness - Teaching & Service
School of Nursing
Julie Kruse - Research
School of Medicine
Rebbeca Grysiewicz - Teaching & Service
University Library
Katie Greer - Research
We formally recognize these faculty members whose teaching and research excellence, creative achievements and community service have contributed to the betterment of society.
College of Arts and Sciences
Lori Ostergaard - Department of Writing and Rhetoric - Research
Ami Harbin - Department of Philosophy - Research
Colin Wu - Department of Chemistry - Research
Luis Villa-Diaz - Department of Biological Sciences - Research
Martha Escobar - Department of Psychology - Service
Kapila Clara Castoldi - Department of Physics - Teaching
Andrea Kozak - Department of Psychology - Teaching
Lauri Hogle - School of Music, Theatre and Dance - Teaching
Angineh Djavadghazaryans - Department of Modern Languages and Literature - Teaching
Andrea Wenz - Department of History - Teaching
Jason Overfelt - Department of Linguistics - Service
School of Business Administration
Ahmad Sobhani - Department of Decision and Information Sciences - Research
Yazan Roumani - Department of Decision and Information Sciences - Teaching
Terry J. (T.J.) Wharton - Department of Decision and Information Sciences - Service
School of Education and Human Services
Robert Martin - Department of Organizational Leadership - Service
Ashley Branson - Department of Counseling - Teaching
John McEneaney - Department of Reading and Language Arts - Service
School of Engineering and Computer Science
Wing-Yue Geoffrey Louie - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering - Research
Doug Zytko - Department of Computer Science and Engineering - Teaching
Zhijun (Jason) Wu - Department of Mechanical Engineering - Service
School of Health Sciences
Christopher Wilson - Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences - Research
School of Nursing
Gary Moore - Teaching
School of Medicine
Douglas Gould - Department of Foundational Medical Studies - Service
Eye Research Institute
Andrew Goldberg
Distinguished Professor
David Garfinkle - Department of Physics
Zissimos Mourelatos - Department of Mechanical Engineering
Barbara Oakley - Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award
Albert Meehan - Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice
Assessment Award
Department of Management and Marketing - Capstone Course MGT 4350: Management Strategies and Policies
Research Excellence Award
Randal Westrick - Department of Biological Sciences - Research
New Investigator Research Excellence Award
Julian Rrushi - Department of Computer Science and Engineering - Research
Excellence in Teaching Award
Shaun Moore - Department of Decision and Information Science
Online Teaching Excellence Award
Charlene Hayden - Department of Chemistry
Teaching Excellence Award
Chiaoning Su - Department of Communication, Journalism and Public Relations
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award
Jason Wasserman - Department of Foundational Medical Studies
Community Engagement Award
Rebecca Gaydos - Department of Linguistics
