The Office of the Provost has announced names of faculty and staff members to be honored for their achievements at the March 29 Celebration of Excellence Banquet. Also announced was the name of the scholar to deliver this year’s Distinguished Faculty Address: Maureen Schmitter‑Edgecombe, professor in the Department of Psychology.
Both the banquet and the address are part of Showcase, WSU’s weeklong celebration of academic excellence.
Provost Dan Bernardo encourages faculty and staff to attend Showcase events. “Outstanding achievements of our faculty serve as an inspiration to our community,” Bernardo said. “Showcase is an excellent opportunity to pay tribute to some of our colleagues who have made notable contributions to their fields and to the University community.“
Reservations are required for the Celebration of Excellence Banquet, to be held on Friday, March 29. Those who plan to attend should reserve seats.
For the Distinguished Faculty Address on Wednesday, March 27, reservations are recommended.
The following individuals will receive this year’s Showcase awards:
Distinguished Faculty Address
Maureen Schmitter‑Edgecombe
Department of Psychology
Schmitter‑Edgecombe has made significant contributions to the field of clinical neuropsychology, and she continues to pursue cutting‑edge interdisciplinary work developing smart technologies for health care. Her research focuses on extending the quality of life and functional independence of the aging population and individuals with cognitive disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases and traumatic brain injury.
V. Lane Rawlins President’s Award for Distinguished Lifetime Service
Ron Mittelhammer
School of Economic Sciences
Mittelhammer has devoted his entire academic career to Washington State University. Over more than four decades, he has significantly and positively influenced the university’s direction and progress.
Sahlin Faculty Excellence Award – Leadership
Lori Wiest
School of Music
Wiest has served as a university leader at the unit, college, and university levels. Not only is she currently professor of music and former associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, she is also director of choral activities and conductor of the WSU Concert Choir and Madrigal Chamber Singers. She has previously served the university as associate dean of the WSU Graduate School and interim chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures.
Sahlin Faculty Excellence Award – Instruction
Anita Vasavada
School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering and Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience
Throughout her 18 years of service at WSU, Vasavada has shown an unwavering commitment to student learning and engagement. She innovates in the classroom, not only by incorporating new technology, but also by individualizing lessons to help each student succeed.
Sahlin Faculty Excellence Award – Outreach & Engagement
Dale Moore
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
By building public knowledge about issues surrounding food animal health, Moore has advanced product safety and collaborative research worldwide. Her outreach efforts go above and beyond her roles as extension specialist and Veterinary Extension director.
Sahlin Faculty Excellence Award – Research, Scholarship & Arts
Susmita Bose
School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Bose has pioneered new approaches to delivering life‑changing bone replacement therapy. Her research on combining 3‑D printing technology with drug delivery has opened new doors in the treatment of cancer and bone disorders.
Association for Faculty Women Samuel H. Smith Leadership Award
Ana Maria Rodriguez‑Vivaldi
Associate Dean, Student Affairs and Global Education
As a scholar, educator, mentor, and university leader, Rodriguez‑Vivaldi has displayed an unflagging commitment to women and the issues that affect their lives.
President’s Distinguished Teaching Award for Instructors and Clinical Faculty
Clif Stratton
Department of History
Stratton’s lessons enable students to see how and why an understanding of the past is critical to our lives today. He possesses an extraordinary ability to generate excitement among students about course content.
Renee Petersen
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Petersen teaches fundamentals that lay the foundation for the civil and environmental engineering curriculum. Her innovative approach to teaching inspires students and motivates them to do their best.
Faculty Diversity Award
Shira Broschat
School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
In her 29 years at Washington State University, Broschat has worked tirelessly to recruit and retain female students and those from underrepresented groups into the fields of engineering and computer science.
Sahlin Eminent Faculty Award
K. W. Hipps
Department of Chemistry and Materials Science and Engineering
Hipps’ scholarly work pertaining to the fundamental chemistry and physics of interfaces and surfaces has significantly advanced the field of surface science. As an educator, Hipps has trained and inspired the next generation of chemists in the field.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award
Katrina Mealey
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Mealey discovered a genetic mutation in in herding‑breed dogs that makes them susceptible to a potentially fatal reaction to a common drug. To detect the mutation, she invented a simple genetic test. It has likely prevented life‑threatening adverse drug reactions in hundreds of thousands of dogs worldwide.
Emeritus Society Legacy of Excellence Award
Diane Gillespie
Department of English
Dr. Gillespie is an internationally recognized scholar and editor of late nineteenth and early twentieth‑century British literature, in particular that of modernist‑era writer Virginia Woolf. Since her retirement in 2001, Gillespie has remained a major voice in Virginia Woolf studies.
President’s Employee Excellence Awards
Christine Benson
Library and archives paraprofessional
A more than 30‑year employee, Chris played a key role in WSU Libraries’ migration to a new cloud‑based library services platform. She is always willing to take on new initiatives.
Deb Howe
Honors College, administrative manager
Deb oversees the College’s office operations, as well as its financial and business activities. She fosters teamwork and makes an extra effort to provide personalized support to students.
Kathie Jahn
Facilities Services Motor Pool, fiscal technician
Kathie coordinates vehicle rentals, handles office operations, schedules car washers, manages billing, and much more. She is known for providing outstanding customer service.
Beverly Makhani
Office of Undergraduate Education, director of communications and marketing
Bev seeks her colleagues’ diverse perspectives to ensure that she produces the best possible work. She is the consummate communications professional and an educator to many students.
Terresa Watson
WSU Vancouver, director of budget and accounting
Terresa has refined the process of forecasting and tracking budgets to ensure that the university meets spending targets. Her strong interpersonal skills make everyone eager to work with her. She is delaying her retirement to help meet the needs of the Modernization Initiative.