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K-State Today

September 21, 2017

Honorees of the Women of Distinction Recognition Ceremony

Submitted by Tawny Ochs

On Sept. 7, the K-State Office for the Advancement of Science and Engineering, or KAWSE, and the Women of K-State hosted the sixth annual Women of Distinction Recognition Ceremony in the K-State Student Union Ballroom.

The ceremony recognized K-State women faculty for academic achievements, such as earning tenure and promotion, being promoted to full professor, or winning a universitywide award. Those individuals recognized received a lapel pin.

The following women were honored at the ceremony:

Universitywide awards

• Dawn Caldwell — Presidential Award of Excellence for Unclassified Professionals; Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Agriculture. 

• Marlene VerBrugge — K-State Excellence in Engagement Award; School of Family Studies and Human Services, College of Human Ecology. 

• Karin Westman — Presidential Award for Outstanding Department Head; English, College of Arts and Sciences. 

• Tami Duch — Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising; dean's office, College of Arts and Sciences.

• Lisa Duer — Presidential Award of Excellence for Unclassified Professionals; College of Veterinary Medicine administration office. 

• Tess Hobson — The Commerce Bank and W.T. Kemper Foundation Presidential Faculty and Staff Award for Distinguished Services to Historically Underrepresented Students; Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry. 

• Cathie Lavis — The Commerce Bank and W.T. Kemper Foundation Outstanding Teaching Award; horticulture and natural resources, College of Agriculture. 

• Ashley Rhodes — Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching; Division of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences. 


KAWSE Award

• Brenee King — KAWSE Award; Kansas Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, Office of the Provost. 


New associate professors

• Marta Alfonso-Durruty — sociology, anthropology, and social work, College of Arts and Sciences. 

• Anne Beamish — landscape architecture and regional & community planning, College of Architecture, Planning & Design. 

• Necia Chronister — modern languages, College of Arts and Sciences.

• Revathi Govind — Division of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences.

• Soo-Hye Han — communication studies, College of Arts and Sciences.

• Jamie Henningson — diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine.

• Cassandra Jones — animal science and industry, College of Agriculture.

• Siny Joseph — arts, sciences, and business, K-State Polytechnic. 

• Mary Kohn — English, College of Arts and Sciences.

• Carla Martinez Machain — political science, College of Arts and Sciences.

• Sherri Martinie — curriculum and instruction, College of Education.

• Karen McLaughlin Large, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. 

• Pavithra Prabhakar, computer sciences, College of Engineering.

• Sarah Riforgiate, communication studies, College of Arts and Sciences.

• Lisa Shappee — K-State Polytechnic Library.

• Mykel Taylor — agricultural economics, College of Agriculture.

• Dana Vanlandingham — diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine.

• Amber Vennum — School of Family Studies and Human Services, College of Human Ecology.

• Susan Yelich-Biniecki — educational leadership, College of Education. 


Associate professors who have been granted tenure

• Gretchen Sassenrath — agronomy, College of Agriculture.


New full professors

• Barbara Anderson — apparel, textile, and interior design, College of Human Ecology.

• Sherry Fleming — Division of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences.

• Tanya Gonzalez — English, College of Arts and Sciences.

• Sandy Johnson — animal sciences and industry, College of Agriculture.

• Lauren Ritterbush — sociology, anthropology, and social work, College of Arts and Sciences.


Promotion to clinical full professor

• Susan Nelson — clinical sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine.


New Keystone Research Faculty Scholar

• Melanie Derby — College of Engineering Keystone Research Faculty Scholar; mechanical and nuclear engineering; College of Engineering.

• Jessica Heier Stamm — College of Engineering Keystone Research Faculty Scholar; industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, College of Engineering.


New endowed professors

• Cornelia Caragea — The Lloyd T. Smith Creativity in Engineering Chair; computer science, College of Engineering.

• Pavithra Prabhakar — Peggy and Gary Edwards Chair in Engineering; computer sciences, College of Engineering.


New assistant deans

• Sandy Klein — Agriculture Academic Programs Office, College of Agriculture.

New vice presidents

• Beth Montelone — senior associate vice president for research, Office of the Vice President for Research.

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