RESEARCH AND OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS ACROSS THE COLLEGE
Collegewide protection of water resources
As K-State tackles state water challenges with the Kansas Water Institute (KWI), researchers in the College of Arts and Sciences are contributing their expertise in a variety of areas.
Geologists Matthew Kirk and Karin Goldberg are investigating Kansas drinking water quality by testing domestic well water for nitrate levels that could be harmful. Kirk studies declining water quality in the Great Bend Prairie aquifer and runs the Kansas Groundwater Geopaths program, which involves K-State and other Kansas college students in groundwater analysis. Goldberg, with support from K-State’s Johnson Cancer Research Center, has conducted water quality research in a few Kansas counties that have high cancer rates.
With KWI grants focused on interdisciplinary research, Modern languages professors Raelynne Hale and Maria Teresa DePaoli are developing bilingual initiatives to address water needs and sustainability challenges in Spanish-speaking farming communities, as well as a new course called Water in the Americas. Xuan Xu, statistics, and Jeeban Panthi, geology, with HydroInk Alliance, will work to improve management of the rapidly diminishing Ogallala Aquifer and assess its water quantity and quality.
Additionally, Matt Sanderson, sociology, anthropology and social work and geography, is involved in circular waste-recovery research to help protect and conserve the Ogallala Aquifer by turning animal waste from a liability into assets like clean water, fertilizer and energy. He is addressing the slow adoption of such technologies, including government policymaking and early-adopter economic decision-making.
Biologists combat woody encroachment with precision mapping
Zak Ratajczak, biology, and students are using remote sensing and machine learning to collect aerial data to detect and combat harmful woody plant encroachment across the Great Plains and other areas of the world.
Biologists look to Venus flytraps for climate answers
Allison Louthan, biology, is exploring the critical relationship between fire and Venus flytrap populations, with implications for conservation biology and climate science. Her team is analyzing how fire history influences the rare carnivorous plant’s current and future population trends.
Biologists make discoveries about mosquito immune system
Mosquito immune system research by Kristin Michel, biology, and Bianca Morejon, a K-State biology alum who’s now a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard School of Public Health, provides insight into immunology and disease transmission and could inform future disease control efforts, either by boosting or defeating mosquitoes’ immune system.
Biologists gain better understanding of phosphorus use in plants to improve crop and fuel production
Kathrin Schrick, biology, and team are gaining a better understanding of how plants detect and use phosphorus, a crucial component in plant growth, which could lead to more efficient production of crops for food, fiber and fuel.
Biochemists help increase purity of plant oils that could be used as biodiesel
Timothy Durrett, biochemistry, and team have achieved near-pure levels needed to make camelina and pennycress plants viable oilseed crops for biodiesel production and other uses.
English professor discovers teenage William Blake’s 250-year-old doodle engravings
Mark Crosby, English, discovered engravings by famous 18th-century poet and artist William Blake on the reverse of copper plates at the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Libraries. Blake likely created the doodles while an apprentice engraver honing his craft. Unnoticed until now because of their tiny size, the etchings were found using new, high-resolution scanning technology. Watch for more discoveries as Crosby continues this project and the 2027 bicentennial of Blake’s death approaches. (View Smithsonian magazine article and Crosby’s Reuters interview.)
Music, Theatre, and Dance director and alum revive lost Vatican Mass with Kansas City Chorale
A Renaissance-era Vatican Mass has been brought back to life in a recording by the Kansas City Chorale, which includes Bryan Pinkall, director of K-State’s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Pinkall is a soloist on the album and the marketing director for the chorale, which has won five Grammy Awards since he joined. The Mass was rediscovered and reconstructed by K-State alum Patrick Dittamo, now a doctoral fellow at University of Chicago. While at K-State, he received an Arts and Sciences travel scholarship to attend an early-music notation summer program at Yale University.
Honors
Economics and psychology programs earn national ranking
Two of our degree programs were ranked among the top in the nation by U.S. News and World Report! The undergraduate economics program experienced the most significant increase, jumping 22 places to tie at No. 139. The undergraduate psychology program appeared in the rankings for the first time at No. 113.
Math professor Craig Spencer named Coffman Chair for Distinguished Teaching
The Coffman Chair program highlights K-State’s commitment to excellence in undergraduate teaching. Recipients are provided resources to conduct a research project or develop programs to improve educational methods at K-State. They also retain the title of teaching scholar while at K-State.
Craig Spencer was selected as the 2025-2026 Coffman Chair. He is helping the mathematics department create a more coherent and effective mathematics curriculum that meets the varied needs of students. He hopes to improve retention rates and help the department become a model for math education.
Physicist Bharat Ratra wins prestigious prize from national society
Bharat Ratra, physics, was awarded the American Physical Society’s 2025 Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Prize for outstanding contributions to physics and exceptional skills in lecturing to diverse audiences.
Math and music professors named University Distinguished Professors
David Auckly, professor of mathematics, and Anna Marie Wytko, professor of music, have been named University Distinguished Professors, the highest faculty title given by the university—only three received it in 2025. Auckly is recognized for his work in geometric topology, mathematical physics, and efforts to expand access to mathematics education. Wytko is honored for her contributions as a saxophonist and educator in performance and instruction.
Geography professor Shawn Hutchinson selected as Fulbright Scholar
Shawn Hutchinson, geography, is one of two K-State faculty members selected for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. He will use the opportunity to do grassland ecosystem research at the University of Nottingham, England.
University Outstanding Scholars
Five Arts and Sciences faculty members have been named University Outstanding Scholars. This honor recognizes exceptional mid-career tenured faculty members who demonstrate extraordinary potential for academic distinction; continuing, outstanding impact in their fields through scholarly and/or creative activities; and professional leadership and service.
- Matthew Kirk, Geology
- Jin Lee, Psychological Sciences
- Ping Li, Chemistry
- Shirley Tung, English
- Lydia Zeglin, Biology
College recognizes excellent teaching, advising and administrative support
The college recognized the winners of its 2024 teaching, advising and administrative support awards at a celebration on March 6, 2025.
Annette Maggio Administrative and Support Staff Award
Kim Coy, Physics
William L. Stamey Award for Undergraduate Teaching
Abigail Langston, Geography & Geospatial Sciences
Stacia Gray, English
William L. Stamey Award for Graduate Teaching Assistants
Garrett Nelson, Mathematics
William L. Stamey Award for Advising
Ben Worcester, Music, Theatre, and Dance
Ronald N. Gaches Undergraduate Teaching Award
Ivan Blank, Mathematics (not pictured)
Sim Jun, Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work (not pictured)
Ronald N. Gaches Lifetime Teaching Award
Michele Janette, English (not pictured)
Keller Family Award for Innovation in Teaching
Jesse Nippert, Biology (not pictured)
Robbie Bear, Biology
Davids-Dunham Award for promoting belonging
Keisha Clark, Social Transformation Studies
Julio Hernandez Pavon, Psychological Sciences