‘Your good work does not go unnoticed’: College honors faculty, staff, students in spring awards ceremony
The College of Education held its annual faculty, staff, and student awards and recognition ceremony on April 26, 2024.
![Yangyang Zhu giving high fives to Interim Dean Phil VanFossen and Wayne Wright.](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1-YangyangZhu-high-fives-1024x683.jpg)
“Our faculty, staff, and students are collaborative and motivated people who take on what are often very challenging tasks,” said Phillip J. VanFossen, interim dean of the College. “The success of the College is a reflection of the effort that you each give every day. Please know that your good work does not go unnoticed and is deeply appreciated.”
Awardees are pictured with Dean VanFossen and Wayne E. Wright, associate dean for research, graduate programs, and faculty development.
Outstanding Service Award
Granted to those who provide “exceptional service to the College and its stakeholders.”
![2023-2024 Outstanding Service Award certificate presented to Carol Cox](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/A1-CarolCox-1024x576.jpg)
Carol Cox, Administrative Assistant to the Department Head of Educational Studies
![2023-2024 Outstanding Service Award certificate presented to Gina Haines](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/A2-GinaHaines-1024x576.jpg)
Gina Haines, Assistant to the Department Head of Curriculum & Instruction
![2023-2024 Outstanding Service Award certificate presented to Karen George-Friedman](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/A3-KarenGeorge-Friedman-1024x576.jpg)
Karen George-Friedman, Grant Support Specialist
![Jennifer Smith holding a certificate for the 2023-2024 Outstanding Service Award. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/A4-JenniferSmith-1024x683.jpg)
Jennifer Smith, Clinical Associate Professor of Special Education and Program Coordinator for the SPED undergraduate program
![Laura Warner holding a certificate for the 2023-2024 Outstanding Service Award. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/A5-LauraWarner-1024x683.jpg)
Laura Warner, Administrative Assistant, Evaluation and Learning Research Center
Bravo Awards
Purdue University’s Bravo Award is an innovative employee recognition initiative designed to honor outstanding faculty and staff members whose dedication drives the university toward new heights of success.
![Kristy Bennet holding a certificate for the 2023-2024 Bravo Award. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/B1-KristyBennett-1024x683.jpg)
Kristy Bennett, Senior Administrative Assistant, Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
![Anne Bessenbacher holding a certificate for the 2023-2024 Bravo Award. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/B2-AnneBessenbacher-1024x683.jpg)
Ann Bessenbacher, Senior Research Associate, Lead Data Scientist, Evaluation and Learning Research Center
![2023-2024 Bravo Award certificate presented to Cynthia Bonwell](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/B3-CynthiaBonwell-1024x576.jpg)
Cynthia Bonwell, Managing Director of the Teaching Resource Center; Office Coordinator of Academic Services and Teacher Education
![Nathalie Guerra Long holding a certificate for the 2023-2024 Bravo Award. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/B4-NathalieGuerraLong-1024x683.jpg)
Nathalie Guerra-Long, Education Data Systems and Reporting Analyst, Office of Strategic Assessment and Accreditation
![2023-2024 Bravo Award certificate presented to Breanya Hogue](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/B5-BreanyaHogue-1024x576.jpg)
Breanya Hogue, Assistant Professor of Literacy & Language, Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
![Ashley Luzadder holding a certificate for the 2023-2024 Bravo Award. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/B6-AshleyLuzadder-1024x683.jpg)
Ashley Luzadder, Administrative Assistant and Receptionist, Office of the Dean
![2023-2024 Bravo Award certificate presented to Pablo Moore](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/B7-PabloMoore-1024x576.jpg)
Pablo Moore, Associate Web Designer/Digital Media Specialist, Office of Communication
![2023-2024 Bravo Award certificate presented to Jeannie Navarre](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/B8-JeannieNavarre-1024x576.jpg)
Jeannie Navarre, Administrative Assistant to the Department Head in the Dept. of Educational Studies
![Rita Neidlinger holding a certificate for the 2023-2024 Bravo Award. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/B9-RitaNeidlinger-1024x683.jpg)
Rita Neidlinger, Assistant to the Dean, Office of the Dean
![Brittne Paramore holding a certificate for the 2023-2024 Bravo Award. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/B10-BrittneParamore-1024x683.jpg)
Brittne Paramore, Director, Office of Student Success and Global Engagement
![2023-2024 Bravo Award certificate presented to Heather Prough](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/B11-HeatherPrough-1024x576.jpg)
Heather Prough, Administrative Assistant for the James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship, Career and Technical Education, Social Studies, and Elementary Education programs
![2023-2024 Bravo Award certificate presented to Erin Schultz](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/B12-ErinSchultz-1024x576.jpg)
Erin Schultz, Academic Advisor for Academic Services and Teacher Education, Office of Academic Services
![Jessie Zeng holding a certificate for the 2023-2024 Bravo Award. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/B13-JessieZeng-scaled-1024x683.jpg)
Jessie Zeng, Education Data Systems & Reporting Analyst, Office of Strategic Assessment and Accreditation
The Earl B. Notestine Award for Excellence in Academic Services
![2023-2024 Earl B. Notestine Award certificate presented to Gabbi Waldon](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/B14-GabbiWaldon-1024x576.jpg)
Recognizes, encourages, and promotes meritorious contributions in the delivery of student services.
Gabbi Waldon, Student Teaching Coordinator, Office of Clinical Practice, Office of Academic Services
Graduate Student Awards
2024-2025 Holmes Scholars
Supports students who self-identify as racially and ethnically diverse and are pursuing graduate degrees in education at American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) member institutions
![2024-2025 Purdue Holmes Scholars: Abigail Erskine, Mathematics Education Ty'Bresha Glass, Gifted, Creative, and Talented Studies Jessica Harris, Educational Leadership and Policy Dallann Johnson, Counseling Psychology](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/c-Holmes1-1-1024x536.jpg)
Abigail Erskine, Mathematics Education
Ty’Bresha Glass, Gifted, Creative, and Talented Studies
Dallann Johnson, Counseling Psychology
Tirtha Karki, Literacy & Language Education
![2024-2025 Purdue Holmes Scholars: Tirtha Karki, Literacy & Language Education Samuel King, Counseling Psychology Mahreen Mamoon, Curriculum Studies](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/c-Holmes2-1024x536.jpg)
Mahreen Mamoon, Curriculum Studies
Samuel King, Counseling Psychology
Jessica Harris, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
Graduating Holmes Scholars
![Graduating Holmes Scholars: Godwin Gyimah, Curriculum & Instruction Shivani Ramoutar, Learning Design & Technology Dr. Shawn Wooden, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/c-Holmes3-1024x536.jpg)
Godwin Gyimah, Curriculum & Instruction
Shivani Ramoutar, Learning Design & Technology
Dr. Shawn Wooden, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
![Graduating Holmes Scholars: Jingyuan Zhang, Special Education Sergio Maldonado, Counseling Psychology](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/c-Holmes4-1024x536.jpg)
Jingyuan Zhang, Special Education
Sergio Maldonado, Counseling Psychology
Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award
![Jenna Gist holding a certificate for the Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/G1-JennaGist-1-1024x683.jpg)
Recognizes doctoral students who demonstrated outstanding teaching as a teaching assistant or instructor of record.
Jenna Gist, Science Education, Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship
One semester to one year full fellowship awarded by the Dean of the Graduate School to outstanding PhD candidates to support the completion of their dissertation.
![Tugce Karatas holding a certificate for the Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/G2-TugceKaratas-1024x683.jpg)
Tugce Karatas, PhD Candidate in Gifted, Creative, and Talented Studies
![2024-2025 Bilsland One-Semester Dissertation Fellowship certificate presented to Muzi Nina Li](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/G3-MuziNinaLi-1024x576.jpg)
Muzi (Nina) Li, PhD Candidate in Counseling Psychology
![Lucia Rodriguez holding a certificate for the Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/G4-LuciaRodriguez-1024x683.jpg)
Lucia Urena-Rodriguez, PhD Candidate in Learning Design & Technology
![Qian Xu holding a certificate for the Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/G5-QianXu-1024x683.jpg)
Qian Xu, PhD Candidate in Learning Design & Technology
Dean’s Dissertation Scholarship
Awarded to outstanding doctoral candidates engaged in dissertation research.
![Alexandria Holmes holding a certificate for the Dean's Dissertation Scholarship. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/G6-AlexandriaHolmes-scaled-1024x683.jpg)
Alexandria (Ali) Holmes, PhD Candidate in Educational Psychology and Research Methodology
![Yangyang Zhu holding a certificate for the Dean's Dissertation Scholarship. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/G7-YangyangZhu-scaled-1024x683.jpg)
Yangyang Zhu, PhD Candidate in Literacy & Language Education
Graduate Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice Award
![2023-2024 Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice Graduate Student Award certificate presented to Jingyuan Zhang](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/G8-JingyuanZhang-1024x576.jpg)
Recognizes outstanding teaching, research, and/or engagement activities that promote diversity, equity, and social justice.
Jingyuan Zhang, Special Education, Dept. of Educational Studies
Mary Kay Sommers Dissertation Award
![2023-2024 Mary Kay Sommers Dissertation Award certificate presented to Daniela Ela Castellanos Reyes](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/G9-ElaCastellanosReyes-1024x576.jpg)
Recognizes an outstanding dissertation completed by a recent graduate. Endowed in perpetuity by alumna Mary Kay Sommers who received the College’s Outstanding Dissertation Award in 1990.
Dr. Ela Castellanos Reyes (PhD ’23), Assistant Professor of Digital Transformation of Education in Learning Design & Technology, North Carolina State University
Marcia Gentry Dissertation Award
![2023-2024 Marcia Gentry Dissertation Award certificate presented to Yang Yao](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/G10-YangYao-1024x576.jpg)
Recognizes an outstanding doctoral dissertation completed by a recent graduate which addresses the constructs of equity and excellence in gifted and talented education.
Dr. Yang Yao (PhD ’23), Assessment Specialist for Academic Support, Yale University
Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award
![Daniela V Resende Pereira holding a certificate for the Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/G11-DanielaVResendePereira-1024x683.jpg)
Recognizes a graduate student with an outstanding record of scholarly research.
Dr. Daniela Vilarinho Rezende Pereira, Learning Design & Technology, Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Undergraduate Awards
Outstanding Undergraduate Sophomore Award
![Bronwyn Rigsby holding a certificate for the Outstanding Undergraduate Sophomore Award. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/U1-BronwynRigsby-1024x683.jpg)
Recognizes a college sophomore with an outstanding record of academic achievement, leadership, and engagement.
Bronwyn Rigsby, Elementary Education
Outstanding Undergraduate Senior Award
![Elizabeth Walker holding a certificate for the Outstanding Undergraduate Senior Award. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/U2-ElizabethWalker-1024x683.jpg)
Recognizes a college senior with an outstanding recording of academic achievement, leadership, and engagement.
Elizabeth Walker, Social Studies Education
Faculty Awards
Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award
![Amber Neal-Stanley holding a certificate for the Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Z1-AmberNealStanley-1024x683.jpg)
Recognizes a faculty member with an outstanding record of teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses in the college.
Dr. Amber Neal-Stanley, Assistant Professor of Curriculum Studies, Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Outstanding Faculty Engagement Award
![2023-2024 Outstanding Faculty Engagement Award certificate presented to Jasmine Begeske](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Z2-JasmineBegeske-1024x576.jpg)
Recognizes a faculty member with an outstanding record of engagement in their department, college, university, community, and/or their professional field.
Dr. Jasmine Begeske, Clinical Assistant Professor of Special Education, Dept. of Educational Studies
Outstanding Graduate Faculty Mentor Award
![2023-2024 Outstanding Graduate Faculty Mentor Award certificate presented to Brenda Capobianco](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Z3-BrendaCapobianco-1024x576.jpg)
Recognizes a faculty member with an outstanding record of mentoring graduate students.
Dr. Brenda Capobianco, Professor of Science Education, Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice Award for Faculty and Staff
Recognizes faculty and staff who have an outstanding record of advancing diversity, equity, and social justice issues at the unit, college, or university level and beyond. This year is the inaugural year for a faculty member to receive this award.
![2023-2024 Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice Award for Faculty and Staff certificate presented to Trish Morita-Mullaney](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Z4-TrishMorita-Mullaney-1024x576.jpg)
Dr. Trish Morita-Mullaney, Associate Professor of Literacy & Language, Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
![Brittne Paramore holding a certificate for the Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice Award for Faculty and Staff. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Z5-BrittneParamore_DEI-1024x683.jpg)
Brittne Paramore, Director, Office of Student Success and Global Engagement
Excellence in Discovery Award
![2023-2024 Excellence in Discovery Award certificate presented to Stephanie Oudghiri](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Z6-StephanieOudghiri-1024x576.jpg)
Recognizes outstanding research achievements of professional staff and non-tenure-track faculty in the College.
Dr. Stephanie Oudghiri, Clinical Assistant Professor of Curriculum Studies, Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Outstanding Leadership in Global Engagement Award
![Willie Burgess holding a certificate for the Outstanding Leadership in Global Engagement Award. Beside her are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Z7-WillieBurgess-1024x683.jpg)
Recognizes faculty and staff who have an outstanding record of global engagement activities.
Willie Burgess, Director, Evaluation and Learning Research Center
Dean’s Award for Outstanding Faculty Scholarship for Tenured Faculty
![Muhsin Menekse holding a certificate for the Dean's Award for Outstanding Faculty Scholarship for Tenured Faculty. Beside him are Interim Dean VanFossen and Wayne Wright](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Z8-MuhsinMenekse-1024x683.jpg)
Recognizes a tenured faculty member with an outstanding record of research, publications, and other scholarly engagement.
Dr. Muhsin Menekse, Associate Professor of Engineering Education and Science Education, Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Dean’s Award for Outstanding Faculty Scholarship for Tenure-Track Faculty
![2023-2024 Dean's Award for Outstanding Faculty Scholarship for Tenured-Track Faculty certificate presented to Xiang Zhou](https://education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Z9-XiangZhou-1024x576.jpg)
Recognizes a tenure-track faculty member with an outstanding record of research, publications, and other scholarly engagement.
Dr. Xiang Zhou, Assistant Professor of Counseling Psychology, Dept. of Educational Studies
The College of Education congratulates these winners, along with the other winners of department and university awards this year.
Source: Phillip J. VanFossen, Interim Dean, College of Education