‘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.
“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.”
Carol Cox, Administrative Assistant to the Department Head of Educational Studies
Gina Haines, Assistant to the Department Head of Curriculum & Instruction
Karen George-Friedman, Grant Support Specialist
Jennifer Smith, Clinical Associate Professor of Special Education and Program Coordinator for the SPED undergraduate program
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 Bennett, Senior Administrative Assistant, Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Ann Bessenbacher, Senior Research Associate, Lead Data Scientist, Evaluation and Learning Research Center
Cynthia Bonwell, Managing Director of the Teaching Resource Center; Office Coordinator of Academic Services and Teacher Education
Nathalie Guerra-Long, Education Data Systems and Reporting Analyst, Office of Strategic Assessment and Accreditation
Breanya Hogue, Assistant Professor of Literacy & Language, Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Ashley Luzadder, Administrative Assistant and Receptionist, Office of the Dean
Pablo Moore, Associate Web Designer/Digital Media Specialist, Office of Communication
Jeannie Navarre, Administrative Assistant to the Department Head in the Dept. of Educational Studies
Rita Neidlinger, Assistant to the Dean, Office of the Dean
Brittne Paramore, Director, Office of Student Success and Global Engagement
Heather Prough, Administrative Assistant for the James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship, Career and Technical Education, Social Studies, and Elementary Education programs
Erin Schultz, Academic Advisor for Academic Services and Teacher Education, Office of Academic Services
Jessie Zeng, Education Data Systems & Reporting Analyst, Office of Strategic Assessment and Accreditation
The Earl B. Notestine Award for Excellence in Academic Services
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
Abigail Erskine, Mathematics Education
Ty’Bresha Glass, Gifted, Creative, and Talented Studies
Dallann Johnson, Counseling Psychology
Tirtha Karki, Literacy & Language Education
Mahreen Mamoon, Curriculum Studies
Samuel King, Counseling Psychology
Jessica Harris, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
Graduating Holmes Scholars
Godwin Gyimah, Curriculum & Instruction
Shivani Ramoutar, Learning Design & Technology
Dr. Shawn Wooden, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
Jingyuan Zhang, Special Education
Sergio Maldonado, Counseling Psychology
Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award
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, PhD Candidate in Gifted, Creative, and Talented Studies
Muzi (Nina) Li, PhD Candidate in Counseling Psychology
Lucia Urena-Rodriguez, PhD Candidate in Learning Design & Technology
Qian Xu, PhD Candidate in Learning Design & Technology
Dean’s Dissertation Scholarship
Awarded to outstanding doctoral candidates engaged in dissertation research.
Alexandria (Ali) Holmes, PhD Candidate in Educational Psychology and Research Methodology
Yangyang Zhu, PhD Candidate in Literacy & Language Education
Graduate Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice Award
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
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
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
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
Recognizes a college sophomore with an outstanding record of academic achievement, leadership, and engagement.
Bronwyn Rigsby, Elementary Education
Outstanding Undergraduate Senior Award
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
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
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
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.
Dr. Trish Morita-Mullaney, Associate Professor of Literacy & Language, Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Brittne Paramore, Director, Office of Student Success and Global Engagement
Excellence in Discovery Award
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
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
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
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