‘Highlight of the academic year’: College’s spring awards
Dr. Wayne E. Wright “high fives” Dr. Terron Phillips II
The College of Education held its annual Faculty, Staff, and Student Awards and Recognition Ceremony on April 24, 2026.
“Our faculty, staff, and students are collaborative and motivated people who take on what are often very challenging tasks,” said Phillip J. VanFossen, the Suzi and Dale Gallagher Dean of the College. “The success of the college reflects the effort that each of you puts into it every day.”
Awardees are pictured with VanFossen and Wayne E. Wright, associate dean for research, graduate programs and faculty development.
Faculty and Staff Awards
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.
Carol Cox, Administrative Assistant, Dept. of Educational Studies (not pictured)
Mike Harrington, IT Relationship Manager, Lead, Information Technology (retired)
Molly Howe, Assistant to Dept. Head in Curriculum & Instruction (not pictured)
Ashley Luzadder, Senior Program/Project Assistant, Office of Strategic Assessment & Accreditation
Pablo Moore, Associate Web Designer/Digital Media Specialist, Office of Communication (not pictured)
Anne Murphy-Kline, Co-teaching Coordinator for Elementary Student Teaching & Assistant Director of the Ackerman Center (not pictured)
Kerri Richardson, Web Developer, Office of Communication
Outstanding Service Award
Granted to those who provide “exceptional service to the College and its stakeholders.”
Dr. Brenda Sarminento-Quezada, Assistant Professor
Jodie Conner, Program Assistant (not pictured)
Dr. Yukiko Maeda, Professor (not pictured)
Rita Neidlinger, Executive Assistant to the Dean (not pictured)
Dr. Bill Watson, Professor (not pictured)
The Earl B. Notestine Award for Excellence in Academic Services
Recognizes, encourages, and promotes meritorious contributions in the delivery of student services.
Laura Cole, Educator Success and Community Engagement Coordinator
Graduate Student Awards
Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award
Recognizes doctoral students who demonstrated outstanding teaching as a teaching assistant or instructor of record.
Sopheak Seng, PhD Candidate, Science Education
Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship
Awarded by the Dean of the Graduate School to support outstanding PhD candidates in the final year of doctoral degree completion.
(top) Tao Li, Mahreen Mamoon
(bottom) Santiago Parra Giraldo, Shahnaz Safitri
Dean’s Dissertation Scholarship
Awarded to outstanding doctoral candidates engaged in dissertation research.
Siying “Belle” Li and Fangfang Mo, both PhD Candidates in Learning Design & Technology
Janelle Cronin, PhD Candidate, Learning Design & Technology (not pictured)
Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award
Recognizes a graduate student with an outstanding record of scholarly research.
Fangfang Mo, PhD Candidate, Learning Design & Technology
College of Education Outstanding Dissertation Award
Endowed in perpetuity by alumna Mary Kay Sommers, who, in 1990, was the recipient of the college’s Outstanding Dissertation Award.
Dr. Vikrant Chap, PhD, Language and Literacy Education
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. Tugce Karatas, PhD, Gifted & Talented Studies
Undergraduate Awards
Outstanding Junior and Senior Awards
Recognizes a college junior and a college senior with an outstanding record of academic achievement, leadership, and engagement.
(2nd from left) Melissa Tecun, Junior
(2nd from right) Paige Hensley, Senior
Faculty and professional research staff
Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award
Recognizes a faculty member with an outstanding record of teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses in the college.
Dr. Jasmine Begeske, Clinical Assistant Professor (Clinical Associate Professor effective July 1, 2026)
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. Kristin Seward, Clinical Associate Professor (Clinical Professor effective July 1, 2026)
Outstanding Graduate Faculty Mentor Award
Recognizes a faculty member with an outstanding record of mentoring graduate students.
Dr. Jennifer C. Richardson, 150th Anniversary Professor
Excellence in Discovery Award
Recognizes outstanding research achievements of professional staff and non-tenure-track faculty in the College of Education, including outstanding singular achievements such as an impactful publication, awarded proposal, or other forms of research and discovery dissemination.
Dr. Terron Phillips, Clinical Assistant Professor
Outstanding Leadership in Global Engagement Award
Recognizes faculty and staff who have an outstanding record of global engagement activities.
Dr. Anatoli Rapoport, Professor
Dean’s Award for Outstanding Faculty Scholarships
Recognizes one tenure-track professor and one tenured professor.
Dr. Bryan J. Duarte, Assistant Professor
Dr. Xiang Zhou, Associate Professor
“For me, this event is a highlight of the academic year as we take time to pause and recognize the exemplary work, accomplishments, and achievements of people in our college,” VanFossen said. “Please know that your good work does not go unnoticed and is deeply appreciated.”
Congratulations to all of our award winners!
Source: Wayne E. Wright, College of Education