February 26, 2025
College of Arts and Sciences announces 2024 teaching, advising and support staff award winners
The College of Arts and Sciences at Kansas State University announces and congratulates the winners of the 2024 Ron Gaches Teaching Awards, William L. Stamey Awards for Undergraduate Teaching and Advising, and Annette Maggio Administrative and Support Staff Award. The college appreciates the awardees' dedication and hard work and will recognize them at a celebration on March 6.
Ronald "Ron" Gaches is a former chair of the College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Advisory Council. The late William "Bill" Stamey was a mathematician who served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1970-1987. Annette Maggio was the executive assistant to the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for 42 years before retiring in 2022. Read more about the awards.
Please join in congratulating the awardees:
William L. Stamey Awards for Undergraduate Teaching
• Abigail Langston, assistant professor, geography and geospatial sciences
"Dr. Langston is a gifted teacher at the undergraduate and graduate levels who dedicates hours to her students in the classroom, in her office and lab, and in the field," said Chuck Martin, professor of geography and geospatial sciences.
• Stacia Gray, senior instructor and Writing Center director, English
"Professor Stacia Gray is an essential, admired and consequential member of the English department," said Anne Phillips, professor and associate head of the English department.
William L. Stamey Award for Graduate Teaching Assistant
• Garrett Nelson, graduate teaching assistant, mathematics
"During his years at K-State, Garrett taught and coordinated a wide variety of courses, including College Algebra, Calculus, Discrete Mathematics and Applied Matrix Theory. He created an online version of our Discrete Mathematics course, enriching it with practical Python programming elements," said Pietro Poggi-Corradini, head of the mathematics department.
William L. Stamey Award for Advising
• Ben Worcester, academic advisor, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance
"Ben's exceptional dedication to his students, mastery of institutional policies, and unwavering commitment to excellence make him truly deserving of this recognition," said Bryan Pinkall, director of the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance.
Ronald N. Gaches Lifetime Teaching Award
• Michele Janette, professor, English
"Michele builds a space where students are inspired by her fearless engagement with literature and, in turn, challenge themselves to learn and grow," said Karin Westman, head of the English department.
Ronald N. Gaches Undergraduate Teaching Awards
• Jung Sim Jun, associate professor, sociology, anthropology, and social work
"Dr. Jun is recognized by her students as an energetic and talented instructor and spends considerable time ensuring the success of her students," said Don Kurtz, head of the sociology, anthropology, and social work department.
• Ivan Blank, professor, mathematics
"Ivan Blank is an extremely popular instructor and is able to convey difficult abstract concepts in ways that the students can understand," said Poggi-Corradini.
Annette Maggio Award for Administrative and Support Staff
• Kim Coy, academic recruitment assistant, physics
"Kim possesses an astonishingly broad and deep range of competencies, which are confirmed every year in her top-level evaluations and were recognized through a USS Meritorious Service Award in 2022," said Tim Bolton, head of the physics department.