September 21, 2017
Honorees of the Women of Distinction Recognition Ceremony
On Sept. 7, the K-State Office for the Advancement of Science and Engineering, or KAWSE, and the Women of K-State hosted the sixth annual Women of Distinction Recognition Ceremony in the K-State Student Union Ballroom.
The ceremony recognized K-State women faculty for academic achievements, such as earning tenure and promotion, being promoted to full professor, or winning a universitywide award. Those individuals recognized received a lapel pin.
The following women were honored at the ceremony:
Universitywide awards
• Dawn Caldwell — Presidential Award of Excellence for Unclassified Professionals; Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Agriculture.
• Marlene VerBrugge — K-State Excellence in Engagement Award; School of Family Studies and Human Services, College of Human Ecology.
• Karin Westman — Presidential Award for Outstanding Department Head; English, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Tami Duch — Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising; dean's office, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Lisa Duer — Presidential Award of Excellence for Unclassified Professionals; College of Veterinary Medicine administration office.
• Tess Hobson — The Commerce Bank and W.T. Kemper Foundation Presidential Faculty and Staff Award for Distinguished Services to Historically Underrepresented Students; Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry.
• Cathie Lavis — The Commerce Bank and W.T. Kemper Foundation Outstanding Teaching Award; horticulture and natural resources, College of Agriculture.
• Ashley Rhodes — Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching; Division of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences.
KAWSE Award
• Brenee King — KAWSE Award; Kansas Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, Office of the Provost.
New associate professors
• Marta Alfonso-Durruty — sociology, anthropology, and social work, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Anne Beamish — landscape architecture and regional & community planning, College of Architecture, Planning & Design.
• Necia Chronister — modern languages, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Revathi Govind — Division of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Soo-Hye Han — communication studies, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Jamie Henningson — diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine.
• Cassandra Jones — animal science and industry, College of Agriculture.
• Siny Joseph — arts, sciences, and business, K-State Polytechnic.
• Mary Kohn — English, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Carla Martinez Machain — political science, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Sherri Martinie — curriculum and instruction, College of Education.
• Karen McLaughlin Large, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance.
• Pavithra Prabhakar, computer sciences, College of Engineering.
• Sarah Riforgiate, communication studies, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Lisa Shappee — K-State Polytechnic Library.
• Mykel Taylor — agricultural economics, College of Agriculture.
• Dana Vanlandingham — diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine.
• Amber Vennum — School of Family Studies and Human Services, College of Human Ecology.
• Susan Yelich-Biniecki — educational leadership, College of Education.
Associate professors who have been granted tenure
• Gretchen Sassenrath — agronomy, College of Agriculture.
New full professors
• Barbara Anderson — apparel, textile, and interior design, College of Human Ecology.
• Sherry Fleming — Division of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Tanya Gonzalez — English, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Sandy Johnson — animal sciences and industry, College of Agriculture.
• Lauren Ritterbush — sociology, anthropology, and social work, College of Arts and Sciences.
Promotion to clinical full professor
• Susan Nelson — clinical sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine.
New Keystone Research Faculty Scholar
• Melanie Derby — College of Engineering Keystone Research Faculty Scholar; mechanical and nuclear engineering; College of Engineering.
• Jessica Heier Stamm — College of Engineering Keystone Research Faculty Scholar; industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, College of Engineering.
New endowed professors
• Cornelia Caragea — The Lloyd T. Smith Creativity in Engineering Chair; computer science, College of Engineering.
• Pavithra Prabhakar — Peggy and Gary Edwards Chair in Engineering; computer sciences, College of Engineering.
New assistant deans
• Sandy Klein — Agriculture Academic Programs Office, College of Agriculture.
New vice presidents
• Beth Montelone — senior associate vice president for research, Office of the Vice President for Research.