Fairmont State honors faculty during annual awards luncheon

Last month, Fairmont State University honored its faculty at an awards and recognition lunch held in Colebank Gym. During the ceremony, individuals were thanked for their years of service to the University, and accomplishments such as promotions, tenures and retirements were celebrated.

“The array of awards given to these University faculty members honor the entire dedicated and talented University faculty as a whole,” said Timothy Oxley, Interim President for Academic Affairs.

In addition, seven faculty were granted Faculty Achievement Awards and were lauded for their outstanding contributions to the University community and their excellence within their professions.

“These award recipients stand as exemplars of their colleagues, all of whom place teaching, scholarship and advising among their most important roles at Fairmont State University,” said Oxley. “Many thanks go to the Faculty Development Committee for their hard work in vetting the applicants and making the hard choices on the award recipients.”  

The Faculty Achievement Award winners include:

William A. Boram Award - Robin K. Payne, Ph.D., Director of the Honors Program, Associate Professor of History, Department of Social Sciences

The William A. Boram Award recognizes and honors outstanding achievements, unusual dedication or accomplishments in teaching by full-time faculty at Fairmont State University. The Boram Award is the University's most prestigious award for teaching.

University Faculty Fellowship Grant - Donna J. Long, Ph.D., Professor of English, Editor-in-Chief of Kestrel: A Journal of Literature and Art, Department of Humanities

The University Faculty Fellowship Grant encourages and rewards the creative and scholarly endeavors of individual faculty in their field or specialization. The grant also supports the interests of a faculty member in pursuit of research or other scholarly activity that benefits the University and its community.

Excellence in Online Teaching Award - Valerie Morphew, Ed.D., Professor of Education, College of Education, Health & Human Performance

The Excellence in Online Teaching Award, new this year, honors faculty who show excellence in design, application, student engagement, student success and enhanced commitment to virtual course facilitation.

Faculty Recognition Award - M.E. Yancosek Gamble, M.A., Associate Professor of Business, College of Business & Aviation

The Faculty Recognition Award is bestowed annually to a full-time faculty member who has made a consistent service contribution to the University, to the discipline, to the profession, to the student body, and/or to the community.

Innovation in Teaching Award - Kellie Cole, M.A., Assistant Professor Of Architecture, Department of Architecture, Art & Design

The Innovation in Teaching Award honors outstanding and innovative teaching by faculty at Fairmont State University. Full-time faculty are eligible for nomination who have not been the recipient of the Straight Award in the past five years and who have at least 3 years of service to Fairmont State University.

Outstanding Adjunct Award - Eric Pulice, M.A., Assistant Professor of Healthcare Management, College of Business & Aviation

The Faculty Development Committee presents this award to honor excellence in adjunct teaching faculty and to encourage adjunct faculty's continuing efforts to excel. Recipients of the award demonstrate a sustained, energetic, and successful commitment to teaching.

Academic Advising Award - Jan Kiger, M.A., Assistant Professor, Health & Human Performance, Department of Health & Human Performance

The Excellence in Academic Advising Award recognizes and emphasizes excellence in the ability to engage in, promote and support undergraduate and graduate student advising. Fairmont State University recognizes that advising is a teaching opportunity beyond the course selection that may include career exploration, decision making skills, values clarification, critical thinking, utilizing campus resources, taking personal responsibility, and understanding processes and the value of a college education.

Faculty Awards 2023