Faculty & Staff awards
Honoring distinguished members of the University community
Sahlin Eminent Faculty Award
This award is the university’s highest faculty honor. It recognizes a scholar who has changed the thinking in his or her field through teaching, research, creative scholarship, and service. The recipient must have contributed notably to the vitality and strength of the Washington State University community and have served the university for at least 10 years.
2020 John Browse, biochemistry and molecular plant sciences
2019 K.W. Hipps, chemistry, materials science and engineering
2018 Mark G. Kuzyk, physics and astronomy
2017 Kelvin G. Lynn, mechanical and materials engineering
2016 B.W. “Joe” Poovaiah, horticulture
2015 John Reganold, crop and soil sciences
2014 Ronald C. Mittelhammer, agricultural economics
2013 Guy H. Palmer, global animal health
2012 Michael J. Smerdon, molecular biosciences
2011 Gregory W. Yasinitsky, music
Complete list and video of award winners
V. Lane Rawlins President’s Award for Distinguished Lifetime Service
Honoring individuals who have given a substantial part of their careers to advancing WSU through excellent service and have demonstrated great personal commitment to the university and community
2020 Rodney Croteau, biochemistry
2019 Ron Mittelhammer, economic sciences
2018 Renee Celeste Hoeksel, nursing
2017 Nancy Magnuson, molecular biosciences
2016 Frances K. McSweeney, psychology
2015 Kenneth L. Casavant, agricultural economics
2013 Nicholas P. Lovrich, political science
2012 Thomas A. Brigham, psychology
2011 Muriel Oaks, distance and professional education
Complete list and video of award winners
President’s Distinguished Teaching Award for Instructors and Clinical Faculty
Recognizing up to two non-tenure track faculty members who epitomize the highest levels of performance and excellence and who provide a vital role in teaching WSU students
2020
Chris Dickey, music
Janet M. Peters, psychology
2019
Clif Stratton, history
Renee Petersen, civil and environmental engineering
2018
Leann Hunter, English
Jason B. Peschel, School of Design and Construction
2017
Xiaopeng Bi, mechanical and materials engineering
Debbie Brinker, nursing
2016
Lisa Carloye, biological sciences
Karl Olsen, civil and environmental engineering
2015
Nicholas Cerruti, physics
Kate McAteer, biological sciences
2014
Andrew S. O’Fallon, software engineering
Samantha Swindell, psychology
2013
Pamela Awana Lee, fine arts
Judy Meuth, critical culture, gender, and race studies
Complete list and video of award winners
Sahlin Faculty Excellence Awards
Each of the four Sahlin Awards recognizes outstanding achievement in one of the following areas of faculty performance:
- Instruction
- Leadership
- Outreach and engagement
- Research, scholarship, and arts
| Instruction | Leadership | Outreach and engagement | Research, scholarship, and arts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | Erika Gudrun Offerdahl, biochemistry and molecular biology | Stephen Bollens, aquatic ecology | Cheryl B. Schultz, conservation biology | Gregory W. Yasinitsky, music |
| 2018-19 | Anita Vasavada, chemical engineering and bioengineering, integrative physiology and neuroscience | Lori Wiest, music | Dale A. Moore, veterinary clinical sciences | Susmita Bose, mechanical and materials engineering |
| 2017-18 | Ray Sun, history | Marvin Pitts, mechanical and materials engineering | Joe Harrison, animal sciences | William M. Hamlin, English |
| 2016-17 | Julie A. Kmec, sociology | Craig Parks, psychology | Douglas Walsh, entomology | Douglas R. Call, veterinary medicine |
| 2015-16 | Charles Munson, finance | John Roll, WSU Spokane | Carol Black, entomology | Diane Cook, electrical engineering and computer science |
| 2014-15 | Kristen A. Johnson, animal sciences | Vicki A. McCracken, economic sciences | Kim D. Patten, horticulture, WSU Extension | Kenneth L. Nash, chemistry |
| 2013-14 | Charles Pezeshki, mechanical and materials engineering | Debra Inglis, plant pathology | Sue B. Clark, chemistry | Thomas Besser, veterinary microbiology and pathology |
| 2012-13 | Catherine A. Elstad, pharmaceutical sciences | Amy S. Wharton, sociology | Clayton J. Mosher, sociology | Kerry W. Hipps, chemistry |
| 2011-12 | Lori M. Carris, plant pathology | Robert E. Rosenman, economic sciences | Gary G. Grove, plant pathology | Wendy C. Brown, veterinary microbiology and pathology |
Complete list and video of award winners
Faculty Diversity Award
Recognizing distinctive and outstanding teaching, research, or creative work and/or service/outreach that advances diversity at Washington State University
2020 Gisela Ernst-Slavit, education
2019 Shira Broschat, electrical engineering and computer science
2018 Raymond Herrera, Graduate School
2017 Paul Kwon, psychology
2016 Paula Groves Price, education
2015 Pamela Bettis, education
2014 Dana Baker, public policy
2013 Eric J. Johnson, education
2012 Ella Inglebret, speech and hearing sciences
2011 Carol Allen, nursing
Complete list and video of award winners
Promotion to the rank of Regents Professor
The rank of Regents Professor can be held by no more than 30 Washington State University faculty members at any one time. Promotion to Regents Professor requires service to the university for at least 7 years and attainment of the highest level of professional achievement. Each college may nominate only 2 faculty members as candidates for this promotion each year.
2020
Katrina L. Mealey, veterinary clinical sciences
2019
Douglas R. Call, global animal health
Jill McCluskey, agricultural and applied economics
Scot Hulbert, plant pathology
2018
Diane Cook, electrical engineering and computer science
Hussein Zbib, mechanical and materials engineering
2017
K.W. Hipps, materials science and engineering
Debbie Lee, English
2014
Juming Tang, biological systems engineering
Kelvin Lynn, physics and mechanical & materials engineering
2013
Eugene Rosa, sociology
Terry McElwain, global animal health
2012
Thomas Okita, biological chemistry
Sue Ritter, veterinary and comparative anatomy, pharmacology, and physiology
Michael P. Wolcott, civil and environmental engineering
2011
Sue B. Clark, chemistry
Herbert H. Hill, chemistry
Complete list of Regents Professors
President’s Employee Excellence Award
Recognizing outstanding contributions to the University by administrative professional and classified employees from across the state
2020
Karen Fischer
Denise Keeton
Kenneth Innami Porter
Sue Sheppard
Nina Woodford
2019
Chris Benson
Deb Howe
Kathie Jahn
Beverly Makhani
Terresa Watson
2018
Paula Adams
Cheryl Hagelganz
Julie M. King
Vicky Murray
Andy Percifield
2017
Raul Garza, Jr.
Don Hulst
Darrel Nelson
Tom Parrish
Josue Rodriguez
2016
Kelly Beckman-Nigro
Aaron Brumbaugh
Vickie Dickson
Kim Holapa
Coree Newman-Coronado
2015
Gayle Anderson
Susan Cao
Ann Marie Gooch
Amy Grey
Brady Ratsch
2014
Brandon Anderson (posthumous award)
Kris Boreen
Galen Gorence
Don Holbrook
Sisouvanh Keopanapay
2013
Joseph Beck
Barry Birdsell
Heather Burke
Heather Cochran
Norene Phillipson
2012
Donna Clark
Jean Grammer
Nancy Lira
Eldon Loe
Becki Meehan
2011
Kenny Bisagno
Bill Gardner
Kimiaki Hirosi
Pama Manoranjan
Sharon Taff
Complete list of award winners | Video of award winners
Association for Faculty Women Samuel H. Smith Leadership Award
The Samuel H. Smith Leadership Award was established in 2000 to show AFW’s appreciation to President Emeritus Smith for his leadership in advancing the role of women at WSU. The criteria for the award are as follows: “The recipient of the Award shall be an AFW member whose leadership has advanced the role of women in the Washington State University system and/or who has demonstrated leadership in higher education, the community, or her profession at the local, state, regional, national or international level.”
2020 Catherine “Katie” Marguerite Cooper
2019 Ana María Rodríguez-Vivaldi
2018 Jill McCluskey
2016 Julia Pomerenk
2015 Laura Lavine
2014 Sheila Converse
2013 Margaret Black
2012 Katherine Lovrich
2011 Rebecca Craft
2010 Carol Ivory
2009 Lori Carris
2008 Erica Austin
2007 Marcia Saneholz
2006 Muriel Oaks
2005 Nancy Magnuson
2004 KNona Liddell
2003 Carolyn Clark
2002 Sue Armitage
2001 Fran McSweeney
2000 Sue Durant
Special Recognition Judy Mitchell
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award
Honoring a faculty member whose scholarly contributions and associated outreach efforts have measurably and significantly improved lives through engagement with industry or other elements of the private sector.
2020 Kim Christen
2019 Katrina L. Mealey
2018 Juming Tang