Sahlin Faculty Excellence Awards
Recognizing outstanding achievement
Sahlin Awards honor faculty members who epitomize the highest level of excellence in the pursuit of the University’s goals. Four awards recognize accomplishments in the following areas of faculty performance:
Jesse Spohnholz
Professor, History
Jesse Spohnholz’s curricular innovations and leadership make him a model for educators nationwide. Spohnholz is founding director of WSU’s Roots of Contemporary Issues program, in which students learn to address controversial issues facing the world in a reasoned manner: using evidence, critical thinking, and clear communication. As director of that program for nine years, Spohnholz trained and mentored faculty across the WSU system. Peers and former students praise his courses as engaging, rigorous, and meticulously designed lessons. Undergraduate and graduate researchers under his mentorship also present their research to first-year students to provide models for student achievement.
Spohnholz’ leadership in his field has extensive reach. He is co-editor of a textbook series based on the Roots of Contemporary Issues program, published by Oxford University Press. He now directs History for the 21st Century, a nationwide project to reform undergraduate history education. He speaks at national conferences about educational reform.
Jill McCluskey
Regents Professor, School of Economic Sciences
The first female director of the School of Economic Sciences, Jill McCluskey has built a vibrant environment that fosters collaboration and creativity. Her strategic planning has yielded improvements in teaching, research, and scholarship. Under her watch the school has added five talented faculty members. She has strengthened the focus and commitment of faculty, staff, and graduate students, while building rapport among all. She forged connections with alumni to support fundraising and create job placement opportunities for students. McCluskey works diligently, acts compassionately, and cares deeply for the greater good. She leads by example and commands the utmost respect.
McCluskey has held numerous leadership positions in her field, including past president and fellow of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, AAAS Fellow, WAEA Fellow, and Director of the International Association of Agricultural Economists. She is the first WSU faculty member to serve as editor of the American Journal of Agricultural Economics.
Eric Johnson
Professor, Teaching and Learning
Eric Johnson partners with immigrant students and families as they navigate the path to a college education. Passionate about working with community groups and local schools, he goes far beyond his job responsibilities. He enjoys presenting on language and education to multilingual students in local schools. He has served on the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as chair of the Education Outreach Committee, and currently sits on the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Multilingual Education Advisory Committee to help guide family engagement policies in public schools. In addition to teaching WSU courses, he works as a long-term substitute teacher in local K-12 schools.
Accessing higher education in the U.S. can be challenging and confusing for immigrant communities. By presenting college access information—typically in Spanish—to families at community forums and home visits, Dr. Johnson helps demystify higher education pathways that can lead to a more rewarding future.
Olusola Adesope
Professor, Kinesiology and Educational Psychology
Olusola Adesope’s research has profoundly influenced teaching and learning across many disciplines. His inquiries span the fields of educational psychology, learning sciences, instructional design, and technology. He is a pioneer in using meta-analyses and systematic reviews to advance evidence-based practices in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. He studies the use of multimedia and concept maps to improve teaching and learning in science courses. That research is among the most cited in the learning sciences. He has also conducted novel research examining the development and use of intelligent systems in fields such as engineering and health care.
Adesope’s more than 140 papers have been cited 6,252 times. His scholarship has garnered many awards. Other universities often seek his leadership for their research and grant programs. He has been an invited keynote speaker for scholarly audiences worldwide. At WSU, he mentors both students and faculty.
Previous recipients
Instruction
| 2020-2021 | Carolyn F. Ross |
| 2019-2020 | Erika Gudrun Offerdahl |
| 2018-19 | Anita Vasavada, chemical engineering and bioengineering, integrative physiology and neuroscience |
| 2017-18 | Ray Sun, history |
| 2016-17 | Julie A. Kmec, sociology |
| 2015-16 | Charles Munson, finance |
| 2014-15 | Kristen A. Johnson, animal sciences |
| 2013-14 | Charles Pezeshki, mechanical and materials engineering |
| 2012-13 | Catherine A. Elstad, pharmaceutical sciences |
| 2011-12 | Lori M. Carris, plant pathology |
Leadership
| 2020-2021 | Greg Crouch |
| 2019-2020 | Stephen Bollens |
| 2018-19 | Lori Wiest, music |
| 2017-18 | Marvin Pitts, mechanical and materials engineering |
| 2016-17 | Craig Parks, psychology |
| 2015-16 | John Roll, WSU Spokane |
| 2014-15 | Vicki A. McCracken, economic sciences |
| 2013-14 | Debra Inglis, plant pathology |
| 2012-13 | Amy S. Wharton, sociology |
| 2011-12 | Robert E. Rosenman, economic sciences |
Outreach and engagement
| 2020-2021 | Ka'imi Sinclair |
| 2019-2020 | Cheryl B. Schultz |
| 2018-19 | Dale A. Moore, veterinary clinical sciences |
| 2017-18 | Joe Harrison, animal sciences |
| 2016-17 | Douglas Walsh, entomology |
| 2015-16 | Carol Black, entomology |
| 2014-15 | Kim D. Patten, horticulture, WSU Extension |
| 2013-14 | Sue B. Clark, chemistry |
| 2012-13 | Clayton J. Mosher, sociology |
| 2011-12 | Gary G. Grove, plant pathology |
Research, scholarship & arts
| 2020-2021 | Hans P.A. Van Dongen |
| 2019-2020 | Gregory W. Yasinitsky |
| 2018-19 | Susmita Bose, mechanical and materials engineering |
| 2017-18 | William M. Hamlin, English |
| 2016-17 | Douglas R. Call, veterinary medicine |
| 2015-16 | Diane Cook, electrical engineering and computer science |
| 2014-15 | Kenneth L. Nash, chemistry |
| 2013-14 | Thomas Besser, veterinary microbiology and pathology |
| 2012-13 | Kerry W. Hipps, chemistry |
| 2011-12 | Wendy C. Brown, veterinary microbiology and pathology |