WKU News

Western Kentucky University recognized the recipients of this year’s Staff Excellence Awards, University Faculty Awards and the ONE WKU Awards as well as the newest University Distinguished Professors at the Employee Excellence Awards Dinner on Thursday (April 23).

University Distinguished Professors

Each year, the Office of the Provost and Division of Academic Affairs invites nominations to recognize faculty currently at the rank of professor who serve the University with distinction and have an outstanding record of achievement in teaching, research/creativity and service. The newest members of the community of University Distinguished Professors are:

• Janet Tassell, Professor, Teacher Education, College of Education & Behavioral Sciences
• Monica Burke, Professor, Counseling and Student Affairs, College of Education & Behavioral Sciences

Staff Excellence Awards

The Staff Excellence Awards honor and recognize WKU Staff Employees who go above and beyond the call for service. They embody an innovative, creative, and solution-oriented approach to work and make positive contributions to the University’s mission, strategic plan, and communities we serve.

• Customer Service Award: Jessica Gilland, Executive Director, Academic Budgets & Resources, Academic Affairs & Provost’s Office
• Teamwork Award: Jenny Clauson, Office Coordinator, Biology
• Student Support Award: Sarah McMaine-Render, Assistant Director, Kelly Autism Program Circle of Support, Kelly Autism Program
• Part-Time Award: Karen Shaneyfelt, Lifelong Learning Associate, Continuing & Professional Development
• Unsung Hero Award: Jonathan Hughes, Campus Infrastructure and Data Specialist, Department of Facilities Management 
• WKU Affiliate Award: Azemina Ibrisevic, Facilities Management, Sodexo

University Faculty Awards

Each year, WKU recognizes outstanding contributions by faculty members in the areas of teaching, research & creativity, service, student advising, part-time teaching and online teaching & course design.

• Excellence in Teaching Award: Joseph Marquardt, Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences, Ogden College of Science & Engineering
• Excellence in Research and Creative Activity: Nahid Gani, Professor, Earth, Environmental, & Atmospheric Sciences, Ogden College of Science & Engineering
• Excellence in Service: Diane Lickenbrock, Professor, Psychological Sciences, Ogden College of Science & Engineering
• Excellence in Student Advisement: Alexander Olson, Professor, History, Potter College of Arts & Letters
• Excellence in Part-time Teaching: Roy Burkhead, Part-time Faculty, English, Potter College of Arts & Letters
• Excellence in Online Teaching & Course Design: Gihan Edirisinghe, Assistant Professor, Management, Gordon Ford College of Business

2026 ONE WKU Awards

The ONE WKU Award recognizes members of our campus community who embody WKU’s commitment to dignity, respect, collaboration and opportunity. This year’s recipients are:

• ONE WKU Staff Award: Ryan Jones, Academic Advisor, Ogden College of Science and Engineering
• ONE WKU Faculty Award: Kimberly J. Green, Chair, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

-WKU-

Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.