2024 Auburn University Faculty Award winners - Page
2024 Auburn University Faculty Award winners announced
Auburn University is delighted to announce the recipients of the 2024 Faculty Awards, celebrating outstanding achievements and contributions across various categories. This year, 19 distinguished faculty members from nine colleges will be honored for their exemplary leadership, innovative research, scholarship, creative work and dedicated service to the university and the broader community.
The university received a record number of competitive nominations in 2024, with multiple recipients selected in several categories for the first time in the program’s 18-year history. The awards were expanded earlier this year to recognize and honor faculty excellence at all levels. As the university continues to promote faculty achievement and career advancement through expanded rewards and recognition, these awards honor faculty who have made significant contributions to Auburn’s mission and whose activities reflect the highest standards of professional and academic distinction.
The award recipients will be formally recognized during the annual Faculty Awards Ceremony in November. The 2024 Auburn University Faculty Award recipients include:
President's Awards for Distinguished Faculty Leadership
Established in 2024, the President’s Award for Distinguished Faculty Leadership honors faculty members who have shown exceptional leadership and service to Auburn University and who demonstrate a deep commitment to the campus community and a significant impact on Auburn’s mission.
Dr. Lisa Kensler
Emily R. and Gerald S. Leischuck Endowed Professor in Educational Leadership
Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership, and Technology
College of Education
A faculty member in the Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology since 2008, Kensler has consistently shown a strong commitment to leadership and academic excellence. Kensler’s scholarship over the past decade has focused on green schools and the leadership and learning required for transforming schools into more socially just, ecologically healthy and economically viable communities. Kensler’s passion for and commitment to leadership led to her authoring three books related to leadership for whole school sustainability.
Whether as Chair of the University Senate or through her leadership in the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, Kensler embodies her own personal philosophy of leadership, developed through years of experience: leadership is cultivating conditions where everyone grows and achieves both personal and collective goals through learning and transformation. Her leadership philosophy, crafted through the intersection of sustained research and reflective practice, permeates all her work and serves as a touchstone in all her endeavors. Through thoughtful engagement and sustained effort in departmental and college governance, mentorship of junior faculty and contributions to university-wide service, Kensler has helped to foster a campus environment that encourages our shared opportunities while also addressing the needs of our students, faculty and staff through collaboration.
Dr. Kerry Inger (joint recipient)
Harbert College Advisory Council Professor
School of Accountancy
Harbert College of Business
Dr. N. Hari Narayanan (joint recipient)
Watson Professor
Chair, Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering
Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
Inger and Narayanan co-chaired efforts to craft an ambitious ten-year strategic plan for Auburn University, a collaborative undertaking that demonstrated their steadfast dedication to the university's future. They invested thousands of hours beyond their faculty responsibilities, facilitating meetings and leading work sessions crucial to shaping the plan’s goals. Inger and Narayanan actively participated in dozens of feedback sessions, meetings, and interviews, attentively listening to the voices of the Auburn Family to truly understand the university's challenges and opportunities. Their shared leadership and approach to strategic planning showcased the power of true collaboration and teamwork, resulting in a new plan that will positively impact the campus community for many years to come.
Inger’s extensive leadership experience spans departmental, college, and university committees, as well as national organizations. Her leadership in the University of Pforzheim Exchange Program provides students with opportunities for engagement and growth on a global scale. Moreover, her work within the American Taxation Association demonstrates a strong commitment to leadership development within professional contexts. Similarly, Narayanan shows a strong commitment to leadership across campus, benefiting the growth and well-being of students, faculty, and staff alike. Together, their collective leadership greatly contributes to Auburn’s mission and cultivates an atmosphere of innovation and possibility.
The Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching
Established in 2005 by Dr. Gerald and Emily Leischuck, both 1964 graduates and retired Auburn administrators, the awards honor two full-time faculty members who have demonstrated effective and innovative teaching methods, as well as a continued commitment to student success through advising and mentoring.
Dr. Kathryn Floyd
Department of Art and Art History
College of Liberal Arts
A faculty member in the Department of Art and Art History since 2008, Floyd offers a diverse range of courses to students including those majoring in Art History and Studio Art as well as students from majors across the university. Her courses emphasize critical contemporary global arts, addressing issues of perception and context particularly when engaging with the visual arts of other cultures. Floyd's commitment to teaching and mentorship is evident through her consistent efforts both inside and outside the classroom to advance student learning across the core curriculum and she oversees numerous undergraduate research fellowships.
Through her teaching and mentoring, Floyd helps students develop essential skills such as writing, critical thinking and analytical approaches. A key component of her teaching, Floyd assists students in preparing research papers for competitions and presentations at research symposia and regional conferences. Student projects completed in her courses have been showcased in numerous venues including the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, the Biggin Gallery and the Vault Gallery, among others. In addition to her teaching and research, Floyd supports students interested in graduate study and internships, helping them gain admission to prestigious institutions and secure internships at renowned museums. Professionally, Floyd serves on the Council of Readers of the College Art Association and has received several accolades including the Provost’s Award for Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring, the Harry M. Philpott Endowment for the Humanities Grant, the College of Liberal Arts Teaching Excellence Award and the Honor Your Teaching Fellowship, among others.
Dr. Kellye S. Joiner
Department of Pathobiology
College of Veterinary Medicine
Since 2007, Joiner has been a faculty member in the Department of Pathobiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine. In addition to coordinating multiple courses in both the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program and graduate curricula, Joiner serves as an instructor in various team-taught courses, including complex multi-instructor courses such as Hemolymphatic System, Respiratory System, Veterinary Immunology and Diagnostic Pathology. Joiner also lectures in three other professional-level courses and several intermittently offered graduate-level courses focused on poultry disease and pathology.
With a teaching style that integrates storytelling and anecdotes with theory, Joiner’s efforts to help students engage with and contextualize complex materials has enabled her to receive numerous student accolades, including the Student Government Association Teacher of the Year, the Student American Veterinary Medical Association Teacher of the Year and, most recently, the coveted Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award. Teaching classes that are described by her students and peers as entertaining and intellectually stimulating, Joiner is known for encouraging students to think critically as clinician scientists. Beyond the classroom, Joiner mentors both professional and graduate students, overseeing research projects, advising graduate students and supporting post-DVM pathology residents. She also plays a crucial role in addressing the national shortage of avian veterinarians by leading the development of a training program in poultry pathology at Auburn, which was recently approved and is now one of only nine programs worldwide able to certify diplomates to the American College of Poultry Veterinarians.
Creative Research and Scholarship Awards
The awards recognize faculty members who have distinguished themselves through research, scholarly works and creative contributions in the following two categories:
Category: sciences, medical sciences, engineering and agriculture
Dr. Nima Shamsaei
Philpott-WestPoint Stevens Distinguished Professor
Director, National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
Shamsaei is honored for his international reputation for his work in the fields of additive manufacturing, fatigue and fracture, and structural integrity. With an h-index of 65 and work that has been cited 17,000 times, Shamsaei leads impactful research projects that have garnered over $60 million in external funding, from sponsors including NASA, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Navy. He directs cutting-edge research at Auburn’s National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence (NCAME) and has advised several undergraduate student design teams.
Category: fine arts, liberal arts, architecture and design, business and social and human sciences
Dr. Peter Hastie
Alumni Professor and Wayne T. Smith Distinguished Professor
School of Kinesiology
College of Education
A fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology, Hastie is recognized as a world-renowned researcher in the field of sport education. Hastie has authored 10 influential textbooks and 19 book chapters, and his work has been cited nearly 15,000 times. He has published globally, and research by Hastie and his students has enhanced school intramural and physical education programs domestically and in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Russia, Spain, Ireland, Portugal and China. He currently serves on five journal editorial boards and is known by colleagues as a leader in the advancement of sport pedagogy scholarship.
Emerging Faculty Creative Research and Scholarship Awards
Created in 2024, the awards recognize faculty at the level of Assistant Professor who have demonstrated excellence in research, scholarly work and creative contributions in the same categories as the Creative Research and Scholarship Awards:
Category: sciences, medical sciences, engineering, and agriculture
Dr. Panagiotis Mistriotis
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering
Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
Mistriotis is recognized for research that bridges the fields of engineering, physics, and biology. His research group explores how healthy and diseased cells translate physical and topographical cues into biochemical signals. Even at this early stage in his career, Mistriotis has published 37 peer-reviewed journal articles, and his work has been cited over 2,400 times. He has delivered 10 invited presentations both nationally and internationally. Mistriotis received an Early Career Award from the National Blood Foundation for a project that aims to enhance the efficacy of stem cells in treating aging-related diseases.
Category: fine arts, liberal arts, architecture and design, business, and social and human sciences
Dr. Jessica Darby
Assistant Professor
Department of Supply Chain Management
Harbert College of Business
Darby is a rising star in the field of supply chain management scholarship, with a growing body of research into the impacts of government institutions, regulatory agencies and financial markets on supply chain operations and decision-making. She serves on editorial review boards of two of the top journals in the supply chain management field. Darby is a previous recipient of the Harbert College of Business Rising Faculty Scholar Research Award, and her work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal.
Provost Award for Faculty Excellence in Research Mentoring
Expanded in 2024, the award honors faculty who demonstrate a strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate student research and whose efforts support Auburn students interested in careers in research and creative works.
Dr. Miranda Reed
Professor
Department of Drug Discovery and Development
Harrison College of Pharmacy
A faculty member in the Harrison College of Pharmacy since 2015, Reed’s research is consistently supported by the NIH and she has mentored over 60 undergraduate students and chaired or co-chaired 18 graduate students, many of whom have received prestigious awards such as the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation Young Investigator Scholarship, the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education Fellowship for Underrepresented Minorities and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Predoctoral Fellowship. As a faculty mentor for the McNair Scholars Program, Reed has been instrumental in supporting first-generation, income-eligible students and those from underrepresented groups in achieving undergraduate success and preparing for doctoral studies.
Reed’s holistic mentoring approach emphasizes sustained support, scholarly excellence, and positive impact. She provides comprehensive guidance from high school through graduate school and post-doctoral stages, aligning with the mission and vision of a land-grant university. Her ability to tailor her mentoring style to each student’s needs, fostering academic excellence and personal and professional growth, is evident in her mentees' numerous publications, theses and successful careers.
Dr. Christopher Lepczyk
Professor
College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment
With more than 20 years of research and teaching experience, Lepczyk is an accomplished researcher and productive scholar with 131 refereed journal articles and many book chapters. His publications have been cited over 10,000 times, and he has authored five ISI Highly Cited articles and received two best paper awards from the Ecological Society of America (the Sustainability Award) and the North American Section of the International Association for Landscape Ecology. He has won numerous awards, including the Auburn Author Award and the Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching from Auburn University, as well as the Harry Murphy Award for Excellence in Research, the Harry Murphy Award for Excellence in Extension and Outreach and the Harry Murphy Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Advising.
Lepczyk has mentored 47 undergraduate and 36 graduate students, many of whom have advanced to faculty positions at prestigious universities. His exceptional ability to foster meaningful, long-lasting relationships with his mentees has been a hallmark of his career. Lepczyk’s graduate students have earned numerous prestigious awards, including the Fulbright Scholarship, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, NSF GRFP Honorable Mention, Knauss Fellowships and the Ford Foundation Fellowship. Lepczyk’s mentoring philosophy emphasizes personal growth and critical thinking, inspiring his mentees to excel in research and become informed, knowledgeable citizens who use their skills to positively impact the world.
Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Awards
The Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Awards recognize the outstanding teaching of undergraduates from nominations made by department heads, deans, alumni and students.
Ben Bush
Associate Professor
School of Industrial + Graphic Design
College of Architecture, Design and Construction
Bush is highly regarded for his exceptional dedication to student success, innovative teaching methods, and personal investment in his students' growth. Over multiple semesters, he has profoundly impacted his students by tailoring his teaching to meet individual learning needs and fostering a creative and engaging classroom environment. Bush is known for going above and beyond to ensure his students understand and apply design principles, often expanding his own knowledge to better support them, as seen during projects with NISSAN and the Sneaker Design Studio.
His forward-thinking approach integrates modern industrial design practices, and his willingness to adopt new tools, like AI rendering programs, ensures that students who struggle in traditional areas can still thrive. Bush’s commitment extends beyond the classroom—he leads the Industrial Design Society of America and a mentorship program, both of which have significantly influenced students' careers. His influence has directly contributed to students' success, including job placements, and his commitment to fostering creativity, innovation and personal growth makes him a standout educator.
Dr. Muralikrishnan Dhanasekaran (Dr. Murali)
Professor and Director of International Programs
Department of Drug Discovery and Development
Harrison College of Pharmacy
Murali is a highly respected educator known for his innovative and engaging teaching methods that make complex concepts accessible. His lectures, infused with the latest research and moments of humor, foster a deep understanding and love for the subject matter. Murali’s passion for teaching is contagious, motivating students to explore topics more deeply, while his dedication to student success extends far beyond the classroom. He significantly contributes to the academic community by involving undergraduate and graduate students in research, encouraging participation in conferences and facilitating opportunities for publishing. He fosters a collaborative atmosphere where students feel valued as contributors rather than just learners, treating discussions as brainstorming sessions among peers. Additionally, he provides personalized mentorship, offering academic and professional guidance that has profoundly impacted the careers of many students.
Murali also plays a significant role in the academic community by involving students in research, encouraging conference participation and supporting publication efforts. His egalitarian approach to discussions fosters an open and collaborative environment that stimulates new ideas and creativity.
Claire Thompson
Assistant Clinical Professor
College of Nursing
Thompson exemplifies the qualities of an exceptional educator, particularly in her role as a nursing instructor specializing in women's health. Her teaching performance is characterized by engaging lectures and thoughtful course design that foster a positive learning environment. Thompson expertly balances theoretical knowledge with practical application, ensuring students develop critical thinking skills applicable in clinical settings.
As a certified women's health nurse practitioner, Thompson’s expertise enriches the learning experience, covering essential topics such as prenatal care and reproductive health with enthusiasm and clarity. She actively engages with her students beyond the classroom, offering support and guidance during office hours and informal discussions, creating a supportive atmosphere that values student input. Thompson’s impact extends throughout Auburn as she coordinates maternal health courses and has developed a women's health elective that provides students with practical healthcare knowledge. Furthermore, she organizes study abroad trips to Scotland, England and Ecuador, exposing students to diverse healthcare systems and enhancing their educational experience.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Thompson has contributed to nursing outreach clinics, demonstrating her commitment to women's health education and the influence of social determinants on care. Her students consistently excel, with their standardized test scores in women's health surpassing the national average, highlighting her effectiveness as an instructor.
Dr. Christopher Wilburn
Associate Clinical Professor / Graduate Advisor of Exercise Science / Assistant Director of the Sport Biomechanics Laboratory
School of Kinesiology
College of Education
A highly dedicated and innovative educator, Wilburn is known for his excellence in teaching, mentorship, and research. With a doctoral degree in Kinesiology from Auburn, Wilburn has made substantial contributions both within the College of Education and to the broader academic community. As a core course instructor, he has made complex subjects like biomechanics accessible and engaging through interactive lectures, tailored exams and personalized support, fostering critical thinking and real-world application. His passion for the material and commitment to student success are further reflected in his mentorship of undergraduate and graduate researchers, preparing students for future careers and encouraging leadership in academic settings.
Beyond the classroom, Wilburn actively connects students with alumni, providing valuable networking opportunities that bridge education and professional practice. His numerous accolades, including the College of Education Faculty Member of the Year Award and the Gerald and Emily Leischuck Undergraduate Teaching Award, highlight his dedication to excellence. He also plays a leadership role as chair of the College of Education Faculty and Staff Awards Committee and has contributed to the development of widely used educational resources. Wilburn’s ongoing connection with students, even after graduation, underscores his commitment to their long-term success, making him a standout educator and mentor.
Award for Excellence in Faculty Outreach
Dr. JoEllen Sefton
Professor and Director of the Warrior Research Center
School of Kinesiology
College of Education
Sefton’s outreach and community-engaged scholarship focuses on improving performance, enhancing health and wellness, and reducing injury among tactical athletes—including military personnel, police, firefighters and first responders. Her work through the Warrior Athlete Training program has impacted over 860,000 soldiers, treating over 510,000 new injuries and saving 1,692,872 soldier training hours by reducing lost training time due to injury, reflecting a savings to the US Army in over $30,518,419 in medical costs. Sefton has also developed specialized training programs for the Auburn University ROTC program, the City of Auburn’s Police and Fire Departments as well as area college and school systems. Sefton’s distinguished academic, research and outreach engagement is having a positive and lasting impact on military, tactical athletes and students, and she serves as an exemplar of Auburn’s commitment to outreach and community engagement.
President’s Outstanding Collaborative Units Award
Created in 2011, the award recognizes existing faculty collaborations among two or more departments, divisions, offices or programs within the university. To be considered, the work of the collaborative units must have advanced the excellence, impact and reputation of representing units and the university as a whole.
Executive Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) Program
Dr. Michael Wesson
Associate Dean for Graduate and Executive Programs
Professor of Management
Harbert College of Business
David Hinson, FAIA
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies
College of Architecture, Design and Construction
A collaboration between the Harbert College of Business and the College of Architecture, Design and Construction, the program's success is attributed to the unique partnership that combines the strengths of both colleges, offering a comprehensive approach to real estate education.
Auburn’s MRED program emphasizes the realities of the real estate development industry by integrating business and design perspectives, providing students with a holistic education. This distinctive approach has positioned the program as one of the nation's most highly regarded. The impact of the MRED program is most evident in the student learning experience, as it adopts an executive residency format, attracting professionals with significant experience and fostering peer-to-peer learning. Field studies to various real estate developments further enhance this learning experience, creating strong professional and social bonds within the cohort. The program's success is also reflected in its tangible outcomes, such as the involvement of graduates in over 900 real estate projects worldwide and the creation of an undergraduate minor in real estate development. The program's collaborative efforts have also led to significant philanthropic support and the creation of an exceptional advisory board.
Distinguished Graduate Faculty Lectureship
Co-sponsored by the Auburn Alumni Association and the Graduate School, the Distinguished Graduate Faculty Lectureship recognizes a faculty member based on excellence in research.
Dr. Nima Shamsaei
Philpott-WestPoint Stevens Distinguished Professor
Director, National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
An accomplished mechanical engineer Shamsaei is the Director of Auburn University’s National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence, which conducts cutting-edge additive manufacturing research with a special focus on fatigue and fracture mechanics, and the mechanical behavior of materials. A partnership with NASA, the Center aims to advance fundamental and applied additive manufacturing research through public and private partnerships and contribute to workforce development. With a strong track record of securing significant research funding, Shamsaei has contributed to numerous high-profile projects, including collaborations with NASA and the U.S. Army, aimed at advancing additive manufacturing applications in critical industries. His expertise is recognized nationally, and he is a highly sought-after leader in the field.
