Graduate students recognized for excellence

The Oklahoma State University College of Education and Human Sciences recognized student excellence at the annual Graduate and Professional Education Appreciation Awards event.

“The College of Education and Human Sciences is at the forefront of research, education and outreach because of its faculty, staff and students,” said Dr. Christine Johnson, associate vice president for research. “These award recipients demonstrate excellency each day, and their contributions truly make a difference.”

The OSU Alumni Association named three College of Education and Human Sciences students as Outstanding Seniors for the 2020-2021 academic year. These students were among 22 chosen from across campus in recognition of academic achievement, campus and community involvement, extracurricular honors and work ethic during their time at OSU. All three were also named Seniors of Significance.

 Kelsey Lauermann, Cushing, Oklahoma, human development and family science, option in child and family services. She plans to attend law school this fall, specializing in family law for domestic violence survivors, families and juveniles. “My proudest accomplishment at OSU has been all of the lives have impacted. I feel like I was truly able to make a difference.”

 Kaitlyn Kirksey Stillwater, human development and family science, option in family and consumer sciences education. She plans to teach high school family and consumer sciences classes and become a Family, Consumer and Community Leaders Association (FCCLA) advisor. “Rather than measuring each student by the same yardstick for success, as an FCS educator I have

Award recipients:

 Luis Mejia-Puig design, housing and merchandising doctoral student — Outstanding Teaching by a Graduate Student Award

 Joel Komakech, nutritional sciences doctoral student — Outstanding Research by a Graduate Student Award

 Carlee Vogt Boccacci, human development and family science master’s student — Julie Branch Staton Award

the opportunity to provide my students tools to not only define their own personal success, but also equip them to achieve it.”

 Carolina Quijada Elk City, Oklahoma, nutritional sciences, option in human nutrition/pre-medical sciences. She plans to support rural and underserved communities as either a physician or a public health worker. “If we further educate communities on health, it will only make Oklahoma, as a whole, stronger and healthier.”

Additionally, the following students were named Seniors of Significance in recognition of excellence in scholarship, leadership and service to campus.

 Alec Puckett Bixby, Oklahoma, health education and promotion

 Ashley Henry Claremore, Oklahoma, elementary education

 Bella Garagusi Tulsa, fashion design and production

 Halle Hannon, Mustang, Oklahoma, nutritional sciences, option in human nutrition/pre-medical sciences

 Madison Brooke, Tulsa, interior design

The Oklahoma State University College of Education and Human Sciences honored four exemplary individuals with Outstanding Alumni Awards during a virtual ceremony April 23. The award recognizes individuals demonstrating excellence in their accomplishments, service to the community, leadership and desire to grow in their talents and purposefully serve others.

Wilma Davis-Brooks earned her bachelor’s in home economics education in 1964 and her master’s in family relations and child development in 1972 at OSU. Originally from Idabel, Oklahoma, she currently teaches family and consumer sciences at Harold Murphy Alternative High School in Hobbs, New Mexico. With more than 50 years of experience, she is the longestserving active teacher in New Mexico. In 2020, Davis-Brooks was selected as a New Mexico magazine True Hero. She has also been recognized as the 2012 New Mexico Educator of the Year, and in 2017, she was awarded the Governor’s Plaque and a Proclamation for Dedicated Service in Education.

Dr. Shannon Dial of Ada, Oklahoma, graduated from OSU in 2005 with a master’s in marriage and family therapy. She went on to earn her doctorate in marriage and family therapy from Texas Tech University in 2014. Dial is the executive officer of integrated services at the Chickasaw Nation, where she leads the innovative Zero Suicide framework into the health care and mental health teams. Her work with Zero Suicide has led to numerous awards, including two National Indian Health Board Local Impact Awards and semifinalist honors for the Harvard American Indian Economic Development Honoring Nations Award in 2018 and 2020.

Eunice Menja earned her bachelor’s in human development and family science from OSU in 2008 and her master’s in human development and family science from OSU in 2011. She is pursuing a doctorate degree from Kenyatta University in Kenya, Africa. While an undergraduate student in 2007, she founded the nonprofit organization Upendo Kids to support

The inaugural International Sport and Tactical Fitness Conference was held virtually in April. Led by Dr. Jay Dawes, associate professor of applied exercise science, the conference welcomed participants from around the world, including students, faculty, first responders and soldiers. Leading scholars and practitioners presented on a wide range of sport and tactical fitness topics. The next virtual conference is slated for spring 2022.

True to Oklahoma State University’s land-grant mission, the College of Education and Human Sciences is conducting important work that responds to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development goals, including these highlights: orphaned children in her home country of Kenya. More than 20,000 orphans have received shelter, medical care and education from Upendo Kids, and 50 orphans currently live in the facilities full-time. In addition to Upendo Kids, Menja also worked for four years as a foster care specialist for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, where she was named Employee of the Quarter.

Donna Williams earned her bachelor’s in apparel design from OSU in 1997 as the program’s first honors graduate. She lives in Lakeville, Minnesota, where she is the senior project manager of apparel innovation and technology at Target Corp., managing the integration of 3D design technologies throughout the apparel division. During her first year with Target, she increased 3D technology adoption by 40%. Prior to working at Target, Williams worked for Lands’ End as the product development technical designer and for K-Mart as a technical designer.

 Good Health and Well-Being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

 Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

The Randall and Carol White Reading and Mathematics Center welcomed its namesakes this spring to its new home in Willard Hall. The center, which offers personalized tutoring assistance to K-8 grade students, is named in honor of Randall and Carol White, who are avid literacy supporters and generous investors in the facility and its services. Randall White was inducted to the College of Education Hall of Fame in 2008 and is the active executive chairman of Educational Development Corp., which provides educational books to children.

The student-led Euphoria Fashion Show was held virtually April 16, showcasing the show’s 10th anniversary while accommodating COVID-19 precautions.

In its first-ever virtual format, students held private filming sessions off-campus through a partnership with the O’Colly Media Group. While challenging, design, housing and merchandising department head Dr. Lynn Boorady said it created an effect similar to how professional designers altered New York City’s Fashion Week throughout COVID. Without the time constraints of a runway show, students could curate details like models’ hair and makeup to fine-tune their collections.

“I am very proud of how our students have reimagined the fashion show this year,” Boorady said. “This shows flexibility and being willing to change — great skills to have in their future careers.”

At age 82, Wally Funk, an OSU alumna and former Flying Aggie, became the oldest person to fly in space alongside Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and two others on July 20. Funk helped pave the way for women in space, making history as the military’s first female civilian flight instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and later training for the first manned space flight as part of the Women in Space program in 1961. Known as the Mercury 13, Funk and a team of female astronauts successfully performed the same tests as their male counterparts, but were denied their chance at going to space due to gender. When NASA finally allowed women into its space program, all 13 members were deemed too old. Sixty years later, Funk’s dream of going to space was realized aboard Blue Origin’s rocket, the New Shepard.

The College of Education and Human Sciences raised $117,145 from 271 total gifts over the span of two days during the 2021 Give Orange campaign this spring. Give Orange challenges OSU students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends to support their orange passion over 1,890 minutes. Generous donors helped the college meet all match challenges and raised funds to support student scholarships across academic units. The college also placed first in the College Leaderboard challenge, raising the most gifts among all academic colleges. Overall, the campuswide campaign raised $1,203,741 from 2,262 total gifts.

Faculty members within the College of Education and Human Sciences received national recognition over the past year. Highlights include:

 Dr. Ronald Cox Jr., George Kaiser Family Foundation Endowed Chair of Child and Family Resilience; professor of human development and family science; and Cooperative Extension state specialist, received the Board on Human Sciences Outstanding Engagement Award, recognizing exceptional creativity and scholarship in outreach, extension and public service programs.

 Dr. Shiretta Ownbey, professor and faculty fellow, received the Board on Human Sciences Ellen Swallow Richards Public Service Award, recognizing her advancement of human sciences.

 Dr. Kate Mielitz human development and family science assistant professor, was named the Mary Ellen Edmondson Educator of the Year by the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education, honoring her exceptional service through teaching, outreach and mentoring.

 Dr. Kalianne Neumann, assistant professor of learning, design and technologyy, received the 2021 Oklahoma Online Excellence Award in Teaching from the Oklahoma Council for Online Learning Excellence, recognizing excellence in online learning environment design, collaboration with online educators and leadership.

 Dr. Julie Koch, head of the School of Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psychology, was elected as an American Psychological Association fellow, an honor recognizing significant impact in psychology at the national level.

 Dr. Jyotsana Sharma, assistant professor of counseling and counseling psychology, was the co-recipient of the 2021 American Counseling Association Research Award for her original research related to Medicare advocacy for aging adults.

 Dr. Jay Dawes, associate professor of applied exercise science, was named 2021 Tactical Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year by the National Strength and Conditioning Association for his contributions to the field, including co-directing the OSU Tactical Fitness and Nutrition Lab.

In August, Oklahoma State University announced the creation of a new institute aimed at supporting aerospace industry growth in Oklahoma and beyond. The Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE) will bring the state’s aerospace innovation economy together under one umbrella. Objectives include supporting partnerships between university, commercial, military and government agencies; generating high-tech jobs and cuttingedge research that brings commercial enterprise and military sustainment to support the state; and building the Oklahoma aerospace workforce pipeline and promoting community involvement through K-12 outreach programs focused on STEM connections.