Ferris State University Faculty and Staff Highlighted for Achievement at Annual Awards Ceremony

Ferris State University highlighted high-achieving faculty and staff at the 2023 Distinguished Faculty, Staff and Team Awards Ceremony on Monday, April 24, in the David L. Eisler Center on the Big Rapids campus.

President Bill Pink and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Bobby Fleischman presented six faculty members with individual awards. Pink and Jennifer Stevens teamed up to salute recipients of the Distinguished Staff Award and the Distinguished Team Award before the president and Jennifer Yontz-Barger revealed the Helen Gillespie Ferris Award winner.

“When you can say you have people performing their duties at the ‘distinguished’ level, it says a lot about the people and teams being honored by our faculty and staff,” Pink said. “Distinction of this nature should never be taken lightly, and we don’t take it lightly. We know this is a big deal, and we’re pleased to have had the opportunity to honor these distinguished individuals and teams at a ceremony. These individuals set a great example for us.”

Listed below are the winners of the 2022-23 academic awards:

• The Distinguished Teacher Award winner is Joshua Pardon, a professor in Television and Digital Media Production from the School of Digital Media in the College of Business.
• The Academic Scholar Award winner is Minji Sohn, an associate professor in the College of Pharmacy.
• The Distinguished Service Award winner is Christian Peterson, an adjunct College of Arts, Sciences and Education instructor.
• The International Educator Award winner is Lori Faulkner, an associate professor at Kendall College of Art and Design.
• The Outstanding Academic Advisor Award winner is Kirk Weller, academic department head in the College of Arts, Sciences and Education.
• The Adjunct Teaching Excellence Award winner is Lauren Cavner Williams, from the College of Arts, Sciences and Education.

“Teaching, scholarship, service, advising: these endeavors are at the heart of every faculty member on this campus,” Fleischman said. “Once a year, our faculty come together to select from their ranks individuals who embody this work and serve as an example for their colleagues.”

Pink and Stevens presented five employees with Distinguished Staff Awards. Honorees excel in their areas with a positive attitude and or enthusiasm for Ferris, excellence in duty performance, an interest in students, cooperation with staff and participation in the university community while serving others.

The 2022-23 honorees are:

• Kyle Austin, content coordinator for KCAD
• Ashley Hawley, secretary in Educational Counseling and Disabilities Services
• Mary Kolenda, coordinator for academic records at KCAD
• Susan Roberts, administrative secretary to the dean in the College of Business

The 2022-23 recipient of the Distinguished Team Award was the Web Services Team, led by director Eric Hazen, who accepted the award on behalf of the team. In addition to Hazen, team members include Cassidy Cobb, Dale Hobart and Paul Hobart.

Tara McCrackin, president of KCAD and Ferris VP, received the 2022-23 Helen Gillespie Ferris Distinguished Woman Leader Award. The award highlights the recipient’s work done on behalf of women in higher education that extends beyond the normal scope of the winner’s formal responsibilities.

“I am proud and grateful for the recognition of the work we do at KCAD,” McCrackin said. “These well-earned awards are a testament to the dedication, hard work, and talent of our faculty and staff, and I look forward to continuing our work together to inspire and support the next generation of creative leaders.”