Academic Affairs Office of the Provost
1201 S. State Street
Timme Center, CSS 310
Big Rapids, MI 49307
(231) 591-2300
[email protected]
The Academic Scholar Award recognizes a member of the academic community who has demonstrated excellence in research, inquiry and/or scholarship. Ferris State University embraces a broad definition of scholarship that include emphasis on discovery, integration, application, and/or teaching.
Awardees
2025 - Dana Holcomb
2023 - Minji Sohn
2020 - Kali M. VanLangen
2019 - David R. Bright
2018 - Christopher Redker
2017 - Christian Peterson
2016 - Nancy Hogan
2015 - Michael Klepser
2014 - Adnan Dakkuri
2013 - Robert Quist
2012 - Kim Colvert
The Adjunct Teaching Excellence Award recipient is recognized by colleagues and students for demonstrated excellence in teaching.
Awardees
2025 - Nichole Ivanov
2022- Cindy Fitzwilliams-Heck
2020 - Jordan C. Horan
2019 - Blair Entenmann
2018 - Sarah Rescoe
2017 - Karyn Kiio
2016 - Christian Peterson
2015 - Mary Bacon
The Distinguished Service Award is conferred upon a faculty member who has served the community through activities such as leadership in departmental college and/or university committees; participation in activities that contribute to the well-being of the institution; leadership in local, regional, state, national or international professional organizations; and mentoring colleagues and students.
Awardees
2025 - Dave McCall
2022 - Nick Kuiper
2021 - SARS-CoV-2 Testing Task Force
- Jim Bachmeier
- Lindsay Barber
- Steve Durst
- Mark Eichenberg
- Bobby Fleischman
- Lincoln Gibbs
- Deanna Goldthwait
- Stephen Halko
- Gheretta Harris
- Anne Hawkinsbadge
- Emmanuel Jadhav
- Leonard Johnson
- Mike Klepser
- Mike McKay
- Jeremy Mishler
- Sky Pike
- Joy Pulsifer
- Michelle Rasmussen
- Michael Reger
- Minji Sohn
- Jeanine Ward-Roof
2020 - Suzanne Eberle
2019 - Sarah Hinkley
2018 - Jennifer Johnson
2017 - Olukemi Fadayomi
2016 - Khagendra Thapa
2015 - Matt Wagenheim
2013 - Brad McCormick
2012 - John Schmidt
2011 - Sandra Burns
2009 - Bob Krueger
2007 - Adnan Dakkuri
2006 - Doug Haneline
The Distinguished Teacher Award recognizes Ferris State University faculty for their dedication to and excellence in teaching.
Awardees
2025 - Deirdre Fagan
2022- Eric Warner
2021 - Patrick Bishop
2020 - Lori A. Faulkner
2019 - Tracy N. Busch
2018 - Deborah Rockman
2017 - John Scott Gray
2016 - Sharon Colley
2014 - Jennifer Johnson and Gary Huey
2013 - Avesh Raghunandan
2012 - Clifton Franklund
2011 - Greg Gogolin
2010 - Richard Goosen
2009 - Daniel Adsmond
2008 - Khagendra Thapa
2007 - Mary Murnik
2006 - Pasquale Di Raddo
2005 - Robert McCullough and Fred Heck
2004 - David Pilgrim
2003 - Phillip Middleton, David Hanna, and David Aiken
2002 - Sheila MacEachron
2001 - J. Randall Groves and Abdollah Ferdowsi
2000 - Richard J. Pisacreta and Daniel Noren
1999 - James (Ted) Walker and Maryanne Heidemann
1998 - Mitchell LeClaire and Walt Hoeksema
1997 - J. Randall Vance
1996 - Caroline Stern and Michael Keating
1995 - Judy Schottle and Maude Bigford
1994 - Edward Stuart and Fred Lovgren
1993 - Terry Nerbonne and Douglas Fonner
1992 - John H. Landis and Bruce L. Beetley
1991 - Gary C. Horn and Roxanne M. Cullen
1990 - Marilyn Keigley and Christine Towner
1989 - Mark A. Curtis and James D. Maas
1988 - Robert C. Ferguson and Garth S. McHattie
1987 - Michael C. Cooper and Rose Ann Swartz
1986 - Ada Lou Carson
1985 - Julia H. Bonkowski and James P. Lehnert
1984 - Robert E. Friar and Newell H. Johnson
1983 - Herbert L. Carson
1982 - Michael D. Ells and Neill H. Nutter
1981 - Richard A. Santer
1980 - Sidney P. Sytsma
1979 - Joseph J. Mitala
1978 - Richard L. Shaw
1977 - Max T. Yeley
1976 - Barbara L. Sengelaub
1975 - Everett J. Nienhouse
1974 - Roger F. Kennedy
1973 - Richard D. Hunter
1972 - George N. Holcomb
1971 - Kenneth O. McManis
1970 - Robert K. Harry
1969 - Frank J. Karas
1968 - Karlis Kazerovskis
1967 - Garnet E. Zimmerman
1966 - George H. Wells
1965 - Marguerite W. Jeserich
1964 - June B. Carr
1963 - Ralph E. Pattullo
The Diversity Enhancement Award is conferred upon a faculty or staff member who has demonstrated a significant commitment to enhancing diversity and harmonious relationships at Ferris State University.
Awardees
2020 - Anuli U. Njoku
2019 - Lisa vonReichbauer
2018 - Olukemi Fadayomi
2017 - Mary Murnik
2016 - Adnan Dakkuri
2015 - Piram Prakasam
2014 - Anthony Baker
2013 - Michael Wade
2012 - Michael Berghoef
2011 - Nathaniel Tymes
2009 - Clayton Rye
2007 - John Thorp
2006 - David Pilgrim
Formerly the Excellence in Course Assessment Award, beginning in 2020 the Excellence in Assessment Award now recognizes individuals or teams that have demonstrated excellence in the use of assessment data to improve student learning, retention, the learning environment, and/or a culture of continuous improvement. All members of the University community are eligible for this award.
Awardees
2025 - Greg Wellman, Julie Emelander, Kali VanLangen, Lisa Meny, Lisa Salvati, and Minji Sohn
2020 - Kathryn Wolfer
2020 - 2019-2020 Michigan College of Optometry Assessment Committee Members: Alison Jenerou, Lillian Kalaczinski, Amy Dinardo, and Sarah Hinkley
2018 - Kali VanLangen
2017 - Donna Green (Individual Award)
2016 - Clifton Franklund (Individual Award)
2016 - Kathleen Bearden, Gary Maixner, Kristy Motz (Team Award)
2015 - Sarah Hinkley (Individual Award)
2015 - Mari Kermit-Canfield, Stacy Anderson, and Kristy Motz (Team Award)
2011 - Maureen Heaphy for MMBA 625 (Individual Award)
2011 - Tracy Kerr and Colleen Partigianoni for CHEM 121 (Team Award)
The International Educator Award recognizes an individual who has exemplified a high level of involvement in international activities including:
Student-oriented activities such as organizing and leading study abroad programs,
arranging and monitoring international internships, advising student organizations,
and hosting international students
Curricular activities such as offering international/intercultural courses that add
to those typically taught in one's discipline as well as developing programs that
move beyond one's disciplinary boundaries
Scholarly activities such as research and grants, paper presentations and publications,
sabbaticals, Fulbright and other international exchanges
Other activities such as organizing special events including festivals and conferences,
arranging for speakers and visiting lecturers, serving on related University committees,
and presenting workshops to other educators, community groups and organizations
Awardees
2023 - Lori Faulkner
2022 - Piram Prakasam
2021 - Christian Peterson
2020 - Lianne Briggs
2019 - Tracy N. Busch2018 - Christine Vonder Haar
2017 - Ana Dávila
2016 - Michael Berghoef
2015 - Greg Gogolin
2011 - Caroline Stern
2010 - Maryanne Heidemann
2009 - Phillip Watson
2008 - John Jablonski
2007 - Phillip Middleton
2006 - John Caserta
2005 - Adnan Dakkuri
2004 - Sandra Alspach
2003 - Daniel Noren
2002 - James (Ted) Walker
2001 - J. Penny Wheeler
2000 - Dr. Manuel Puerta
The Outstanding Academic Advisor Award recognizes an academic advisor who has demonstrated excellence in such areas as providing superior service to students and/or developing innovative advising strategies and tools.
Awardees
2025 - Emily Maloy
2020 - Dave Schrock
2019 - Austin Freshour
2018 - Dawn Schavey
2017 - Laura Dix
2016 - Nick Kuiper
2015 - Joseph Wist
2014 - Susan McNamara
2013 - Lori Armstrong
2012 - Christine Vonder Haar
2011 - Marcy Parry
2010 - Linda Kuk
Archived Academic Awards
The Academic Excellence Award was awarded for the final time in 2007. This award recognizes a member of the academic community who has demonstrated excellence in such areas as the development of innovative teaching and learning strategies, professional service or research, and service to students.
Awardees
2007 - Yaron Felus
2006 - Andrew Kantar
2005 - James Paramore (Emeritus) and Phillip Watson
2004 - J. Randall Vance
2003 - Robert Burtch
2002 - Abdollah Ferdowsi
2001 - Sandra Alspach
2000 - David Pilgrim, Maryanne Heidemann and Adnan Dakkuri
The Exemplary Online Course Award recognizes Ferris faculty who have successfully pioneered online courses in their discipline during a time period in which online courses offered a relatively new method of instruction.
Awardees
2007 - Clifton Franklund, Kimn Carlton-Smith, Greg Wellman
2006 - Kimn Carlton-Smith, Thomas Jorsch, Warren Klope
This award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the academic and/or personal lives of first-year students. This award is open to faculty and staff in all areas of the University.
Awardees
2019 - Sarah Rescoe
2018 - Anne Spain
2017 - Brooke Moore
2015 - Charles Malone
2014 - Shelly VandePanne
2013 - Joanne Robertson
2011 - Kent Sun
2010 - Lori Armstrong
2009 - Susan McNamara
2008 - Paul Jackson
2007 - Sharon Bell
2006 - Richard Griffin
This award recognizes a faculty or staff member who has demonstrated exemplary commitment and contributions to the political knowledge, skills, and motivation of members of the FSU community.
Awardees
2018 - Kristi L. Scholten