The 2025 Buchtel College Awards for Outstanding Achievement were presented in nine categories, including new annual awards for Online Teaching and Faculty Mentor. Also new this year, nominations were open to BCAS students for Teaching, Adjunct Teaching, Online Teaching and Faculty Mentor. More than 125 faculty and staff were together in the Goodrich Lobby at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall on May 1, 2025, for the annual Buchtel College Spring Meeting and Awards Luncheon.
Dr. Mitchell S. McKinney, dean of the college, welcomed everyone, saying, “Our college continues to take great pride in its exceptional community of learners, and it’s our dedicated faculty and staff who make that possible. Today, we celebrate and express our gratitude to our outstanding colleagues, whose remarkable contributions have once again made a lasting difference.”
Buchtel College Awards
The Buchtel College Award for Outstanding Achievement were presented by McKinney in nine categories to the following recipients.
Dr. Lauren Rudzinskas
Dr. Nathan Blackerby
Dr. Rich Einsporn
- Outstanding Achievement in Adjunct Teaching - Dr. Lauren Rudzinskas, senior lecturer of trombone, School of Music (student vote)
- Outstanding Achievement in Adjunct Teaching - Dr. Nathan Blackerby, senior lecturer, Dept. of Philosophy (faculty vote)
- Outstanding Achievement in Teaching - Dr. Rich Einsporn, professor, Dept. of Statistics (faculty and student vote)
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Dr. Dani Jauk-Ajamie
Dr. Phil Allen
Dr. Rhiannon Kallis
- Outstanding Achievement in Online Teaching - Dr. Dani Jauk-Ajamie, assistant professor, Dept. of Sociology (student vote)
- Outstanding Achievement in Research & Creative Activity - Dr. Phil Allen, professor, Dept. of Psychology
- Outstanding Achievement in Early Research & Creative Activity - Dr. Rhiannon Kallis, assistant professor, School of Communication
Dr. Dimitria Gatzia
Dr. Mary Triece
Donray Bennett
- Outstanding Achievement in Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging - Dr. Dimitria Gatzia, professor, Dept. of Philosophy
- Outstanding Achievement in Professional Service & Community Engagement - Dr. Mary Triece, professor, School of Communication
- Outstanding Staff Achievement Award - Donray Bennett, Director, Strategic Engagement & Recruitment, Dean's Office
Dr. Karl Kaltenthaler
Dr. Margo Gregor
Gary Bishop
- Outstanding Achievement in Faculty Mentorship - Dr. Karl Kaltenthaler, professor, Dept. of Political Science (student vote)
- Outstanding Achievement in Faculty Mentorship - Dr. Margo Gregor, associate professor, Dept. of Psychology (faculty vote)
- Outstanding Staff Achievement Award - Gary Bishop, Director, Operations & Technology, Dean's Office
PJ Hargraves
The "Johnny" Awards
John Morrison
- Outstanding Staff Achievement Award - PJ Hargraves, 3D Technician and Ceramics Area Coordinator, Myers School of Art
- Outstanding Staff Achievement Award - John Morrison, Digital Technology and Fabrication Technician, Myers School of Art
Dean’s Leadership Awards
Dr. Rebecca Erickson
Dr. Bill Lyons
Janice Troutman
McKinney presented Dr. Rebecca Erickson, chair and professor for the departments of Sociology and Anthropology, with the Dean’s Leadership Award, an honor selected by the dean for excellence across teaching and service.
McKinney also recognized and thanked Dr. Bill Lyons, associate dean for faculty support, for his years of service and dedicated guidance in mentoring, training, and supporting faculty across the College.
Janice Troutman, director of the Myers School of Art, was recognized for her inspired leadership and tireless effort to advocate for her students and faculty.
McKinney thanked Dr. Jutta Luettmer-Strathmann, professor and chair, in recognition of her tireless advocacy for the Department of Physics, her unwavering support of her faculty, and her efforts to raise awareness of the discipline during a time of significant transition.
2025 Nominees
Congratulations to Phil Allen, Brian Bagatto, Nicole Baker, John Beltz, Donray Bennett, Susie Benson, Dawn Bishop, Gary Bishop, Nathan Blackerby, Mark Brunty, Kate Budd, Sophia Calderwood, Meera Chatterjee, Patricia Connelly, Juan Contreras, Lauren Conway, Sujay Datta, William Donovan, Joel Duff, Rich Einsporn, Blair Everett, Kevin Feldt, Mark Fridline, Dimitria Gatzia, David Giffels, Stan Golovin, Evi Gorogianni, Michael F. Graham, Margo Gregor, Melissa Haag, PJ Hargraves, Steven Harp, Gary Holliday, Caleb Holyoke, Martha Hom, John Huss, Dani Jauk, Rhiannon Kallis, Karl Kaltenthaler, Scott Keister, Kevin Kraut, Laurie Lashbrook, Richard Londraville, Philip Marcin, Timothy Matney, James McHugh, Andrea Meluch, Gene Milford, Randy Mitchell, Marlene Moses, Brittyn Murdock, Hillary Nunn, Rachel Olson, Insun Park, Elena Popa, Robin Prichard, Tom Quick, Lauren Rudzinskas, Rachel Ruic, Christine Russell, Christine Schneider, Sarah St. George, Andrea Snell, Abby Stark, Mary Triece, I-Chun Tsai, Jing Turner, Arnie Tunstall, Scotland Uhl, McKenna Vietmeier, Bill Visco, Frank Ward, John David Warrick, Steve Weeks, Lia Wiley, and Abbi Woodward.
- Story by: Lisa Craig, BCAS Marketing, lmc91@uakron.edu.
- Photos by: Jakob Lawrence