Arts & Sciences announces spring award winners
The College of Arts and Sciences at Mississippi State recently recognized eight faculty members with awards at a ceremony honoring their research and scholarly commitments to the university.
The College of Arts and Sciences presented the faculty awards in conjunction with the March 27 spring faculty meeting at the Hotel Chester.
The annual research awards are given to faculty who contribute significantly to MSU’s mission of research and increase awareness of the university’s research programs and capabilities.
Faculty receiving research awards include:
Rachel Allison (l-r), Adam Skarke and Bonnie O’Neill
─ Rachel Allison, an assistant professor in the sociology department. Allison received a research award for the social and behavioral sciences. Her research focuses on gender and intersectionality across societal institutions.
─ Adam Skarke, an assistant professor in the geosciences department. Skarke received a research award in the natural and physical sciences and mathematics and statistics. His research focuses on marine geology and geophysics, helping place MSU at the forefront of the Gulf of Mexico research and marine exploration initiatives.
─ Bonnie O’Neill, an assistant professor in the English department. O’Neill received a research award in the humanities. She is a nationally recognized scholar of nineteenth-century American literature and culture.
The annual teaching awards recognize faculty for outstanding teaching service. Professors receiving teaching awards include:
Andrew Mercer, (l-r) Brian Davisson and Kenya M. Cistrunk
─ Andrew Mercer, an assistant professor in the geosciences department. Mercer received the teaching award in natural and physical science and mathematics and statistics. He is a meteorologist/climatologist whose primary areas of research focus include statistical and artificial intelligence (AI) applications to large-scale meteorological and climatological problems.
─ Brian Davisson, an assistant professor in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures. Davisson received the teaching award for the humanities. His research focuses on Spanish and Central American literature from the 19th and 20th centuries, specifically on space theory, nationalism, exile, modernism and the avant-garde, and travel writing.
─ Kenya M. Cistrunk, an assistant professor in the sociology department. Cistrunk received the teaching award for the social and behavioral sciences. Her research focuses on service provisions for marginalized and/or oppressed populations, faith-based organizations and community organizing and planning.
Created in 2014 in honor of Robert E. Wolverton, a professor of classics at MSU for nearly four decades, his legacy award recognizes faculty who have made long-term contributions to the College of Arts and Sciences and have advocated the ideals of liberal arts education.
Professors receiving the 2018 Robert E. Wolverton Legacy Award include:
Robert E. Wolverton (l-r) Frances McDavid and Charles U. Pittman, Jr.
─ Frances McDavid, a communication department instructor for 30 years. McDavid serves as the coordinator for the journalism concentration, works with her department’s scholarship program and has served as the adviser to The Reflector for 20 years. She has received national recognition for her work with students in academic and pre-career planning. She intends to retire at the end of this academic year.
─ Charles U. Pittman, Jr., professor emeritus in the chemistry department. Pittman’s MSU career, spanning nearly four decades, has included his work as the research director of the University/Industry Chemical Research Center. With over 750 published research papers, he also spent 10 years as editor of the Journal of Molecular Catalysis. He is a contributing editor to numerous prolific scientific publications.
MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences includes more than 5,200 students, 300 full-time faculty members, nine doctoral programs and 25 academic majors offered in 14 departments. Complete details about the College of Arts and Sciences may be found at www.cas.msstate.edu.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.
Sarah Nicholas | College of Arts & Sciences
