Fall Faculty Recognition Reception: A Celebration to Remember

On Wednesday, October 28, Arts and Humanities held its annual Fall Faculty Recognition Reception, in the Blackwell Inn ballrooms. Over 250 faculty and friends gathered to celebrate the year's work in research and performance, to welcome new faculty, and to applaud the winners of our major awards. Over 100 books were displayed on a table the length of the hall, and many programs demonstrated their work, including the Computer and Composition Digital Press, Literacy Studies, and the Center for Folklore Studies.

President E. Gordon Gee and Executive Dean Joseph Steinmetz opened the proceedings, after which Interim Dean John Roberts introduced our 17 new faculty members from 12 different departments. The inaugural class of Arts & Humanities Distinguished Professors was introduced, an award that celebrates the highest level of academic achievement; the six winners were: Frederick Aldama (English), Charles Atkinson (Music), Lesley Ferris (Theatre), Ann Hamilton (Art), Susan Hartmann (History), and Beryl Miller (Dance). Awards were presented to the Program for Arts and Humanities Development, led by Valerie Lee, Maurice Stevens, Ana Del Sarto, Mytheli Sreenivas, Michael Mercil, Leslie Alexander, and Tiffani Clyburn, for Diversity Enhancement; to Lisa Florman in History of Art (in absentia), for the Virginia Hull Research Award to support the research of female assistant and associate professors; to Robin Judd in History, for the Rodica C. Botoman Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching and Mentoring; and to Jared Gardner in English, for the Paul W. Brown Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching in English and History. In a surprise announcement at the close of the program, Kenneth Andrien in History was the named this year's winner of the Exemplary Faculty Award. Music was provided by the OSU Alumni Quartet, led by Mako McEldowney. A booklet listing the awards, exhibitions, books, journals, compositions, performances, and recordings given and received by our faculty over the last year served as a permanent record of an extraordinary year of faculty achievement.