Wright State University honors staff and faculty for excellence

Wright State University will recognize select staff and faculty members for their vital contributions to the university with the 2025 President’s Awards for Excellence.

Recipients will be honored during the Faculty and Staff President’s Awards for Excellence ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 3 p.m. in the Student Union Apollo Room.

The 2025 Service Awards recipients will also be honored during the ceremony.

The Staff President’s Awards for Excellence honor staff members for exemplary performance in the areas of human relations, leadership, service, performance and innovation. The outstanding campus unit and a group of units that collaborate on a significant project or initiative will also be recognized.

The Faculty President’s Awards for Excellence recognize select faculty members for their outstanding work in the areas of teaching, research, professional service and community engagement.

Below are the recipients of the 2025 Faculty and Staff President’s Awards of Excellence.

Staff Recipients:

Excellence in Human Relations
Amanda Brewer, assistant director of the School of Fine and Performing Arts
College of Liberal Arts

Excellence in Leadership
Bethany DeLong, associate director of enrollment and retention
College of Health, Education and Human Services

Excellence in Service
Kathy Warden, manager of university space and special projects

Outstanding Performance
Elizabeth Robbins, accountant
Fiscal Services

Outstanding Unit
College of Health, Education and Human Services Enrollment and Retention Team

Outstanding Collaborative Unit
Office of Partnerships and Field Experiences
College of Health, Education and Human Services

Spirit Of Innovation
Kim Schneider and Sarah Umbdenstock, social media coordinators
Office of University Communications and Marketing

Spirit of WSU
Alex Sogard, head baseball coach
Intercollegiate Athletics

Student Success Champion
Rachelle Dancy, assistant director of transfer admission and success
Transfer Center

Faculty Recipients:

Trustees’ Award for Faculty Excellence
Yvonne Vadeboncoeur, Ph.D., professor of biological sciences
College of Science and Mathematics

Brage Golding Distinguished Professor of Research
Valerie Shalin, Ph.D., professor of psychology
College of Science and Mathematics

Frederick A. White Distinguished Professor of Professional Service
Volker Bahn, Ph.D., associate professor of biological sciences
College of Science and Mathematics

Robert J. Kegerreis Distinguished Professor of Teaching
Ramzi Nahhas, Ph.D., professor of population and public health sciences
Boonshoft School of Medicine

Presidential Award for Outstanding NTE Faculty: Service
Dave Herick, instructor of teacher education
College of Health, Education and Human Services

Presidential Award for Outstanding NTE Faculty: Teaching
Ajani Ross, Ph.D., lecturer of physics
College of Science and Mathematics

Presidential Award for Faculty Excellence in Community Engagement
Don Cipollini, Ph.D., professor of biological sciences
College of Science and Mathematics