KU Kudos: Jayhawk faculty and staff achievements, summer 2023
LAWRENCE — It's time to celebrate Jayhawk colleagues' achievements: KU News Service accepted submissions and combed websites, social media and newsletters for recent external honors and awards for current faculty and staff at the Lawrence, Edwards and Medical Center campuses and affiliates. Have something to share? Submit by Aug. 11 for the next edition. Self-nominations are encouraged, with more information available here.
Abiodun Akinwuntan, professor and dean of the School of Health Professions, has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Mentor Award by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.
Kamran Ali, clinical professor and program director of radiology, was selected to serve a six-year term on the Radiology Review Committee with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The RRC oversees the accreditation of all diagnostic radiology residency programs and ACGME-accredited subspecialty training programs and fellowships in areas for diagnostic radiology.
Jordan Atkinson, associate professor of the practice and director of the organizational communication graduate programs at KU Edwards, was named vice president elect-select of the Eastern Communication Association.
Heather Getha-Taylor, professor of public affairs & administration, received the American Society for Public Administration Jonathan P. West Outstanding Scholar Award from the Section on Personnel Administration and Labor Relations. The award recognizes a scholar who has made substantial contributions to the academic literature in the field of public personnel administration.
Angie Hendershot, professor of the practice in the William Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications, presented at the Midwest Sociological Society’s annual conference in Minneapolis with KU colleague Kevin McCannon, assistant teaching professor in sociology, on “Straddling Class Divides: Exploring First-Generation Non-Tenure Track Faculty Sense of Belonging and Mental Health.”
Roy Jensen, director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, was named the 2023 Johnson Countian of the Year by the Johnson County Community College Foundation. Jensen will be recognized at the foundation’s annual fundraising gala Nov. 11.
Steven Johnson Jr., Hira Hamirani and Morgan States, all from the School of Business, presented a session titled "Engaging Student Voice and Perspectives in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Initiatives" at the National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in Higher Education in New Orleans. NCORE provides a significant forum for discussion and critical dialogue about race, ethnicity, and its intersections in higher education.
Office of the Dean staff members Christi Jones and Tiffany Pollard, both with KU Medical Center, received certification in project management and meeting/event planning, respectively, from the International Association of Administrative Professionals. Both were also selected to receive scholarships from the association to attend their annual summit in Orlando, Florida. Additionally, Pollard was appointed director of its Kansas City Metro branch.
Laura Kirk, associate teaching professor of film & media studies, is a finalist in the 2023 ScreenCraft True Story & Public Domain Competition. Kirk's entry, "Tipping the Scales," was one of 24 selected among more than 900 entries. Winners will be announced July 19.
Colleen Loo-Gross, assistant professor of family & community medicine, was named one of the June 2023 Excellence in Health Care honorees by the Wichita Business Journal.
Briana McGeough, assistant professor of social work, and colleagues received the 2022 Best Practice Note in the journal Families in Society for their article "Integrating SMART Recovery and Mental Health Services to Meet the Needs and Goals of LGBTQ Individuals Experiencing Substance Use-Related Problems."
Garold Minns, dean of KU School of Medicine-Wichita, was awarded the Citation of Merit from McPherson College. The Citation of Merit is McPherson College's highest award recognizing lifetime accomplishments in service.
Andrew Porter, clinical assistant professor and sports medicine program director, was named by Becker's, a national hospital business news magazine, as one of 10 sports medicine leaders who have made a positive impact on their organizations and have their sights set on future growth.
Robert Rowland, professor of communication studies, presented the keynote address at the 10th Conference of the International Society for the Study of Argumentation at Leiden University in the Netherlands earlier this month. The society also presented Rowland with the 2021 ISSA Distinguished Research Award, a prize awarded to scholars who have made a substantial contribution to the study of argumentation.
Rekha Sharma-Crawford, adjunct professor at the KU School of Law, was elected secretary of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Sean Swindler was chosen by The Autism Society as the Buck O’ Neil Legacy Seat Honoree for Kauffman Stadium’s Autism Night at the K on April 17. Swindler is director of community program development and evaluation for the Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training and is a project manager for the KU Center on Developmental Disabilities.
James Yékú, assistant professor of African & African-American studies, received a residential fellowship in Bochum, Germany, at the Center for Advanced Internet Studies.
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Dylan Bassett, lecturer of percussion at the University of Kansas School of Music, has received a Fulbright Specialist Award to travel to Brazil, where he will compose works, perform, direct a musical group and teach.
Jim Bever, Foundation Distinguished Professor of ecology & evolutionary biology and senior scientist at the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research, was one of seven scientists across the U.S. named a fellow of the Ecological Society of America.
Evan Franseen, professor of geology and senior scientific fellow at the Kansas Geological Survey, is the recipient of the 2023 Honorary Membership Award from SEPM, the Society for Sedimentary Geology, for excellence in professional achievement and service to the society.
Angie Loving, assistant vice provost of strategic planning, talent, total rewards & operations, has been accepted into the inaugural Chief Human Resource Officer Academy offered by the American Research Universities Human Resource Institute.
Robert Rohrschneider, Sir Robert Worcester Distinguished Professor of political science, received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to travel to Austria to conduct research on European illiberal parties.
Jacob Sosnoff, associate dean for research, and LesLee Taylor, vice chair of the Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science & Athletic Training, have been selected for a prestigious leadership program by the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions.
Gov. Laura Kelly recognized two KU Medical Center-Wichita faculty during a ceremony March 30 in Topeka. Donna Sweet, professor of internal medicine, was honored for 40 years at KU Medical Center and for dedicated service with the state of Kansas. Kelly presented Sweet with a certificate of achievement. Kelly also recognized K. James Kallail, associate dean for research and professor of internal medicine.
Daniel Tapia Takaki, associate professor of physics & astronomy, was appointed to serve on the Nuclear Science Advisory Committee earlier this year. The appointment carries the responsibility to provide official advice to the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation on the nuclear science program and initiatives, including nuclear data.
James Thorp, professor of ecology & evolutionary biology and senior scientist with the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research, was named a fellow by the Society for Freshwater Science. According to the society, the recipients' work has advanced freshwater science and led to policies and actions "that have improved environmental conditions and justice across the globe."