Provost Remarks
Esteemed Visitors,
Welcome to Franklin University’s Faculty Awards and Recognition website, a virtual space where we proudly celebrate the extraordinary dedication and outstanding contributions of our faculty and staff members. It is with great pleasure that we extend our heartfelt appreciation to the recipients of awards featured on this platform and to all visitors eager to explore the exceptional achievements of our faculty and staff across various categories of recognition.
At the heart of Franklin University beats a profound connection between students in the role of learners and faculty who play a pivotal role in shaping the future of learners’ abilities. With an unwavering commitment to teaching, mentoring, research, and service, our faculty members consistently go above and beyond expectations, creating an atmosphere conducive to intellectual, personal, and professional growth.
This website is a testament to the remarkable efforts of our faculty, showcasing their outstanding achievements in the classroom and beyond. As you navigate these pages, you will discover a rich tapestry of academic excellence, disciplinary relevance, and instructional prowess. Each story told here reflects the dedication and passion that characterize our university's four cornerstones.
To our distinguished faculty, we extend our deepest gratitude for your relentless pursuit of excellence. Your contributions form the foundation of our academic community, and we are privileged to highlight your accomplishments on this website.
To our visitors, we invite you to explore the stories of these exceptional individuals who embody the spirit of our institution. Whether you are a current member of our academic community, a prospective student, or a curious mind interested in the world of academia, we hope you find inspiration in the narratives of our faculty's success.
Thank you for joining us on this journey of recognition and celebration. Together, we continue to foster a community where excellence thrives and the pursuit of knowledge knows no bounds.
Warm regards,
Christopher Washington, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Awards and Recognition
Academic Leadership Fellow
The Academic Leadership Fellows program was born from 2021 Faculty Survey. The purpose of the Fellows program is to provides opportunities for faculty to leverage their capabilities to influence approaches to academic transformation and contribute their strengths to addressing organizational challenges and pursuing new opportunities. The Fellows program is also designed to develop participants leadership skills related to conceptualize and implement operational improvements and/or academic innovation.
- Dr. Brenda Jones, Ph.D. Assistant Dean, Instruction & Department Chair, Communications and Behavioral & Natural Sciences
- Dr. Bora Pajo, Ph.D. Lead Faculty, Qualitative Methods & Design
- Dr. Rachel Althof,Ed.D. Program Chair, Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership
- Dr. JoAnn Jordan, PhD, MPH, CHES, RHIA Program Chair, Health Information Management, Health Education and Promotion, and MS Health Informatics
- Dr. Martina Peng, PhD, CFP, MBA Department Chair, Accounting, Financial & Risk Management, and Program Chair, Financial Planning and Financial Management
- Dr. Todd Whittaker,Ph.D. Department Chair, Computing Sciences & Mathematics, and Program Chair, Cybersecurity & MS
Robert L. Bailey Teaching Award
The Robert L. Bailey Teaching Excellence Award is an endowed award bestowed upon one undergraduate and one graduate faculty member each trimester. This award recognizes those who have challenged students intellectually and guided them in finding the significance of the course content as it relates to them both personally and professionally. The award was established by State Auto Insurance Companies in recognition of Robert L. Bailey, who served State Auto for 28 years in various positions, including president, CEO, and chairman, until his retirement in 2000. Bailey is also a past chair and a trustee emeritus of Franklin University’s Board of Trustees.
· Spring 23: Alexander Dontre & Ted Jones
· Fall 22: Stephanie Thomas & Jane Robinson
· Summer 22: Elizabeth Betzel & Dr. Chunbo Chu
· Spring 22: Michael Allibritain & Dr. Rachel Koranky-Matson
· Fall 2021: Lauren Thomas & Dr. Nicolette Cutright
· Summer 2021: Linda Roesch & Dr. Bora Pajo
· Spring 2021: Bruce Stapleton & Annette Hoelzer
· Fall 2020: Denise Kestner & Dr. Kristan Jones
· Summer 2020: Rachel Choudhury & Bruce Trumm
· Spring 2020: Jerome Council & Michael Hanson
· Fall 2019: Amy Eaton & Dr. Brenda Jones
· Spring 2019: Robin Clark & Diane Alexander
· Winter 2018: Robert D'Andrea & Krzysztof Koj
· Fall 2018: Annette Hoelzer & David Meckstroth
· Summer 2018: Christopher Long & Roger Kisiel
· Winter 2017: Wendy Neaville & Ted Jones
· Fall 2017: Brian Butcher & Jon Signoracci
· Summer 2017: Christine Seebon & Michael Powers
Center for Teaching Excellence Inclusive Excellence Award
The Inclusive Teaching Excellence Award recognizes faculty for their exceptional commitment to inclusive teaching. Recipients are announced in August and are chosen based on their ability to articulate how their teaching strategies promote inclusion, go beyond standard practices, model care for students' needs, uphold pedagogical excellence, and foster an inclusive learning environment.
Recipient: Dr. Arian Moore
Center for Teaching Excellence Instructional Coach of the Year
The Instructional Coaching Award is given annually to one Franklin-certified instructional coach who exemplifies coaching excellence. Eligible coaches have at least two years of instructional coaching experience and have been in at least three coaching partnerships during the prior Academic Year. This award, announced in August, considers criteria such as strong engagement with coaching recipients, delivering quality feedback and goal setting during teaching observation, adapting to individual coaching recipient needs, and dedicated support for new faculty throughout the coaching process.
Recipient: Professor Wendy Bartkus
Faculty Emeriti
The purpose of this policy is to honor the years of service and contributions of full-time faculty members who are retiring from the University. It reflects a commitment to maintaining the relationship between the University and those qualified faculty members who seek to continue their scholarly or service related involvement with the Franklin University community.
Fulbright Specialist and Scholar
The Fulbright Program is a prestigious international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. It was established in 1946 by Senator J. William Fulbright and is named in his honor. The program aims to promote mutual understanding and cultural exchange between the United States and other countries by offering various grants and scholarships to American and foreign scholars, students, professionals, and artists. Franklin University is proud to have multiple award recipients represented for this award.
Franklin University is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Patrick A. Bennett, vice president of Academic Quality and Planning and dean of the School of Education, as a member of the Fulbright Specialist Roster as of June 2023 through 2026.
Lead Faculty of the Year
The annual recognition is bestowed by the Franklin University Faculty Personnel Committee, under the auspices of the Franklin University Faculty Senate, to honor an outstanding full-time faculty member having lead faculty responsibilities such as course management, adjunct faculty management, and teaching. Honorees are chosen from nominations solicited from full-time and adjunct faculty.
Provost’s List
The Franklin University faculty members positively impacted the lives and careers of thousands of students during a period of major disruption to all of our lives. The purpose of the Provost’s List is to show appreciation to those who exceed our teaching excellence standards based on valued student feedback.
It gives us great pleasure to shine a spotlight on the faculty members who made the Provost List this past Summer Term. These Franklin University faculty members positively impacted the lives and careers of thousands of students during a period of major disruption to all of our lives.
-Miriam Abbott; Mohammad Abdel-Rahman; Mohamad Abu Shattal; George Ackerman; Wendy Adelmann; Ksenafo Akulli; Delilah Alexander; Michael Allbritain; Jacinta Banks; Amy Banta; Julie Barnickle; Harold Bashor; Gail Baumlein; Linsey Berson; Mary Beth Bertrand; Craig Blaine; Alisa Blazek; Tracey Boggs-Walsh; Anthony Bonina; Charles Booker; Alyncia Bowen; Stephen Bressett; Noel Broman; Bryan Bouni; Brian Butcher; Raushan Buzyakova; Barbara Carder; Fred Cathers; Hei Chan; Chunbo Chu; Robin Clark; Susan Cody; Gerald Colter; Peter Conis; Danielle Cordes; Carol Corkern; Diane Corley; Jerome Council; Bari Courts; Ashley Cox; Jennifer Cox; Susan Craver; Richard Curtis; Robert D'Andrea; Cynthia Davidson; Danielle Diagostino; Alisa Disalvo; Alexander Dontre; Keith Earnshaw; Alexander Elbert; Roger Engle; Kelly Evans-Wilson; Acie Forrer; Lee Foster; James Frazier; Diana Frole; Tim Gagliardo; Denise Gaitten; Mary Garman; Lisa Gerardy; Miranda Gerberding; Christina Geter; Jean Gordon; Tracy Greene; Jacqueline Hagerott; Kimberly Hagler; Burton Hancock; Jennifer Harris; David Haskell; Susan Hedrick; David Hertz; James Hicks; Terrance Hinton; Franz Hoffmann; Michael Hollway; Matthew Holtzlander; Amy Hoover; Niccole Hyatt; Ronald Inskeep; Eliot Jackson; James Jatau; Tracy Jefferies; Mindy Johnson; Cecil Jones; Richard Jones; Ted Jones; Sarah Jouganatos; Joseph Kendall-Morwick; David Kerr; Denise Kestner; Roger Kisiel; Kenneth Knox; Bradley Kocher; Kathleen Kollman; Rachel Koransky-Matson; Wai-Cheong Lam; Karen Lankisch; Tonda Lazofson; Lynn Lease; Deena Levering; Christopher Long; James Loughran; Adam Luck; Melissa Lugay; Michael Lydon; Anita Maldonado; Sherry Martindell; Maria Mast; Leslie Mathew; Timothy McCafferty; Mary McEvoy; Robert Meader; David Meckstroth; Barbara Michal; Robert Miller; Richard Minerd; Robert Morris; Tami Moser; Bradford Nelson; Rachel Norton; Marshall Noyes; Christopher O’Daniel; Robert O’Donnell; Bora Pajo; Jisheng Pang; Benjamin Parks; Martina Peng; William Pettibone; Quinn Pham; Zina Pichkar; Katrina Plourde; Teresa Plummer; Bethany Poore; Emerson Posey; Michael Powers; Amanda Pratt; Blake Renner; Angelee Richards; Kathy Richie; Amy Reibel; Lin Roberts; Chester Robinson; Jane Robinson; Linda Roesch; Sally Rogers; Sara Rollo; Melody Rose; Douglas Ross; Susan Rummell; Angela Saathoff; Charles Saunders; Edward Schaffer; Anthony Schreiter; Christine Seebon; Kimberly Shemenske; Emma Shihab; Robert Sievers; Lynn Smelser; Manuele Hokanson Smith; Thomas Smith; Wayne Smith; Richard Stapleton; Stephen Stewart; John Stinnett; Roshawna Stith; Valerie Storey; Randall Strutz; Paul Sweeney; Yuerong Sweetland; Timothy Taylor; Rita Terry; Ravi Thirumalaisamy; Melissa Thomas; Stephanie Thomas; Steven Tincher; Daniel Trevas; Bruce Trumm; Dennise Trzeciak; Michelle Turner; Denielle Vazquez; Roumen Vesselinov; Andrew Volk; Danielle Wall; Robert Walsh; Thomas Walsh; Patrica Weekley; Todd Weidman; Eric Weinstein; David Weirich; Beth Wendt; Stephen Whiteman; Tyler Whitney; Todd Whittaker; Michael Williams; Kris Wilson; Jeff Wolf; Connie Wollenhaupt; Jhera Woodard; Janice Woodruff; Allison Woods; Janey Zachrich
SOCHE Excellence Awards
SOCHE recognizes the importance of acknowledging the outstanding faculty and staff at our member institutions. Academic officers at each university selected one (1) Faculty Excellence Award winner based on their institution’s criteria, with special consideration of demonstrated excellence in teaching, service, and/or scholarship. Similarly, Human Resource officers selected one (1) Staff Excellence Award winner based on their institution’s criteria, with special consideration of demonstrated excellence in student success, service, and/or assessment.
News and Events
For additional awards and recognition information, please visit Franklin University Press Room.
2023 Center for Teaching Excellence Inclusive Teaching Excellence Award
Recipient: Dr. Arian Moore
The Center for Teaching Excellence proudly names Dr. Arian Moore as the recipient of the 2023 Inclusive Teaching Excellence Award. This prestigious accolade honors educators who exemplify unwavering commitment to inclusive teaching practices, creating diverse, equitable, and welcoming classrooms.
The Inclusive Teaching Excellence Award acknowledges educators who:
- Promote classroom inclusion through articulated teaching strategies.
- Surpass conventional classroom practices with inclusive methods.
- Exhibit care and attention to student needs.
- Model sound pedagogical practices.
- Cultivate an inclusive educational environment through strategic approaches.
Key Highlights from the nomination of Dr. Moore:
Personalization: Dr. Moore addresses students by name, spelling their names correctly and utilizing preferred names to foster a sense of belonging.
Multimodal Learning: She provides images and videos to accommodate diverse learning styles, ensuring all students can grasp course material.
Ongoing Support: Weekly emails offer assistance and additional resources, promoting individualized attention and support.
Dr. Moore's teaching strategies transcend online learning challenges, creating a connected and inclusive virtual classroom.
For more information, please contact:
The Center for Teaching Excellence
cetl@ngskmc-eis.net
2023 Center for Teaching Excellence Instructional Coach of the Year
Recipient: Professor Wendy Bartkus
Franklin University is delighted to announce the recipient of the prestigious 2023 Instructional Coach of the Year Award. This annual award recognizes the outstanding efforts and commitment of a Franklin-certified instructional coach who exemplifies coaching excellence and is dedicated to the professional development and success of their coaching recipients.
This year, the esteemed Instructional Coach of the Year title is bestowed upon Professor Wendy Bartkus. Professor Bartkus has been an active and invaluable coach within the Franklin University community for several years. Her unwavering dedication to guiding and supporting new faculty members through their journey at the University has earned her this well-deserved honor.
The Instructional Coaching Award is granted to an instructional coach who demonstrates excellence in several key areas, including:
Strong Engagement with Coaching Recipients: Professor Wendy Bartkus's exceptional commitment to her coaching recipients is evident through her ongoing support, availability, and responsiveness. Faculty members have praised her for her unwavering support and readiness to assist them whenever they have questions or concerns.
Providing Quality Feedback and Goal Setting in Teaching Observation: Professor Bartkus has consistently provided invaluable feedback to her coaching recipients, fostering an environment of growth and improvement. Her dedication to setting clear and achievable goals for teaching observation has made her an exemplary coach.
Adapting to the Needs of Each Coaching Recipient: Professor Bartkus' coaching approach is marked by its flexibility. She tailors her guidance to the unique needs of each individual, ensuring that every faculty member receives personalized support and mentorship.
Stand-Out Effort to Ensure New Faculty are Supported Throughout the Coaching Process: Professor Bartkus goes above and beyond to ensure that new faculty members receive the guidance and mentorship they require to thrive in their roles.
One coaching recipient had this to say about Professor Wendy Bartkus's coaching:
“Wendy was very supportive, and I could reach out to her at any point with any questions that I had about the course. I appreciate the feedback that she gave me. I also love that she's flexible with either weekly meetings or check-in emails. For my experience, we did both depending on my needs for the week.”
Franklin University is proud to showcase Professor Bartkus as a dedicated and exceptional instructional coach.
For more information, please contact:
The Center for Teaching Excellence
cetl@ngskmc-eis.net
2023 SOCHE Excellence Award Winners
Faculty Excellence Award Winner (Nominated by Dr. Kody Kuehnl)
Dr. Todd Whittaker
Chair, Department of Computing Sciences & Mathematics
Dr. Whittaker has exemplified excellence by leading the creation of three new academic programs for the University (BS Analytics, BS Cloud Computing, MS Information Systems), by teaching, facilitating, and ensuring all academic needs of a new international partnership that boasts more than 160 new students on Franklin’s campus are met, and by creating a model and industry partnership that furthers Franklin’s Marketplace while also increasing student value and opportunity via certification and prior learning.
Student Testimonials:
“The way Dr. Whittaker presents the lesson makes me eager to listen to him and to learn more.”
“Dr. Whittaker gives us everything we need to succeed in his courses. He shows a passion and desire to teach and help students learn.”
Campus Impact Award Winner (Nominated by Dr. Kody Kuehnl)
Michael Klingler
Chair, Department of English & Humanities
Professor Klingler epitomizes Franklin’s motto of “being at our best for our students” by ensuring every individual has a positive experience. This was exemplified through his creation and teaching of a course for our international students focused on adapting to the US, and also facilitating a subsequent mentoring program, both of which increased retention, persistence, and student success. In addition, Prof. Klingler served on numerous search committees and supported our CCP and prison-education programs.
Student Testimonials:
“Professor Klingler is amazing, he really engages with his class and pays attention to each student. He is patient and is willing to help any time we ask.”
“Professor Klinger demonstrates what it means to love and care for students, especially Franklin’s international students. He has personally invested his time, energy, and resources to help guide me so that I am on the right path to success at Franklin University.” - Oluwafemi Fasuyi
Staff Excellence Award: Student Success & Services (Nominated by Dr. Lynne Rouzer)
Jessica Leber
Undergraduate Academic Advising Team Lead
Jessica supervises a staff of eight professional advisors in three colleges at Franklin University. She displays extreme professionalism, empathy, and student focus in all her interactions with staff and students. As Empathy is one of her top 5 traits by Strengthsfinder 2.0, Jessica cares faithfully about her students and employees. There are many instances where she has connected with students who are struggling with an illness or tragedy and Jessica has talked them through their rough times. She is regularly and often commended by students as an outstanding advisor and is a key contributor to Franklin University’s multi-year Red Carpet Service Initiative that focuses on student-centered service.
She is an unrelenting advocate for students, serves as a positive role model for her employees, makes a difference in student’s lives, and being one of the founding members of Franklin University Red-Carpet Service Initiative, Jessica performs as a passionate ambassador of Red-Carpet Service.
2022 Community College Alliance Faculty Champions
Franklin University partners with community colleges to maximize credit transfer to our degree programs, which support community college retention rates and graduation outcomes. Several of our faculty serve on community college advisory boards, review community college curriculum to help in the pathway development process, and present to students in community college classes. I join Franklin University’s Bill Chan, Senior Vice President for Strategic Alliances, and Samantha Shear, Executive Director of Community College Alliance in expressing appreciation to the following faculty members for their special efforts to support our Community College Alliance partners.
2022 Franklin University Speakers Bureau
The Franklin University Speakers Bureau is part of the University's ongoing commitment to community involvement and development. Founded in 1972, the Speakers Bureau provides free presentations on contemporary topics of interest for business meetings and other civic gatherings. I want to thank the following faculty members for their service as members of the 2022 Franklin University Speakers Bureau: Rachel Althof - Patrick A. Bennett, Ed.D. MBA, PMP - Alyncia M. Bowen, Ph.D. - Debbie Conner, PhD, MSN, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, FAANP - Kelly Evans-Wilson - Dorothy "Gail" Frankle - Joel L. Gardner, PhD - Brenda J. - Chenelle A. Jones - Bilge Karabacak - Jonathan McCombs, Ph.D. - Mike P. - Kelly B. Renner, Ph.D., LPC - Doug Ross - Tim Reymann, Ph.D. - Wendell Seaborne, PhD - Isidoro Talavera - Constance Wanstreet
Franklin University Provost Selected as a Fulbright Specialist Roster Candidate
For Immediate Release: Feb. 5, 2015
For More Info Contact: Sherry Mercurio, Director of Public Relations
614.9947.6581 or sherry.mercurio@ngskmc-eis.net
Columbus, Ohio –Franklin University, one of the leading educators of working adults, is proud to announce that Dr. Christopher Washington, Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, has been selected for the Fulbright Specialist Program Roster. The program, coordinated by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and the Institute of International Education’s Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES), provides grant opportunities to Fulbright Specialists.
Fulbright Specialists are consultants with expertise in their academic discipline, who collaborate on projects in diverse settings of higher education in a wide range of eligible disciplines and fields. The program promotes relationships between U.S. scholars and professionals and their counterparts at host institutions overseas. The specialist program awards grants for short-term collaborative projects at institutions in over 140 countries. Specialists may be requested to provide academic services, such as short-term lecturing, conducting seminars, teacher training, assessments and evaluations, special conferences or workshops, as well as collaborating on faculty development and curriculum or institutional planning.
Dr. Christopher Washington serves as the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs for Franklin University, a private, nonprofit institution of higher education enabling the broadest possible community of learners to achieve their goals and enrich the world. Working with his cabinet and colleagues, Dr. Washington promotes student success through a variety of instructional approaches, academic resources, and learning support services.
Active in the higher education community, Dr. Washington serves as a Consultant Evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission and on committees for the Ohio Board of Regents. He is actively engaged in the international education community, and facilitates relationships with partnering universities in Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, Macedonia, Oman, Nepal, Guatemala and El Salvador. He currently serves on the Board of the International Visitors Council, an organization that works to build partnerships between American citizens and citizens of other countries, promote democratic ideals, encourage economic development and promote cultural understanding through the exchange of knowledge and ideas. He is the Vice Chair of the Education Committee of the Columbus Council on World Affairs, He serves on the Research Council of the Poznan School of Banking Research Journal and the journal Studies in Management and Finance.
As an advocate for Workforce Development, Dr. Washington presently serves on the Board of the Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation (COWIC), an organization whose mission is to meet the employment needs of business and job seekers to support economic development in Ohio.
“I’m honored to be selected to represent the Unites States and Franklin University in such an altruistic approach to improving education across the globe,” stated Dr. Washington. “I am a strong believer that through the sharing of our individual expertise through programs like the Fulbright Roster, we create a collective knowledge that allows for the improvement of the broadest possible community of learners to succeed.”
To be considered for the Fulbright Specialist Program, the U.S. scholar must possess advanced academic expertise beyond teaching and research. U.S. faculty and professionals applications are reviewed by peers in their discipline and by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB), who then make their recommendation.
The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by then-Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs sponsor the Fulbright Program. The Fulbright Program awards approximately 8,000 grants annually. Roughly 1,600 U.S. students, 4,000 foreign students, 1,200 U.S. scholars, and 900 visiting scholars receive awards, in addition to several hundred teachers and professionals. Currently, the Fulbright Program operates in over 155 countries worldwide.
- Degrees
- Microcredentials & Certificates
- Admissions
- Tuition & Financial Aid
- Transferring Credit
- The Franklin Experience
- About Us
- FranklinWORKS Marketplace
- Safety & Security
- Policy Information
- Your Privacy Settings
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Use
- Careers At Franklin
- Sitemap
Franklin University
201 S Grant Ave.
Columbus, OH 43215
Local: (614) 797-4700
Toll Free: (877) 341-6300
admissions@ngskmc-eis.net
Copyright 2024 Franklin University
Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440) and authorized by the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
Franklin University is committed to being an inclusive community free from all forms of discrimination and harassment.