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2025 Faculty & Staff Excellence Awards


Excellence in Teaching

Dr. Alex Champagne, Associate Professor of Biology

Excellence in Scholarship

Dr. Rex Strange, Associate Professor of Biology

Excellence in Service

Dr. Alyssa Weatherholt, Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Sport

Excellence in Advising

Dr. Chase Smith, Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Sport

Staff Excellence

Ms. Terah Hoskins, Senior Administrative Associate

The faculty members chosen to receive these awards have gone above and beyond the call of educator and have succeeded in excelling expectations. These selected have been gone through a selection process by their respected committees and were sought to be the best of the best and deserve to be represented as such.


2025 Research Award Winners


SEERGA Award
  • Dr. Brian Kiessling - Validity & Reliability of A Self-Report Physical Activity, Sitting Time, and Sleep Questionnaire in College Students
  • Dr. Timothy Mattison – Do Students Trust Information More from Humans or Artificial Intelligence? An Experiment on Undergraduate Students in the Midwest

  • Dr. Elise Murray – Examining the Self-Efficacy Beliefs of Pre-Service Teachers in Integrating Assistive Technology

Innovation Award
  • Dr. Alex Champagne – Promoting student success and sense of belonging in science by lowering barriers to attendance at a local scientific meeting

  • Dr. Allison GrabertUSI Explore High School Summer Series

Barnett Award
  • Allie Parker, Kinesiology & Sport (Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brian Kiessling) - Effects of a virtual reality headset on user motivation and enjoyment while using an anti-gravity treadmill and traditional treadmill.

  • Jonas Holling and American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Engineering (Faculty Mentor: Dr. Milad Rezvani-Rad) - e-Human Powered Vehicle Challenge