2021 President's Distinguished Service Award Recipients

Cincinnati, Ohio | Chemical Engineering Major

Lexie Adams first contacted her nominator during the fall of her first year at Miami, causing him to take a risk he usually avoids - bringing a first-year student onto his research team. He wrote that, since then, “Lexie has grown from a research novice to a published author who has been interviewed by National Public Radio and renowned print publications such as Scientific American.” Her research focuses on the production of psilocybin for potential use in new pharmaceutical drugs. Psilocybin is known for its hallucinogenic properties, but it is also a promising candidate for treatment of neurological disorders, including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. The possibilities of this research led to Lexie being featured in over 60 news articles and the co-author on a patent that led to a $1 million sponsored research grant, the largest privately sponsored research project in Miami’s history.

Lexie’s also been an active member of Theta Tau professional engineering fraternity, served as a first grade Spanish teacher in the Talawanda Foreign Language Program and an English Teaching Assistant in a first grade classroom while abroad in Madrid, Spain. The President’s Distinguished Service Award is far from the first recognition of Lexie’s many contributions. She was the 2019 Student Leader of the Year on campus, received the Provost’s Student Academic Achievement Award in 2020, and is both a Goldwater Scholar and Astronaut Scholar.

Massillon, Ohio | Strategic Communication Major, Interactive Media Studies Co-Major

LeeAnn Burczynski has been both the public face of a high-profile organization and the behind-the-scenes voice of Miami’s social media accounts during the ongoing pandemic and racial injustice of summer 2020. One nominator wrote “LeeAnn has a genuine curiosity and desire to meet others to learn and grow.” These qualities led to involvement in multiple parts of campus, all of which will have a lasting impact on Miami. She became the president of MAP, Miami Activities and Programming, in January 2020, subsequently leading Miami’s largest programming organization through the transition to virtual programs that engage the student body on the Oxford campus.

As if leading a high profile organization during a pandemic wasn’t enough, LeeAnn has also worked as a digital marketing intern with University Communication and Marketing since 2019. In this role, she paired her acumen with her passion for diversity, equity and inclusion. LeeAnn played a vital role in conducting research and producing communication for the President’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force and the Office of Institutional Diversity. She further showed her extraordinary abilities when the lead social media staff member left Miami for another institution and LeeAnn assumed the role of content creation for Miami’s main social media accounts. Her ability to communicate Miami’s values and commitment to equity helped “push the communications narrative to one that does not shy away from hard statements and stances on social issues.”

In addition to these contributions to the future of Miami University, LeeAnn was also a co-founder of the Student Engagement and Leadership Ambassador program, on the marketing committee for Miami’s Charter Day Ball, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Best Buddies.

West Chester, Ohio | Kinesiology Major, Pre-Medical Studies Co-Major

Grace Chaney has a passion for knowledge discovery and for wellness, both her own and that of those around her. Her accomplishments at Miami certainly reflect these passions. Grace served as the vice president and then president of Miami’s Anatomy & Physiology Club, not only bringing more students into the organization by increasing membership six-fold, but also serving the surrounding community by creating outreach programs in local elementary schools. One nominator wrote that Grace is “all in and is fully able to engage in collaborative leadership.” This ability led to the organization receiving the most-improved student organization award in 2020.

Grace conducted multiple research studies in kinesiology and movement, including two here at Miami and one at the Mayo Clinic. Outside her own research, Grace has a vision for sharing the benefits of conducting research with her peers. Grace approached our Office of Research for Undergraduates with ideas for advocating for undergraduate research and raising awareness of deeper learning gained through experiential learning. She was the inaugural ambassador with ORU, helping with outreach, event planning, and networking with individuals interested in research.

As if this isn’t enough, Grace has achieved Advance Peer Tutor certification, volunteers at Ronald McDonald House and the Oxford Physical Therapy Clinic, was the ambassador and state coordinator of Ohio for National Stop the Bleed, and the founding student representative of Miami’s chapter of Exercise is Medicine on Campus.

Springboro, Ohio | Health Communication Major

One of Allison Combs’ nominators wrote that Al exemplifies “One Miami,” not only working across both of our Regional campuses, but also bridging the gap between the Regional and Oxford campuses.Al served in multiple capacities that impact Miami students well beyond their direct interaction with her. She served as a regional orientation leader and regional orientation coordinator, connecting new students to campus and mentoring other orientation leaders. After a student transitioned to campus, they were still likely to be impacted by Al through her role as a student ambassador in the Regional Office of Student Activities, where she created programs and trained student organization leaders.

Early in her time at Miami, Al led the transition from a programming board on each Regional campus to a single unified board for both campuses, named Regional Activities @ Miami (RA@M). In addition to working to create a unified culture on the board, she flawlessly managed the complex logistics of duplicating programs in two locations. Al also started the tradition of Regionals students attending Charter Day Ball, held every three years on our Oxford campus. The common thread through all of these accomplishments can be summed up by a line from one of her nominators: “Al is always hard at work, helping others connect with Miami.”

Zionsville, Indiana | Inclusive Special Education Major

When Mary Culp and many of her peer special education majors experienced disruption and inconsistency in their field placements at K12 schools around the area because of COVID, Mary didn’t throw up her hands. As one nominator wrote, she instead “saw an opportunity to serve her community and create her own learning experiences.” Although field placement requirements were waived, Mary continued working for her students, creating remote learning videos to help teachers and students’ families. As President-elect, then President of our Student Council for Exceptional Children, Mary wrote letters of encouragement and checked in on graduating peers and kept the organization active in a remote format in the past year. She has also been active with our Access Miami program, which creates an inclusive college experience for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Outside of work related to her major, Mary was involved throughout her Miami experience with Cru, a campus ministry. She most recently served as president, where she led the organization, and still coordinates a group of students who hold weekly hybrid small group meetings of well over 100 members. She’s a member of Chi Omega, and currently serves the entire Panhellenic sorority community as the director of ethics and values on the Panhellenic Council. Mary has also presented to our Bridges Scholars on art and activism through the lens of Freedom Summer. Another of Mary’s nominators captured her impact well, writing that “as a strong leader, she has been a role model for many of her peers at Miami.”

Vandalia, Ohio | Chemical Engineering Major

The accomplishments of Sophia Dent and fellow recipient Michaela Mitchell are so closely linked that the first part of both pages are the same, followed by additional contributions of each recipient. Sophia and Michaela served as president and vice president of Miami’s Engineers Without Borders (EWB) organization over the past year. Prior to COVID, EWB members were involved in planning and coordinating multiple simultaneous projects in different locations. Although members stopped meeting in person, these projects did not stop because of the pandemic. Through Sophia’s and Michaela’s leadership, EWB continued to work with a Cincinnati park to survey and design a bridge for hikers, and even worked remotely with communities in Uganda and Rwanda to help supply water to five villages, almost 5,000 total people. Even more impressive, EWB members continued their work with enthusiasm and even recruited a large class of new members in Fall 2020. They kept the organization responsive to members’ needs, from changing meeting times to including more professional development and more opportunities to interact with the chapter’s mentors.

Individually, Sophia has traveled to Rwanda twice with EWB, serving as the trip manager the second time. She coordinated logistics that led to the successful installation of a two-mile long water supply pipeline. Sophia has been involved with the Lockheed Martin Leadership Institute and with the Center for Career Exploration and Success, where she coordinated the social media presence.

One nominator put it well, saying that “both Sophia Dent and Michaela Mitchell have provided outstanding leadership to Engineers Without Borders, first in separate roles and then working together to guide the chapter through the challenging pandemic year of 2020.” They are receiving recognition for their distinguished efforts both separately and together.

Pickerington, Ohio | Psychology Major

Simply put, Julian Johnson’s passion is health and inclusion. As a HAWKS Peer Health Educator, he finds creative ways to engage audiences in health-related topics and helps other HAWKS do the same. When the training process went virtual for new peer educators in 2020, Julian was the VP for operations. He led the development of a new mentorship program to replicate some of what was lost without in-person meetings. He similarly adapted the HAWKS group interview process for virtual implementation this semester, creating activities, training current HAWKS, and assuring that all candidates had a consistent experience.

Julian has also conducted research related to his passion - working with another of today’s honorees, CJ Lynch, to study the relationship between preferred alcohol brand, alcohol-related consequences, and ethnicity. Again helping others around him, Julian's critical thinking skills helped all members of the research team develop better projects. But Julian’s involvement and accomplishments are broader than these two examples. On campus, he has worked as a Miami, My Place group lead, a Student Success Leader, and a Bridges Scholar Mentor, helping more students find success at Miami. Off campus, Julian is also active with Big Brothers, Big Sisters in Oxford and serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force for another local school district. This apt description was written by one nominator: “Rarely have I come across a student as charismatic, as gifted a speaker and teacher, and who uses his leadership abilities as unselfishly and effectively as Julian.”

Guwahati, Assam, India | Sport Leadership & Management (Coaching) and Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies Double Major

One nominator described Priyana Kalita as “passionate about ameliorating injustices” and someone who “does all she can to make a positive difference in her community.” This past summer, Priyana interned for Oxford PFLAG chapter, where they not only created a new website for the organization, but forged a connection between PFLAG and Black Lives Matter (BLM) Oxford, ultimately finding areas of overlap between the organizations’ missions. They also connected BLM Oxford and Miami’s Department of Family Studies and Social Work, which was the seed that grew into the Oxford Police and Community Relations & Review Commission implementing BLM Oxford’s proposal to research police reform options.

As a member of Miami’s varsity tennis team, Priyana was also a member of Athletics’ Diversity & Inclusion Council, where she actively advocated for student-athletes from marginalized identities and assisted in developing initiatives within the Athletic Department that bridge student-athletes’ athletic, campus, and community experiences. Last Fall, Priyana was recognized by the Mid-American Conference as the 2020 student recipient of the MAC Diversity & Inclusion Student-Athlete award.

Priyana also served as an undergraduate associate for UNV 101, where they were the current-student voice in the course and aided in course planning. Additionally, they were on the executive board of Spectrum and also completed a summer research fellowship, studying the stories of the sex working trans community in India. "Their courage, persistence, and passion for service are evident by the work that they have done to positively impact the spaces that they are in," wrote one nominator.

Columbus, Ohio | Black World Studies and Individualized Studies: Diversity in Leadership Double Major

Jannie Kamara has been involved in student activism throughout her four years at Miami, all which has been characterized on campus by increased awareness and work around racial justice. Elected as this year’s Student Body President right at the beginning of the pandemic and coming off last summer’s renewed focus on racial justice, Jannie has been the ideal leader of our Associate Student Government making an improved and effective effort to represent the voice of the students at Miami. Jannie and her Cabinet navigated their way through a global pandemic, the Black Lives Matter protests for racial justice, discussions on racism and equity, and a contentious national election.

Jannie has also conducted research as a part of Racial Consciousness 101, presenting to countless classes about intersections of race and other identities. She served on the Dean of Students Advisory Board, as the Diversity Affairs Council President, a member of the Council on Diversity & Inclusion, a singer in Treblemakers, a Student Orientation Undergraduate Leader (SOUL), and a member of our Track and Field Team. Jannie’s resume eloquently sums up her work: “I strive to create belongingness in all aspects of my life through connecting with people, creating environments that foster inclusivity and creativity, and educating people around me.”

Chillicothe, Ohio | Kinesiology Major, Pre-Medical Studies Co-Major

One nominator wrote that Charles, or CJ, is a “contagiously positive presence in any room,” finding ways to connect with people, share his experiences to help them, and explain complex issues and concepts in accessible ways. CJ has worked closely with our Office of Admission in several capacities, including as a Bridges Program host, Diversity Dialogue facilitator, Diversity Live Chat panelist, Summer Scholars counselor, and Presidential Fellows Finalist Showcase ambassador.

CJ is also a driven and curious learner. Another nominator said that “CJ thinks like a researcher. Not only does he regularly engage in critical thinking, but he also looks for creative solutions to problems.” CJ’s work was mentioned in our description of another of this year’s recipients, Julian Johnson, where they researched connections between alcohol and ethnicity.

Outside of these two endeavors, CJ has been involved with the Miami University Gospel Singers, a cross-cultural Christian student ministry, as an undergraduate associate for UNV 101, a resident assistant for two years, and a member of the Black Student Action Association. One nominator put it perfectly, saying that CJ didn’t come to college to just find friends and do things for himself, “he conquered college so that he could get the skills to transform society.”

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Marketing and English Professional Writing Double Major

Molly McNamara recently completed her term as president of the Panhellenic Association. She assumed her role at the outset of the pandemic, when new member education programs across the 19 Panhellenic sororities were just getting underway and were forced online. Her calm demeanor and thoughtful, diligent action kept the chapter presidents connected with each other after students left Oxford last Spring, focused on sharing ideas and successes in adapting to the new reality.

When the national conversation about racial justice was renewed last summer, some negative attention was focused on our country's fraternity and sorority community. Molly brought her executive board together to educate themselves to better serve all members of Miami’s sorority community, including addressing privilege, bias, structural racism, and how to facilitate change. She then led the creation of impact teams, with membership open to all Panhellenic chapters, so the outcome was more than just a conversation. These teams examined all major aspects of the membership experience to find and dismantle barriers and bias. Molly’s time in this position ended by leading Miami’s first ever all-virtual Panhellenic recruitment process this semester, which was an entirely new process for all involved. Molly's leadership created a Council with the collaborative mindset needed to be successful through the past year.

Molly has also been involved with the Oxley Center for Business Leadership, a founding member of Advancing Women in Entrepreneurship, her sorority, Alpha Phi, and as an undergraduate associate in journalism.

Frankfurt, Illinois | Electrical Engineering Major

The accomplishments of Michael and fellow recipient Sophia Dent are so closely linked that the first part of both pages are the same, followed by additional contributions of each recipient. Sophia and Michaela served as president and vice president of Miami’s Engineers Without Borders (EWB) organization over the past year. Prior to COVID, EWB members were involved in planning and coordinating multiple simultaneous projects in different locations. Although members stopped meeting in person, these projects did not stop because of the pandemic. Through Sophia’s and Michaela’s leadership, EWB continued to work with a Cincinnati park to survey and design a bridge for hikers, and even worked remotely with communities in Uganda and Rwanda to help supply water to five villages, almost 5,000 total people. Even more impressive, EWB members continued their work with enthusiasm and even recruited a large class of new members in the Fall. They kept the organization responsive to members’ needs, from changing meeting times to including more professional development and more opportunities to interact with the chapter’s mentors.

Michaela previously served as the grant writing chair of EWB, where she increased stewardship efforts to keep in touch with merchants and donors who gave to the organization. She traveled to Uganda with EWB in 2019, working on the trip project and interviewing community members. Outside of EWB, Michaela is a member of Miami’s swim team, twice earning academic all-MAC honors. She has also conducted research in two different labs on campus.

One nominator put it well, saying that “both Sophia Dent and Michaela Mitchell have provided outstanding leadership to Engineers Without Borders, first in separate roles and then working together to guide the chapter through the challenging pandemic year of 2020.” They are receiving recognition for their distinguished efforts both separately and together.

Queen Creek, Arizona | Political Science Major

Sarah Moss was characterized by one nominator as “fiercely motivated to adapt, alter, and do whatever means necessary to provide a light for our community of youth skaters'' during the pandemic. The Miami Skating Academy and Learn to Skate programs teach skating to area youth, often with the help and expertise of skaters from our varsity and club teams. Sarah started the year as an assistant coach on both competitive youth synchronized skating teams. In the midst of the head coach stepping down, cancelled competitions because of COVID, and skaters no longer allowed to skate connected to each other because of social distancing, Sarah assumed the daunting mantle of head coach. She redesigned practice procedures, kept skaters’ parents in the loop, researched performance possibilities, and reached out to US Figure Skating to network with other coaches to create virtual experiences for skaters. In addition to the higher level logistics, Sarah invested in each skater as an individual, creating skating goals, working towards those goals, and celebrating successes.

She also has her own skating career on campus as a member of our varsity senior synchronized skating team, as well as being a Team USA synchronized skater and U.S. Figure Skating DREAM Program team captain. Her nominator wrote that “In the year of setbacks and almosts and even disappointments, Sarah offered hope, and a different lens with which to mark success.”

West Jefferson, Ohio | Education Studies Major

Resident Assistants are in the difficult position of working to build community with and for their residents, while also enforcing university policy. Keresa Murray has served for three years in this capacity. In addition to connecting with her own residents and creating programs for the corridor and whole hall, she informally mentors new RAs on staff and voluntarily took on an entire additional floor when the hall was short-staffed at the beginning of this year. Keresa is also one of very few RAs who choose to serve on departmental committees in the Office of Residence Life, where she has been a member of the Marketing and Video Production Committee for two years. One nominator wrote that, “without a doubt, our output [as a committee] has reached more students and effectively delivered our message because of Keresa’s input.”

Keresa has impacted countless other Miami students through other roles on campus, including as a Student Orientation Undergraduate Leader (SOUL), an undergraduate associate, a MADE@Miami peer mentor, a Peer Advocate and Student Success Mentor, Hammocking Club president, public relations chair for LYLAS (Love You Like a Sister), and a member of marching and pep band. Keresa’s love for Miami and her classmates is also recognized by her peers, who voted her as one of two 2020 Love & Honor Cup recipients. One nominator summed up Keresa’s impact by writing that “Keresa has a way of making those around her feel that they matter and are important. Because of the person she is, Miami’s community has been enhanced.”

West Chester, Ohio | Media & Culture and Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies Double Major

Nicole Newsome, as one nominator wrote, “is committed to providing an inclusive and safe environment for all the patrons within the Center [for Student Diversity & Inclusion] (CSDI) and all students they come into contact with at Miami.” They were hired as a CSDI intern their sophomore year, a rare occurrence that speaks to Nicole’s abilities. In this role, they consistently create programs for students, and, possibly more importantly, are instrumental to the daily functioning of the Center and the culture built within.

Nicole has impacted our campus and community in multiple ways, large and small. They were a founder and co-leader of Black Lives Matter (BLM) Oxford and organized a coalition of community members, students, and staff to peacefully protest for racial justice. Nicole founded Colored Lens, an intersectional LGBTQ+ media student organization that examines the impact of media representation society’s perception of the queer community. They are also completing their term as president of Spectrum, Miami’s largest LGBTQ+ student organization. Nicole served as a MADE@Miami peer leader, a Student Orientation Undergraduate Leader (SOUL), and an undergraduate associate for UNV 101. The common thread through all of these experiences is Nicole’s “commitment to making higher education a more equitable place for all students to thrive.”

Fairfield Township, Ohio | Applied Social Research and Psychological Science Double Major

Danielle is dedicated to helping her peers achieve academic success and understand and maintain their mental health. She often finds ways to merge the two together. She is one of two students on the advisory board of the Tutoring and Learning Center on our Hamilton campus, where she has also served as a peer tutor, peer mentor, and front office staff. Her acumen in helping others understand psychology is well known and she is regularly recommended by name by faculty as a tutor for upper-level psychology courses. Danielle also served as the vice president of the All About You Club, which helps students learn more about mental health and how to improve their own.

Danielle is the president of the Psychological Science Club this year, where, as one nominator wrote, she has “organized a variety of innovative and interesting programs, encouraged student and faculty participation, and brought prominence to this organization.” Many of these new programs and structures will continue well past the current pandemic. When she was vice president of the organization last spring, she helped push the organization to create a robust virtual presence to engage members, including virtual events, social media accounts, and using the HUB to find new members. Her contributions were recognized as the sole 2020 recipient of the Miami Regionals Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences Excellence in Service Award.

Finally, Danielle is currently completing an internship as a Family Facilitator at Pause for Parents, Play for Kids, where she works with families who have children with disabilities to help them find resources within the community. She is a true example of servant leadership and an inspiration to our community.

Columbus, Ohio | English Literature and Political Science Double Major

Brandon Small has been an active member of our community since he first came to campus, serving on his residence hall leadership team and Residence Hall Association before moving into the role of senator for Associated Student Government (ASG). Brandon then spent the past two years as the ASG Secretary for Diversity & Inclusion. With the ASG President, another of today’s recipients, Brandon chairs a committee of over twenty campus leaders to address issues of diversity and inclusion in administration, curriculum, and the student body. His work has deepened our community’s commitment to transforming our practices and structures in the interests of racial justice and gender equality. This work does not stop with ASG, however. Brandon is also the current director of the Diversity Affairs Council ambassador program, which builds connections across diversity-related student organizations.

Brandon’s nomination by President Crawford as Miami’s 2020 Newman Civic Fellow is further evidence of his impact and potential for ongoing change. Through the fellowship, Brandon received specialized training with Fellows from other campuses on strategies for social change. Brandon has also served as the president of Soul2Soul and a member of Collegiate Chorale. One nominator wrote that “Brandon’s sustained and deep involvement in the Miami community is not for show. He invests into the causes and communities that are most important to him and where he chooses to invest, the enduring impact of his presence and leadership are profoundly felt.”

Westerville, Ohio | Political Science Major, Energy and Sustainability Co-Majors

Allison South has, in the words of one nominator, an “unrelenting commitment for sustainable living on campus.” During her second year, Allison was selected by her peers to be a member of the leadership team of EcoReps, which promotes sustainability in the residence halls on campus. She then served the last two years as president of the organization, which grew substantially under her leadership. Highlights of the growth include doubling the number of reusable water bottles distributed each year, conducting multiple trash audits for every residence hall each semester, and more than doubling the number of guest speakers at their regular meetings. All of this benefits individual members of the organization and the broader campus community.

Allison has impacted campus sustainability through multiple other roles, as well. She is the current ASG Secretary for Infrastructure and Sustainability, the president of the Student Sustainability Council, and former Sustainability Team Leader on the Honors Student Advisory Board. She’s also been a resident assistant, a member of Best Buddies and the Amicus Curiae Pre-Law Society, and the president of Miami’s Project Kids Network. Allison “is intrinsically motivated to see Miami University become a leader in campus sustainability and seeks to integrate sustainability campus-wide."

New Albany, Ohio | Economics and Political Science Double Major

Jessica von Zastrow is this year’s chair of the Armstrong Student Center Board. Under Jessica’s leadership, the board developed a joint resolution for ensuring student representation through the flag plaques in Armstrong, is developing a refreshed educational campaign around recycling, is developing a joint ASG/Armstrong proposal for providing menstrual products in restrooms, and has been working hard to further the campaign to have more inclusive art and graphics and showcase student art in the building. And if this role was not enough, Jessica is also this year’s Student Body Vice President, where she continues to be instrumental in representing her peers and positively impacting their Miami experience.

During her third year, Jessica asked for an exception to take a capstone course designed to understand campus culture and remove large-scale barriers to student success, including high-risk alcohol use, mental health concerns, and sexual and interpersonal violence. The faculty member who made the exception wrote in his nomination letter that he was thrilled she asked for the exception and her performance was such that he asked her to serve as a teaching assistant for this year’s version of the capstone.

Jessica has also been the president of Women in Social Entrepreneurship, executive manager of the Honors Student Advisory Board, a designer for Miami University Fashion & Design, a Scholar Leader, a campus tour guide, and a leadership coordinator in the Wilks Institute for Leadership and Service. One nominator wrote that “Jessica’s ‘can do’ attitude, along with her ability to see every side of an issue/problem, make her an extremely effective and respected student leader.”