Miamians honored during annual awards ceremony
Recipients recognized for research, work with students, and service to the community
Miamians honored during annual awards ceremony
Recipients recognized for research, work with students, and service to the community
Distinguished faculty and staff were recognized Tuesday evening during the annual University Awards Celebration at Marcum Center. Family, friends, and colleagues gathered as more than 30 awards — including the Benjamin Harrison Medallion, Miami’s most prestigious faculty career award — were bestowed upon members of the Miami University community.
“We're super excited every year at this time to recognize those who put their heart and soul into this institution and have done great things,” Miami University President Gregory Crawford said.
President Crawford said the recipients have three things in common. They are dedicated to the mission of Love & Honor and education around character and intellect; they embody the spirit of being a student-centered campus; and they're teacher-scholars and leader-learners at Miami.
“We’re grateful to all of those winners today. Collectively and individually, they contribute in so many different ways.”
Awards and remarks were delivered by President Crawford, interim provost Chris Makaroff, and Rick Page, associate vice president for research and innovation. Page honored the recipients for Excellence in Research and Innovation, the third year that award was given.
The 2026 honorees include:
Benjamin Harrison Medallion
- Michael Crowder, Associate provost, dean of the Graduate School, and professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Thomas Poetter, professor of Educational Leadership
University Distinguished Service Awards
- Ruth Orth, regional director of marketing and communications for Miami University Regionals
- Connie Malone, graduate student services manager, Project Dragonfly
E. Phillip Knox Distinguished Teaching Award
- Amber Franklin, associate professor of Speech Pathology and Audiology
University Faculty Scholar Award
- Katia Del Rio-Tsonis, professor of Biology
- Ganiva Reyes, associate professor and chair of Teaching, Curriculum, and Educational Inquiry
University Junior Faculty Scholar Award
- Jazma Sutton, assistant professor of History
- Riley Acton, assistant professor of Economics
- Zachary Soulliard, assistant professor of Psychology
- Rock Mancini, assistant professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Roger & Joyce Howe Award for Excellence in Disciplinary Writing Instruction
- Katie Johnson, Western College Endowed Professor of English
- Claire McLeod, associate professor of Geology and Environmental Earth Science
Excellence in Research and Innovation
- Matthew Omasta, professor and chair of Theatre (Art)
- Arthur Carvalho, associate professor of Enginering Technology; Mohammad Mayyas, chair and professor of Engineering Technology; Fadel Megahed, professor of Information Systems and Analytics; and Jay Shan, associate professor of Information Systems and Analytics and director of AI Initiatives for Farmer School of Business (Business)
- Andrew Jones, associate professor of Chemical, Paper, and Biochemical Engineering (Commercialization)
- John Porchowsky, project architect/manager, in Physical Facilities Department, Planning, Architecture, and Engineering (Economic Development)
- Chi-Hao Cheng, professor and chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Mohammad Mayyas, chair and professor of Engineering Technology; Meenakshi Narayan, assistant professor of Engineering Technology; and Mark Scott, associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Education)
- Catherine Almquist, professor of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering (Engineering)
- Michele Navakas, professor of English (Humanities)
- Anna Radke, associate professor of Psychology; and Haifei Shi, professor of Biology (Natural Sciences)
- Daryl Baldwin, executive director of the Myaamia Center (Outreach)
- Amity Noltemeyer, dean of the College of Education, Health, and Society; and Brian Schultz, professor of Teaching, Curriculum, and Educational Inquiry (Pedagogy)
- Glenna Edwards, project administrator of the School-Based Center of Excellence; Kenyetta Lee, associate director of training in Psychology; Cricket Meehan, executive director of the Ohio School-Based Center of Excellence for Prevention & Early Intervention and director of the Center for School-Based Mental Health Programs; and Debora Robison, director of outreach collaboration (Public Service)
- Jennifer Green, associate clinical professor of Psychology; and Aaron Shield, associate professor of Speech Pathology and Audiology (Social Sciences)
- Saruna Ghimire, associate professor of Microbiology (Transdisciplinary Research)
MAC Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success
- Michele Frank, Arthur Andersen Alumni Professor of Accountancy