Faculty, staff honored during annual awards program

May 2, 2025

Seventeen faculty and staff were honored with individual awards during Columbus State University’s 2025 Employee Recognition Awards Ceremony on April 29. The annual awards program was part of events marking the university’s Employee Appreciation Week.

Honorees included:

Dr. Shelby Barson, MSN, CCRN, Teaching Excellence Award. Barson is an assistant professor in the College of Education & Health Professions’ School of Nursing.

Dr. Jasmine Bordere, Scholarship of Teaching & Learning Award. Bordere is an associate professor in the Turner College of Business & Technology’s Department of Accounting & Finance.

Dr. Brett Cotten, Chappel Graduate Award. Cotton is a professor in the Department of Accounting & Finance in the Turner College of Business & Technology.

Sgt. Douglas Dunlap, Staff Innovation Award. Dunlap is the training sergeant for the University Police Department.

Jonathan “Skylar” Fritzky, Staff Engagement Award. Fritzky is a student records specialist in the Office of the Registrar.

Dr. Linqiang Ge, Excellence in Online Teaching Award. Ge is an associate professor in the Turner College of Business & Technology’s TSYS School of Computer Science.

Dr. Daewoo Lee, International Educator of the Year Award. Lee is an associate professor in the School of Policy, Justice & Public Safety in the College of Letters & Sciences.

Dr. Saoussan Maarouf, Faculty Service Award. Maarouf teaches in the College of Education & Health Professions, where she is an associate department chair and associate professor in the Department of Teacher Education, Leadership & Counseling, and its Elementary Education program coordinator.

Dr. Rodrigo Obando Sr., Teaching Innovation Award. Obando is an associate professor in the TSYS School of Computer Science in the Turner College of Business & Technology.

Dr. Patricia Patrick, Faculty Research & Scholarship Award. Patrick is an associate professor in the College of Education & Health Professions’ Department of Teacher Education, Leadership & Counseling.

Erick Richman, Creative Endeavors Award. Richman is a senior lecturer and wellness program coordinator in the Department of Kinesiology & Health Sciences, based in the College of Education & Health Professions.

Vicki Roebuck, MSN, WHNP-BC, President’s Staff Excellence Award. Roebuck is the director of Student Health Services.

Sara Secoy, Staff Award for Sustainability. Secoy is the director of the Center for Accommodation & Access and the university’s Title IX compliance coordinator.

The staff of the William B. Turner Center for Servant Leadership, Staff Commitment to Service Award. The team includes Cortney Wilson, director; Laura Pate, assistant director; and Theresa Donahoe, care services coordinator.

John Wright, Staff Collaboration Award. Wright is the assistant director for community development in the Office of Residence Life.

The program also honored more than 70 employees who reached five-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 25- and 30-year employment milestones; a special group of a dozen employees celebrating employment anniversaries between 31 and 47 years, and those retiring and earning emeritus status this academic year.

The university's website provides descriptions of the awards, a downloadable program from this year’s event, and past award recipients. Event photos are available on the university’s Flickr account.

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Main photo: Photos from the April 29 event featuring Rayfield, Cody the Cougar and Campbell presenting (clockwise from left corner): a work recognition award to Dr. Tiffany McBride of the Department of Communication; a work recogition award to Stephanie Speer of the Office of the Registrar; and International Educator of the Year Award to Dr. Daewoo Lee of School of Policy, Justice & Public Safety.

Media contact: Michael Tullier, APR, Executive Director of Strategic Communication + Marketing, 706.507.8729, mtullier@columbusstate.edu