Biology

The Ogden College of Science and Engineering (OCSE) is pleased to announce the recognition of two junior faculty, one for excellence in teaching and one for excellence in research.

Dr. Matt Woodward from the Psychological Sciences Department is the recipient of the 2022-23 Junior Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching.  Dr. Woodward joined WKU in 2017 as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychological Sciences and has been on a tenure track since 2020 where he is making critical contributions to the department’s teaching portfolio.  He is highly student-oriented, but also rigorous in his expectations while being creative in his use of new technologies to engage students.  Dr. Woodward is known to his students as both a knowledgeable and encouraging professor who integrates theory with real-world examples in a manner that encourages engagement.  Students are also appreciative of his use of class discussions and lively debates that get the entire class engaged with one another and foster a true learning environment by expanding their willingness to see all sides of a topic.

Dr. Katrina Burch from the Psychological Sciences Department is the recipient of the 2022-23 Junior Faculty Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Activity.  Dr. Burch joined the Psychological Sciences faculty in 2018 and has been highly productive since then, engaging students in industrial/organizational psychology research that investigates work as a social determinant of health and behavior in the Discrimination and Work (DAWL) Lab.  Her WKU research program is currently funded by KY-INBRE and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and has resulted in four peer-reviewed publications, two conference proceedings, and numerous conference presentations since 2018.

About the Ogden College of Science and Engineering:

The Ogden College of Science & Engineering (OCSE) encompasses the basic and applied sciences at WKU, offering a broad range of degree programs through our eight Academic Units (Agriculture & Food Science; Biology; Chemistry; Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Science; Mathematics; Physics & Astronomy; Psychological Sciences; Engineering and Applied Sciences.  The mission of OCSE is to empower individuals to become leaders through academic achievement, global connections, and engagement in research, education, and service.

Contact: Stuart Burris, Associate Dean, 270-745-2973, stuart.burris@wku.edu