WKU News

The WKU Office of Research and Creative Activity recognized several faculty and staff members at its 2023 awards reception on December 6 at Downing Student Union.

The awardees are as follows:

First Time Lead Award (Individuals who were awarded their first external grant in FY 23)

• Tania Basta, Dean, College of Health and Human Services
• Kristen Brewer, Assistant Professor, Graduate Program Coordinator, Public Health
• Ellen Casale, Assistant Professor, Educational Administration
• Tiffany Isselhardt, Exhibit Curator and Development Coordinator, Kentucky Museum
• Kent Johnson, Military Student Services Director
• Hilary Katz, Assistant Professor, Biology
• Zachary Suriano, Assistant Professor of Meteorology, EEAS
• Cres'Sena Thomas, Associate Director, Intercultural Student Engagement Center
• Kaylee Woodard, School of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport

Prolific Proposer Award (Individuals who submitted more than 5 external grants in FY 23)

• Amy Brausch, Professor, Psychological Sciences (10 proposals)
• Vladimir Dobrokhotov, Professor, Director of Applied Physics Institute, Director of Biophysics Laboratories, Physics and Astronomy (9 proposals)
• Christina Noel, Associate Professor, School of Teacher Education (6 proposals)
• Katrina Burch, Associate Professor, Industrial/Organizational Coordinator, Psychological Sciences (5 proposals)
• Amy Hood, Executive Director, Infant/Toddler Specialist, Director of the KY Family Child Care Network, and Interim WKUCCC Head Start/Early Head Start Director (9 proposals)   
• Kirolos Haleem, Associate Professor, Civil Engineering (5 proposals)
• Jerry Brotzge, EEAS Professor, Director of the Kentucky Mesonet and Kentucky Climate Center, Kentucky State Climatologist (6 proposals)
• David Pollack, Director, Kentucky Archaeological Survey (12 proposals)
• Jay Stottman, Assistant Director, Kentucky Archaeological Survey (6 proposals)

The One Million Dollar Grant Club (Individuals who have received more than $1 million in external grants by FY23)

• Amy Brausch, Professor, Psychological Sciences
• Mary Lloyd Moore, Executive Director, Clinical Education Complex
• Jennifer McWhorter, Director, Educational Talent Search  
• Christina Noel, Associate Professor, School of Teacher Education
• Jimmie Martin, Project Director, Student Support Services
• Ke Peng, Director of Chinese Flagship, Professor of Chinese

Department Award for Largest Number of Proposing Faculty: Physics and Astronomy

Department Award for Largest Number of Faculty Awardees: Physics and Astronomy

College Award for Highest Amount of External Funding: College of Education and Behavioral Sciences with $7,313,401 awarded (Read more about awards for CEBS)

Contact: Office of Research, (270) 745-6132

-WKU-

Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.