Congratulations to our SCMPD students, faculty, and alumni that won Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences awards

KENNESAW, Ga. (Apr 24, 2023) — The Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences celebrated the outstanding achievements of its faculty, staff, and students on April 14th during the All College Awards Ceremony. The event is an opportunity to recognize the dedication, hard work, and top-quality performance of faculty and staff, as well as the academic excellence displayed by RCHSS students during the 2022-2023 academic year. Dean Katie Kaukinen presided over the event, which included a keynote address from Norman J. Radow for whom the college is named. 

“I am consistently impressed by how engaged our students are in their academic pursuits and how well they have incorporated hands-on learning experiences, research, and service-learning opportunities into their education. They are inspirational and it is an honor to recognize some of them at this event,” said Dean Kaukinen.  “We are also grateful to our faculty and staff who together are the engine behind our college’s success and our ability to provide a world-class educational experience to our students,” she added. 

Because the event is a special occasion for the honorees and their guests, RCHSS is sharing the list of award recipients in each category to the greater RCHSS community. The award categories include Outstanding Scholar, Outstanding Seniors, Faculty Awards, and Staff Awards. All of the honorees are listed below. 

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This year there were eight Outstanding Scholar awards, including: 

• Matthew Mannheimer, MS, Integrated Global Communication, School of Communication & Media 

• Catherine Dietsch, Ph.D. Philosophy, International Conflict Management, School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding & Development 

• Travis Highfield, MPA, Master of Public Administration, School of Government & International Affairs 

• Cody Jackson, MS, Conflict Management, School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding & Development 

• Adam Swart, MS, International Policy Management, School of Government & International Affairs 

• Crystal Wilkins, MA, Professional Writing, Department of English 
  Breighlynn Polk, MA, American Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies Department 

• Breighlynn Polk, MA, American Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies Department 

• Kelly Neal, MS, Criminal Justice, Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice 

 

Outstanding Senior award recipients included: 

• Taylor Croft, Journalism & Emerging Media, School of Communication & Media 
  Faculty Honorees: Prof. Gary Green & Dr. Josh Azriel 

• Lisa Johnson, Organizational & Professional Communication, School of Communication & Media, Faculty Honorees: Dr. Audrey Allison & Dr. Robin Mathis 

• Amari Mosby, Media and Entertainment, School of Communication & Media 
  Faculty Honorees: Dr. Mackenzie Cato 

• Lauren Nye, Public Relations, School of Communication & Media 
  Faculty Honorees: Dr. Amanda Weed & Ms. Julie Wyatt 

• Ariana Dawes, Political Science, School of Government & International Affairs 
  Faculty Honorees: Dr. John Givens & Dr. April Johnson 

• Katie Kojali, International Affairs, School of Government & International Affairs 
  Faculty Honorees: Dr. Eric Castater & Dr. Thomas Rotnem  

• Lilly Colantuono, Geography, Department of Geography & Anthropology 
  Faculty Honorees: Dr. Vanessa Singer-Friedman & Ms. Christine Jacobs 

• Derek Schmidt, Geospatial Science, Department of Geography & Anthropology 
  Faculty Honorees: Dr. Mark Patterson & Dr. Nancy Pullen 

• Chandler Wooten, Anthropology, Department of Geography & Anthropology 
  Faculty Honorees: Dr. Terry Powis & Dr. Susan Smith 

• Katie Kojali, History, Department of History & Philosophy 
  Faculty Honorees: Dr. Paul Dover & Dr. Brian Swain 

• Natalie Santos, Philosophy, Department of History & Philosophy 
  Faculty Honorees: Dr. Karolin Mrzakhan & Dr. Chris Palmer 

• Sergio Trejo, History Education, Department of History & Philosophy 
  Faculty Honorees: Dr. Tom Okie & Dr. Charles Wynn 

• Stacy Adams, English Education, Department of English 
  Faculty Honorees: Dr. Beth Krone & Dr. Michelle Devereaux 

• Haley Hunt, English, Department of English 
  Faculty Honorees: Dr. Anna Weinstein & Dr. Christopher Palmer 

• Kaitlin Etters, Asian Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies Department 
  Faculty Honorees: Dr. May Gao & Ms. Akiko Davis 

• DeErik Reed, African & African Diaspora Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies Department 
  Faculty Honorees: Dr. Seneca Vaught & Dr. Griselda Thomas 

• Jenny Rissen, Interdisciplinary Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies Department 
  Faculty Honorees: Dr. Laura McGrath & Dr. Katharine Schaab 

• Kate Burgess, Psychology, Department of Psychological Science 
  Faculty Honorees: Dr. Gail Scott & Dr. Chris Ziegler 

• Chasidy Harris, Sociology, Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice 
  Faculty Honorees: Dr. Joel Crombez & Dr. Daniel Farr 

• Thomas Kennedy, Criminal Justice, Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice 
  Faculty Honorees: Mr. Rodney Hendrix & Dr. Jennifer Combs 

• Marissa Bailey, Technical Communication, Department of Technical Communication & Interactive Design 

• Andrea Romero Diaz, Interactive Design, Department of Technical Communication & Interactive Design 

• Savannah Tuschl, Modern Language & Culture, Department of World Languages & Cultures 
  Faculty Honorees: Dr. Robert Simon & Dr. Neysa Figueroa 

 

Staff members who were recognized for their accomplishments and service included: 

• Laura Vo, Excellence in Customer Service Award, School of Communication & Media 

• Adam Tarrant, Innovation & Creativity Award, Department of Geography & Anthropology  

• Rhonda Nemeth, Outstanding Staff Achievement Award, Department of English 

• Amanda Whiteley, Outstanding Team Member Award, RCHSS Dean’s Office 
• Christy Curley, Staff Leadership Award, RCHSS Undergraduate Advising Center 

• Kaylee Polk, Above the Call Award - Student Assistant, Major: Psychology 

• Connor McMahan, Innovation & Creativity Award - Student Assistant, Major: Criminal Justice 

 

RCHSS’s Award-winning faculty included: 

• Dr. May Gao, Distinguished Professor Award, Interdisciplinary Studies Department 

• Dr. Paul Dover, Distinguished Professor Award, Department of History & Philosophy 

• Dr. Christopher Pallas, Outstanding Research & Creative Activity Award, School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding & Development 

• Dr. Karolin Mirzakhan, Outstanding Teaching Award, Department of History & Philosophy 

• Dr. Rebecca LeFebvre, Outstanding Online Teaching Award, School of Government & International Affairs 

• Dr. Brian Moore, Outstanding Early Career Award, Department of Psychological Science 

• Dr. Kristina Hook, Outstanding Professional Service & Community Engagement Award, School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding & Development 

• Dr. Darina Lepadatu, Outstanding Professional Service & Community Engagement Award, Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice 

• Dr. Susan Kirkpatrick Smith, Distinguished International Achievement Award, Department of Geography & Anthropology 

• Susanne Estrella, MA, Outstanding Part-Time Teaching Award, Department of World Languages & Cultures