As LSUS celebrates its third straight semester of record enrollment (10,926 this spring), Chancellor Dr. Robert Smith attributed the university’s growth to one factor above all others.
“The dedication of our faculty and staff.”
LSUS honored five of the most dedicated faculty members Friday in its annual Most Outstanding Faculty awards ceremony.
Three faculty were selected based on their teaching capabilities and accomplishments with one faculty member each chosen on their service and on their research.
The three teaching faculty winners included Dr. John Harrison (Leadership Studies), Dr. Zhonghui “John” Wang (Computer Science) and Dr. Richard Watson (Computer Science).
The service award winner is Dr. Heather Carpenter (Nonprofit Administration) with the research award going to Dr. Minseong Kim (Marketing and Information Systems).
The Faculty Research and Development Grant Committee, comprised of Faculty Senate members, evaluated nominations and determined the winners.
Harrison came to LSUS in 2018 and is lauded for his commitment to “high quality and rigorous teaching practices.”
“(Harrison) is an invaluable mentor to students and takes the time to understand their individual strengths and challenges, offering tailored guidance that extends far beyond the curriculum,” Harrison’s nomination read.
Since Wang’s arrival in LSUS’s computer science department in 2022, he’s been credited with enhancing course offerings and improving instructional delivery.
“(Wang) is deeply committed to pedagogical excellence,” his nomination read. “He is a dedicated, compassionate, and hard working professor who consistently goes above and beyond for his students.”
Watson, the computer science department chair, has grown both the undergraduate and graduate programs since arriving in 2020.
“Drawing on a deep understanding of pedagogy and curriculum development, (Watson) guides faculty in fostering an environment of academic excellence,” his nomination read. “His experience enables him to offer insightful support to both new and seasoned educators, ensuring continuous improvement in teaching practices.”
Carpenter is one of the state-wide faces of the LSUS faculty as the executive director of the Institute for Nonprofit Administration and Research, which is a key player in improving the capacity and efficiency of Louisiana nonprofits.
“Broad and deep commitment to university service, community engagement, and professional leadership makes (Carpenter) an outstanding candidate for a service award,” the nomination stated. “She is a dedicated, professional and compassionate colleague who is consistently willing to provide high quality service.”
Kim has quickly established himself as a research magnet since coming to LSUS in 2019 as he ranks in the top two percent of his Sports, Leisure and Tourism field in each of the last three years.
“What an incredible accomplishment for an untenured faculty member who received his doctorate only in 2019,” Kim’s nomination read. “He’s conducted impactful research with an H-index of 39 and a total of 4,850 citations.”