Events & Programs

2009 Celebrate Colorado State! Awards

Updated April 28, 2009 - Celebrate Home

Each year, we celebrate the teaching, research, and service achievements of Colorado State University students, alumni and friends, academic faculty, administrative professionals, and classified staff. The top awards for 2008-2009 were announced at the Celebrate Colorado State! Awards reception on April 28. [download the program]

University Distinguished Professors

Those faculty members appointed as University Distinguished Professors have records of performance ranking them among the most outstanding members of their disciplines, as reflected by their research publication, exhibition, artistic performance, or other mode of accomplishments appropriate to their disciplines. Distinguished Professors have received national and international competitive awards, prizes, honors, and/or other forms of recognition of outstanding achievement. Finally, they have earned the title of University Distinguished Professor because of their records of continuing and cumulative accomplishment in their areas of specialization, artistry, or expertise.

C. Wayne McIlwraith
Professor of Veterinary Medicine
Director of the Gail E. Holmes Equine Orthopaedic Research Center

Dr. Wayne McIlwraith is director of Colorado State University's Gail E. Holmes Equine Orthopaedic Research Center. The center, which is part of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, treats orthopaedic injuries of the world's finest horses and investigates orthopaedic treatments and preventative medicine. Many of the innovations at the Equine Orthopaedic Research Center also can be applied to human medicine.

McIlwraith joined Colorado State in 1979 in the Department of Clinical Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences as an equine surgeon with a research focus in orthopaedics. Milestones include his appointment as director of the university’s equine sciences program in 1994, which accompanied a major expansion of the orthopaedics research program. In 2001, he became the full-time director of the orthopaedic research program. The program has helped make the university the world's leading center for comparative orthopaedic research.

McIlwraith's history of accomplishment as a researcher, clinician and educator can be seen in his leadership and development of numerous programs at Colorado State including the musculoskeletal research program, a Program of Research and Scholarly Excellence.

McIlwraith, who was born in New Zealand, also is a diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, and diplomate, European College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Ian M. Orme
Professor and Researcher of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology
Co-founder of the Mycobacteria Research Laboratory

Dr. Ian Orme, a professor and researcher in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, is recognized globally for his contributions to the study of tuberculosis in an effort to find treatments for the disease. His work has generated significant insights into the disease, including into the development of vaccines and novel anti-tuberculosis drugs to augment a dwindling arsenal of medications available to treat the illness. His discoveries play a key role in providing a basis for new therapeutic approaches to treat tuberculosis, which worldwide, infects more than 2 billion people.

Orme’s laboratory in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences leads to the development and evaluation of new vaccines using a laboratory model. He was the first to identify rifabutin, which is now used to treat infectious in AIDS patients, and he has introduced new models to rapidly screen new TB drugs. Orme also has identified several new compounds currently being screened as potential treatments for tuberculosis.

Orme is a co-founder of the university’s Mycobacteria Research Laboratory, a unit that now includes more than 70 scientists. He is a past recipient of the university’s Scholarship Impact Award and the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences’ Innovative Teaching award.

Diana Wall
Professor of Biology
Director of the School of Global Environmental Sustainability

Dr. Diana Wall’s fascination with understanding how species interact in a changing world has led her to the study of ecosystems worldwide. Wall, an environmental scientist, is actively engaged in research exploring how abundant life in soil contributes to healthy, fertile and productive soil ecosystems and society. She studies how soils can be sustained for the future. Wall has been at Colorado State University since 1993 and her research program integrates collaborative, multidisciplinary studies - starting from an organism through entire ecosystems – that ask and answer questions about their impacts at landscape and global scales.

She is interested in understanding how soil biodiversity controls carbon cycling through decay and the processing of organic matter and how it affects soil fertility by mineralizing nutrients and making these available for plants. Her research includes global investigations from agriculture to arid grasslands and 18 seasons in the Antarctic Dry Valleys examining global change impacts on soil biodiversity and ecosystems. Wall is involved in many national and international scientific activities, including serving on the U.S. National Commission of UNESCO.

She served as president of the Ecological Society of America, American Institute of Biological Sciences, Society of Nematology, Association of Ecosystem Research Centers and other scientific organizations. Wall has an Honorary Doctorate from Utrecht University, The Netherlands and is an AAAS Fellow.

University Distinguished Teaching Scholars

The title of University Distinguished Teaching Scholar (UDTS) is conferred upon the most outstanding faculty members of Colorado State University for the duration of their association with the institution. Only 12 persons may hold the title at any one time, exclusive of any retired faculty members holding the title of Distinguished Teaching Scholar Emeritus.

Toni S. Zimmerman
Professor in Human Development and Family Studies
Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy program

Dr. Toni Zimmerman’s nomination for a position among fellow distinguished teaching scholars includes an impressive 46 letters of support from former students, current faculty and staff and academicians from as far away as Israel and South Africa. Notably, one letter of support is from Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Zimmerman, who joined CSU’s faculty in 1991, established the Marriage and Family Therapy program as a national leader. The program oversees the Center for Family and Couple Therapy, which provides high-quality therapy services to families, couples, individuals, adolescents and children from across northern Colorado. Therapy students in the program receive more than 600 hours of hands-on training through the center.

Among many recognitions, Zimmerman was named an outstanding teacher by the College of Applied Human Sciences. She also has been recognized with the Margaret B. Hazaleus Award from the Women’s Caucus for her service to women and is the recipient of the Colorado Marriage and Family Therapist of the Year award by the Colorado Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Zimmerman also has contributed significantly to research examining which relationship advice in popular self-help books is effective and which is not. She is an authority on how gender and diversity shape family relationships and the role of power dynamics in couple and family therapy. Zimmerman also has developed a social justice curriculum for children that emphasizes fairness and respect.

Scholarship Impact Award

The University’s highest award for accomplishment in research, this award recognizes faculty whose scholarship has had a major impact nationally and/or internationally.

Alan Knapp
Professor and Senior Ecologist in Biology

Renowned for his research on ecosystems processes in grassland habitats, Dr. Alan Knapp, professor and senior ecologist in the Department of Biology, has been named this year’s recipient of the Scholarship Impact Award. Knapp is best known for his research in physiological plant ecology. Knapp’s major scientific contributions have redefined the understanding of vegetation dynamics and productivity in grassland ecosystems.

Knapp’s scholarship continues to have a deep and lasting impact, which is reflected in the breadth of topics he investigates: from ecophysiological, community, ecosystem and landscape scales to global change issues including invasive species, biodiversity loss, elevated CO2 and land-use/land cover change. The international impact of Knapp’s work has been exemplified by three recent papers in which comparisons of ecosystem structure and function on a global scale have been explored and published in high-visibility journals and which has lead to invitations to serve on scientific committees in Spain, Israel and Canada.

This year Knapp also was honored as the College of Natural Sciences Professor Laureate.

Board of Governors Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award

Recognizes one faculty member from each of the two institutions in the Colorado State University System for excellence in undergraduate teaching; awarded by the Board of Governors.

Margarita Maria Lenk
Associate Professor in Accounting and Computer Information Systems

Dr. Margarita Maria Lenk, an associate professor in the departments of Accounting and Computer Information Systems within the College of Business, has been a role model in innovation in learning as well as in recruiting and fostering success of students of color.

For the last two years, Lenk has developed and delivered a diversity initiative funded by the international accounting firm KPMG. Her success in recruiting minority students has led to an Outstanding Service Award for Enhancing Minorities in the Accounting Profession from the American Accounting Association. She has also recruited and coached students for the KPMG/ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting) national case competitions.

Lenk has been recognized as the Outstanding Accounting Professor in Colorado by the Colorado Society of CPAs, Outstanding Educator by the Artificial Intelligence Section of the American Accounting Association, National Engaged Scholar by Campus Compact and the KPMG National Faculty Fellow.

At the university, she has received the Jack E. Cermak Outstanding Advising Award, the Excellence in Service-Learning Instruction Award and, from the CSU Alumni Association, the Distinguished Faculty Award. From the College of Business, she has received the Excellence in Service Award, Professor of the Year and the Excellence in Teaching Award.

Monfort Professors

Established by the Monfort Family Foundation, this program enables Colorado State to recruit and retain top-quality faculty. These competitively-selected, two-year appointments recognize and provide support for innovative teaching and research activities.

2008-2010

Rajiv Khosla
Associate Professor of Agricultural Science
Dr. Rajiv Khosla has been an associate professor of Agricultural Science since 1999, after attaining his doctorate from Virginia Tech. He has developed two undergraduate and one graduate course, and put together a new degree concentration called Applied Information Technology in Agriculture. His precision agriculture outreach program has been adopted in Colorado and throughout the United States, and has reduced nitrogen in soils by 8 percent to 22 percent without impacting crop yield. This program, which uses satellite technology to monitor agricultural fields, will have dramatic long-term benefits to water systems throughout the nation and world. Khosla has presented his research in numerous countries including Argentina, Canada, Mexico and his native India.

Venkatesan Manivannan
Associate Professor of Engineering
Dr. Venkatesan Manivannan has been an associate professor of Engineering at Colorado State since his 2006 arrival from the General Electric Global Research Center in New York, where he began working as a research scientist in 2001.

A native of India, he earned his doctorate degree from the Indian Institute of Science and worked at University of Caen in France, the University of Texas and the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Maryland. Manivannan’s work in energy materials research, thin film solar cells, solid oxide fuel cells, superconductivity and lithium-ion batteries has won national and international acclaim.

At Colorado State, he teaches courses in material engineering and renewable energy, and he has developed programs to enhance educational opportunities for international students.

2009-2011

Frank Dinenno
Associate Professor of Health and Exercise Science
Dr. Frank Dinenno has been an associate professor of Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State since 2004. Before his arrival, he did four years of postdoctoral research in anesthesia at the Mayo Clinic.

At Colorado State, he has developed two doctorate courses in Health and Exercise Science, serves as director of the Undergraduate Honors Program for HES and is the editor of the Journal of Physiology. His groundbreaking research in skeletal muscular blood flow is unlocking the secrets of how advancing age impacts blood flow and oxygen delivery.

Jacob Roberts
Assistant Professor of Physics
Dr. Jacob Roberts has been an assistant professor of physics since 2003. He earned his doctorate from the University of Colorado, where he worked with the Nobel Peace Prize-winning team of Carl Weiman and Eric Cornell. His research in atomic gas Bose-Einstein Condensates, which analyzes atoms and how they react in extremely cold temperatures, is recognized as some of the most important work being done in this field.

In November 2007, Roberts and Amy Pruden-Bagchi, assistant professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, were honored by former President George W. Bush with the Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering, which recognizes outstanding scientists who show exceptional potential for leadership in research. Developed by the National Science Foundation, the award is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers.

Interdisciplinary Research Scholar

Awarded by the Office of the Vice President for Research to professors who have obtained national and international prominence for their efforts to conduct research across disciplines.

Donald J. Estep
Mathematics and Statistics

Dr. Don Estep, professor in the Mathematics and Statistics departments, has been named the inaugural Interdisciplinary Research Scholar as part of Colorado State University's emphasis on research that benefits society.

Estep is known for his research in numerical analysis and partial differential equations. Estep serves as the director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Mathematics and Statistics (CIMS) and the co-director of the Program for Interdisciplinary Mathematics, Ecology and Statistics (PRIMES).

Estep has worked to compute solutions of new mathematical equations that model physical phenomena important to the country's energy problems and quantify errors in predictions made from mathematical models. His research involves development of new numerical techniques, new and interesting mathematical analysis, computational investigations of specific problems and software development. Much of his work is carried out in close collaboration with national science laboratories and a high-tech company in Boulder and is supported by research grants from a number of different government agencies.

The Tennbo Hosho – the Emperor Citation

The prestigious Japan Emperor Award was presented to four recipients in Tokyo at the Imperial Palace in March 2009. The highest level of Emperor Award, the Emperor Citation, is presented periodically to dignitaries such as prime ministers and presidents/CEOs of large corporations.

John Matsushima, ’43, ’45,
Professor Emeritus, Animal Sciences

Dr. John Matsushima, ’43, ’45, professor emeritus in animal sciences, is the first Japanese-American to win the Japan Emperor award and was one of four recipients of the award last month. Others included leaders from South Korea, China and Japan. Matsushima, 88, received the highest level of Emperor Award, the Emperor Citation, which is presented periodically to dignitaries such as Prime Ministers and Presidents/CEOs of large corporations.

Matsushima was cited for his accomplishments in establishing U.S. beef exports to Japan in the early 1980s; for pioneering the steam processing technique for feed grains for cattle feed that has helped reduce the cost of beef production; and for being recognized worldwide as an animal scientist and educator who has taught nearly 10,000 students at three universities. Matsushima also taught at the University of Nebraska and University of Minnesota.

Advisor Gratitude Award

Recognizes faculty or staff member(s) serving as the primary advisor to a student organization registered with the Student Organizations office; nominated by a student or a student group.

Mikiko Kumasaka, Alpha Phi Gamma Sorority
Linda Stoddard,’87, ’90, Pre-Physical Therapy Club and Pre-Occupational Club

Joan Gaynor Kuder Scholarship

The Joan Gaynor Kuder Scholarship is the only scholarship at Colorado State University specifically for employees. This prestigious scholarship is awarded to nine- and twelve-month full-time employees who have made sustained progress toward their degree and exhibit the passion and commitment to life-long learning that Joan Gaynor Kuder shared in her 17-year association with Colorado State.

Vicki Diehl, ’99, Residential Dining
Esther Duke, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources

Martin Luther King, Jr., Scholarship Award

Awarded to a graduate student for outstanding achievement in academics and service to and advancement of diversity.

Amy Brooke Lewis, ’09, Political Science

Lifetime Distinguished International Service Award

Recognizes faculty or staff who have made a significant impact campus-wide on internationalization efforts of Colorado State University.

Wei Gao, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory
Paola Malpezzi-Price, Foreign Languages and Literatures
Ajay Menon, College of Business

Multi-Ethnic Distinguished Service Award

Honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their professions and the multi-ethnic community; presented by the Multi-Ethnic Faculty and Staff Caucus.

Eric Aoki, Communication Studies
Carmen Rivera, ’04, Center for Educational Access and Outreach

Outstanding Achievement Award

Recognizes meritorious and outstanding achievement in job skills and/or service to the University by state classified personnel; awarded by the Classified Personnel Council.

Marcy Abrams, College of Liberal Arts
Christine Bartholomew, Journalism and Technical Communication
Arthur Bee, Agricultural Research, Development, and Education Center
Leslie Butler, Health and Exercise Science
Gwen Sieving, Hartshorn Health Services

Distinguished Administrative Professional Award

Presented to administrative professional staff for continuing meritorious and outstanding achievement in the areas of outreach, teaching, administration, and/or research; awarded by the Administrative Professional Council.

Michael Hiatt, ’87, Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere
Betty Eckert, Sponsored Programs
J. Steven Matthews, Hartshorn Health Service
Linda Wardlow, ’99, ’06, Office of the Vice President for Administrative Services

Oliver P. Pennock Distinguished Service Award

Recognizes meritorious and outstanding achievement over a five-year period by full-time members of the academic faculty; established as a tribute to Professor Pennock, who served as a distinguished professor of Civil Engineering in the 1920s.

Donald J. Estep, Mathematics and Statistics
Susan P. James, Mechanical Engineering
Jean P. Lehmann, College of Applied Human Sciences

 Jack E. Cermak Outstanding Advisor Award

Endowed in 1984 to honor excellence in academic advising, including recognition by students and peers as an outstanding advisor; capacity to offer career as well as academic advising; interpersonal communication skills that lead to beneficial advising relationships; and contributions to the improvement of advising services and/or the appreciation of academic advising throughout the campus.

Silvia Sara Canetto, Psychology
Richard Eykholt, Physics
Andrea Purdy, Foreign Languages and Literatures
Erin K. Reichert, Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences

Exceptional Achievement in Service Learning Student Award

Recognizes a student or a student group for remarkable contributions in service-learning courses and/or community-based research; awarded by the Service Integration Project.

Shelby Benson, ’09, Health and Exercise Science
Heather Short, ’09, Health and Exercise Science

Exceptional Achievement in Service-Learning Community Partner Award

Presented to an outstanding Colorado State University community partner for their notable contributions to and participation in service-learning courses, initiatives or community-based research.

Laurie Zenner, Healthy Kids Club, Poudre Valley Health System

Exceptional Achievement in Service-Learning Faculty Award

Recognizes an instructor for remarkable instruction in service-learning courses and/or community-based research; awarded by the Service Integration Project.

Brett Bruyere, ’00, ’03, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources

Instructional Innovation in Service-Learning Award

Honors a Colorado State University faculty member who demonstrates an innovative contribution to service-learning curriculum development and/or community outreach.

Katharine Leigh, Design and Merchandising

Provost’s N. Preston Davis Award for Instructional Innovation

Presented to an individual from among University faculty in recognition of the use of technology to further or significantly encourage instructional innovation; in recognition of more than four decades of service by N. Preston Davis.

V. Chandrasekar, Engineering