FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS COMMITTEE

The Faculty Scholarship Awards committee is a University faculty committee committed to the advancement of faculty scholarship through research and creative activity outside the classroom. Committee membership consists of the following campus representatives, serving one or more two-year terms: 

(2) representatives from the College of Basic and Applied Sciences;
(2) representatives from the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, the College of Education, University College, and/or James E. Walker Library;
(2) representatives from the Jennings A. Jones College of Business and/or the College of Media and Entertainment;
(2) representatives from the College of Liberal Arts; and
(1) at-large member.

The committee reports to the Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, and is administered by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

The committee selects faculty recipients for the annual Distinguished Creative Activity Award and Distinguished Research Award.

2025-2026 Committee Members

Name	Department	College	Email
Mina Mohebbi	Biology	Basic and Applied Sciences	Mina.Mohebbi@mtsu.edu
Vajira Manathunga	Mathematical Sciences	Basic and Applied Sciences	Vajira.Manathunga@mtsu.edu
Sungyoon Lee	Elementary & Special Education	College of Education	Sungyoon.Lee@mtsu.edu
Susan Martin	Collection Development and Management	James E. Walker Library	Susan.Martin@mtsu.edu
Jordan Nielson	Library User Services	James E. Walker Library	Jordan.Nielson@mtsu.edu
Gaia Rancati, Chair	Marketing	Business, Media and Entertainment	Gaia.Rancati@mtsu.edu
Laura Dubek	English	Liberal Arts	Laura.Dubek@mtsu.edu
Noel Lorson	Art & Design	Liberal Arts	Noel.Lorson@mtsu.edu
April Weissmiller	Biology	At-Large	April.Weissmiller@mtsu.edu
Mohammad Meerzaei	Philosophy and Religious Studies	At-Large	Mohammad.Meedrzei@mtsu.edu

Ad Hoc, Non-Voting Committee Members

Role	Name	Rank	Email
Ex-Officio Member	David Butler	Vice Provost, Research	David.Butler@mtsu.edu
Ex-Officio Member	Rachel McGinnis	Director, Research and Sponsored Programs	Rachel.McGinnis@mtsu.edu
Coordinator	Katie Medrano	Coordinator, Research and Sponsored Programs	Katie.Medrano@mtsu.edu