MT Internal Grant Opportunities (MT-IGO*)

FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Research and Creative Activity Distinguished Awards

Important Dates

Start: February 1, 2027
Deadline: March 15, 2027 by 4:30pm
Distinguished Research Awards – The nomination form must be submitted to the department chair by 4:30pm on 3/15/2027.
Start: February 1, 2027
Deadline: March 15, 2027 by 4:30pm
Distinguished Creative Activity Awards – The nomination form must be submitted to the department chair by 4:30pm on 3/15/2027.

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.

NameDepartmentCollegeEmail
Xin YangComputer ScienceCBASxin.yang@mtsu.edu
Vajira ManathungaMathematical SciencesCBASvajira.manathunga@mtsu.edu
Gaia Rancati (Chair)MarketingJCOBgaia.rancati@mtsu.edu
Jee AhnTheatre and DanceCLAJee.ahn@mtsu.edu
Laura DubekEnglishCLAlaura.dubek@mtsu.edu
Jessica GabyPsychologyCBHSjessica.gaby@mtsu.edu
Susan MartinCollection and Development ManagementJames E. Walker Librarysusan.martin@mtsu.edu
Karen TanSports and Hospitality ManagementCBHSkaren.tan@mtsu.edu
Wisarut Suwanprasert (At-Large)Economics and FinanceJCOBwisarut.suwanprasert@mtsu.edu
Meerzai Mohammad (At-Large)Philosophy and Religious StudiesCLAmeerzai.mohammad@mtsu.edu
Katie Medrano (Coordinator)Program Manager, Office of Research and Sponsored ProgramsORSPkatie.medrano@mtsu.edu
Rachel McGinnis (Ex-Officio Member)Director, Office of Research and Sponsored ProgramsORSPrachel.mcginnis@mtsu.edu
David Butler (Ex-Officio Member)Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the College of Graduate StudiesORSP, CGSdavid.butler@mtsu.edu

Distinguished Award Forms

Distinguished Award Details

Each year the faculty members at Middle Tennessee State University nominate their peers for the Distinguished Research Award. This award recognizes research achievement defined as “original scholarly activity, which generates new knowledge, product or application.” This award generally represents the combined results of a systematic research program. This award also carries a monetary honorarium from the Middle Tennessee State University Foundation.

For the purpose of this award, research includes original scholarly activity, which generates new knowledge, product or application. This definition includes empirical studies, analytical literature searches which result in substantial modification of existing explanations of events, and/or creation of scholarly works of expression or appreciation. This award is not designed to recognize a single major breakthrough, but generally represents the combined results of a systematic research program.

Eligibility 

All full-time, tenured and tenure track, and research track faculty members, except those who have been recipients within the previous five years (see below list), are eligible for nomination.

Levels of Recognition

There are two levels of recognition:

Criteria

To be eligible for the award, the research should meet the following criteria:

  • Originality.  The research should generate new knowledge, new creative expression, or substantially reorganize and reinterpret existing knowledge.
  • Advancement.  The research should foster the development of theory and explanations of topics or directly contribute to the understanding and solution of important problems.
  • National Recognition. The research must be recognized as a significant contribution to the academic discipline.
  • Time Frame. The research must have been performed while an employee of MTSU and either worked upon or completed within the last five years.

Nomination Procedure

The official nomination form must be completed and included. Nominations must be submitted by a faculty member within the discipline or closely allied fields. A faculty member may recommend no more than one nominee.  With reference to the stated criteria and in consultation with members of the academic discipline, the following materials are requested for consideration:

  1. The nomination form should be completed.  Once submitted, the form will route to the department chair for review.  All nomination forms are due to the department chair by March 15, 2027.
  2. Each department may nominate (2) faculty members in consideration for each award to the Faculty Scholarship Awards Committee. 
  3. The department chair or designee is responsible for submitting all nomination materials to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs by the deadline of March 30, 2027.  Please email the below files to MTIGO@mtsu.edu.
    • Nominating Letter. The nominating letter should emphasize the quality and significance of research contributions within the field of study.   The nominating letter should be written by the chair, or the chair’s designee.
    • Curriculum Vitae. Please highlight the works that support the nomination.
    • (3) letters of support. The letter of support should evaluate the quality and impact of the nominee’s work throughout his or her career.  These letters may come from an internal or external source, with at least (1) from an external source.  
    • Maximum of 3 artifacts produced by the nominee. Examples include articles, books, conference proceedings, short stories, photography, films, or other scholarly- works.

The materials presented will be reviewed and the recipients will be determined by the Faculty Scholarship Awards Committee.  In addition, the committee may request additional information or a personal interview of the nominee if the committee is unable to make a decision. The recipient(s) of the awards will be announced at the Annual Fall Faculty Meeting.

All nomination materials, including letters of support, must be received by March 30, 2027.

YearRecipient
2024-2025Gaia Rancati (Marketing; Early Career)
Souvik Banerjee (Chemistry; Early Career)
Gregory Rushton (Chemistry; Senior)
2023-2024Elizabeth Barnes (Biology; Early Career)
Grant Gardner (Criminal Justice; Senior)
2022-2023Dr. Hanna Terletska (Physics and Astronomy; Senior)
Dr. Mengliang Zhang (Chemistry; Early Career)
2021-2022Dr. Jing Kong (Chemistry)
2020-2021Dr. Amy Elleman (Elementary and Special Education)
Dr. Philip Phillips (English)
Dr. Ben Stickle (
2019-2020Dr. Tom Brinthaupt (Psychology) 
2018-2019Dr. Song Cui (Agriculture)
2017-2018Dr. Qiang Wu (Mathematical Sciences)
2016-2017Dr. Mary Farone (Biology)
2015-2016Dr. Abdul D. M. Khaliq (Mathematical Sciences)Dr. Amy S. Kaufman (English)Dr. Norma K. Dunlap (Chemistry)
2014-2015Dr. Nancy Goldberg (Foreign Language)Dr. Philip Phillips(Honors College)
2013-2014Dr. Ngee Sing Chong (Chemistry)
Dr. Cyrille Magne (Psychology)
2012-2013Dr. Paul S. Foster (Psychology)
Dr. Minsoo Kang (Health & Human Performance)
Dr. Kevin Smith (Sociology & Anthropology)
2011-2012Dr. Andrew Brower (Biology)
2010-2011Dr. Ron Aday (Sociology and Anthropology)
Dr. Bruce Cahoon (Biology)
2008-2009Dr. Mark Anshel (Health and Human Performance)
Dr.Angela Mertig (Sociology and Anthropology)
Dr. Don Hong (Mathematical Sciences)

Each year the faculty members at Middle Tennessee State University nominate their peers for the Distinguished Creative Activity Award. This award recognizes creative achievement defined as “original, imaginative works of artistic merit as distinguished from empirical/analytical works of scholarly research.”  This award also carries a monetary honorarium from the Middle Tennessee State University Foundation.

For the purpose of this award, “creative achievement” is defined as original, imaginative works of artistic merit generally associated with the fine or performing arts. This award is NOT designed to recognize a single major work, but recognizes consistent and sustained contributions to the arts.

Eligibility 

All full-time, non-temporary faculty members, except those who have been recipients within the previous five years (see below list), are eligible for nomination.

Levels of Recognition

There are two levels of recognition:

Criteria 

To be eligible for the award, the activity should meet the following criteria.

  • Originality. The work should be an original product or performance of artistic inventiveness.
  • Recognition. The work must be recognized as a significant artistic contribution.
  • Time frame. The creative activity must have been performed while an employee of MTSU and either worked upon or completed within the last five years.

Nomination Procedure

  1. Nomination Form – filled electronically and signed.  Once completed, this form routes to the department chair for review.  Nomination forms are due to the department chair by March 15, 2027.
  2. Each department may nominate (2) faculty members in consideration for each award to the Faculty Scholarship Awards Committee.
  3. The department chair or designee is responsible for submitting all nomination materials to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs by the deadline of March 31, 2027:
    • Nominating Letter. The nominating letter should emphasize the quality and significance of research contributions within the field of study. 
    • Curriculum Vitae. Please highlight the works that support the nomination.
    • (3) letters of support. The letter of support should evaluate the quality and impact of the nominee’s work throughout his or her career.  These letters may come from an internal or external source, with at least (1) from an external source.  
    • Maximum of 3 artifacts produced by the nominee. Examples include articles, books, conference proceedings, short stories, photography, films, or other scholarly- works.

The materials presented will be reviewed and the recipients will be determined by the Faculty Scholarship Awards Committee.  In addition, the committee may request additional information or a personal interview of the nominee if the committee is unable to make a decision. The recipient(s) of the awards will be announced at the Annual Fall Faculty Meeting.

All nomination materials, including letters of support, must be received by March 31, 2027.

YearRecipient(s)
2024-2025Joyce Finch (Nursing, Early Career)
Fred Arroyo (English, Senior)
2023-2024Bess Rogers (Early Career; Recording Industry)
Kristine Potter (Early Career; Photography)
Allie Sultan (Senior; Video and Film Production)
2022-2023Dr. Claudia Barnett (English; Senior)
Tony Rodriguez (Art and Design; Early Career)
2021-2022Sisavanh Phouthavong-Houghton(Art)
2020-2021Margaret Brooker (Theatre and Dance)
2019-2020Angela DeBoer (Music)
2018-2019Tom Neff (Media Arts)
2017-2018No Award
2016-2017Charles “Odie” Blackmon (Recording Industry)
2015-2016Dr. Gaylord Brewer (English)
2014-2015No Award
2013 – 2014Dr. Janis Brickey (Human Sciences)
2012-2013Dr. Robert Wood (Recording Industry)
2011-2012Dr. Claudia Barnett (English)
Dr. Raymond Thomas (Music)
2010-2011Dr. Don Aliquo (School of Music)
2008-2009Dr. Paul Osterfield (Music)

ING Building, Garden Level

Coordinator:

Katie Medrano

Katie.Medrano@mtsu.edu

615-904-8040