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Annual Awards

Student Disability Services established two awards to celebrate and recognize the contributions of faculty and staff towards increasing access and inclusion on campus.

Dr. James Brace Excellence in Partnership Award

The Dr. James Brace Excellence in Partnership Award was established in 2017 to honor the revered associate dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and to recognize faculty, staff, and other members of the university community who excel in partnership with Student Disability Services (SDS).

  • 2024 – Office of Multicultural Student Life
  • 2023 – Misty R. Bailey, Assistant Professor of Practice and Curriculum and Assessment Coordinator – College of Veterinary Medicine
  • 2022 – Jason L. Scott, Assistant Professor – Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sports Studies
  • 2021 – Missy Parker, Director of Advising – College of Arts and Science
  • 2020 – Joel Kramer, Assistant Director – University Housing
  • 2019 – Sally Hunter, Clinical Assistant Professor – Department of Child and Family Studies
  • 2018 – Melissa Meadows, Distinguished Lecturer – Department of Mathematics
  • 2017 – James Brace, Associate Dean – College of Veterinary Medicine

Accessibility Champion Award

Established in 2019, the student-nominated annual Disability Champion Award recognizes faculty and staff who work to create and practice a culture of inclusivity for students with disabilities. The award has been renamed to Accessibility Champion Award during the spring of 2024 to better align with the purpose of the recognition and the work performed by the recipients. Nominees must have:

  • demonstrated contributions to access and inclusion for students with disabilities
  • developed or adopted creative ways to provide access to the university experience that are above and beyond the provision of accommodations.

Note: SDS Staff are not eligible for this award.

2024

  • Kate Chaffin, Professor of Practice and Assistant Dean of Faculty Development – College of Social Work
  • Christopher Cote, Lecturer in the School of Design – College of Architecture and Design.
  • Dahkota Debold, Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of Mathematics – College of Arts and Sciences
  • Katie Lupica, Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre – College of Arts and Sciences; Associate Artistic Director of the Clarence Brown Theatre

2023

  • Samantha Ehrlich, Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health
  • Rebecca C. Napreyeva, Lecturer in the Department of English

2022

  • Danielle Jones, Hall Director – University Housing
  • Gary LeCleir,  Research Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology
  • Dan Roberts, Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Kimberly Wolbers, Professor – Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education

2021

  • Haley Dylewski – Graduate Teaching Associate – Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sports Studies
  • Sarah Lamer, Assistant Professor – Department of Psychology

2020

  • Tessa Burch-Smith, Associate Professor – Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology

2019

  • Suzanne Lenhart, Professor – Department of Mathematics
  • Jessica Osborne, Associate Director – Student Success Center
  • Purnima Pinnaduwage, Senior Lecturer – Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Lauren Schroeder, Graduate Teaching Associate, Department of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sports Studies