PSU to recognize four faculty with special designation
Tuesday, November 28, 2017 2:00 AM
Milestones, Academics, Science and Technology, News
Pittsburg, KS
This year’s University Professors are Dr. Julie Allison, Psychology; Dr. Craig Fuchs, Honors College/Music; Dr. Mark Johnson, Technology and Workforce Learning; and Dr. Khamis Siam, Chemistry.
The rank of University Professor indicates that an individual faculty member is recognized by their peers both on and off campus as an "outstanding contributor in a field of specialization." To be eligible, candidates must also be recognized on campus for "outstanding contributions to the education program of the university."
Candidates must have been a full professor for no less than seven years, meaning that a person who begins at PSU as an assistant professor typically would not be eligible to apply for the rank of University Professor for 19 years.
The University Professor designation is for a term of seven years and can be renewed.
Allison has taught courses in the Psychology Department since 1991, specializing in domestic violence and sexual assault. She served as coordinator of the Office of Violence Response and Prevention from 2000 to 2010, and on the boards of Safehouse and the Children's Advocacy Board. She has served as president of the Crawford County Mental Health Association, on the Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Task Force of Crawford County, and on two committees related to batterer intervention programs through the Kansas Attorney General. Allison was awarded the Exellence in Teaching award by the College of Education and has been named Outstanding Faculty of the Year twice. She is a member of the American Psychological Society. A frequent presenter at conferences, her research interested include psychology and the law, interpersonal violence, and death and dying. She also co-authored two books with Lawrence S. Wrightsman and Chris Kilmartin.
Fuchs is the director of the PSU Honors College, where he's responsible for the recruitment of high achieving students and facilitating an enriched academic experience for them. He also directs the Bachelor of General Studies program and teaches in the Music Department. Fuchs began his career at PSU in 1998 as the director of bands, during which time the PSU Wind Ensemble received invitations to perform at the 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2016 KMEA Music Conventions and an invitation to perform at Lincoln Center in New York in April 2016. Fuchs has been invited to be a guest conductor in several countries. Fuchs had an active career as a performer on trumpet and was a member of the T.D. Pack Band, the official band of the Kansas City Chiefs, for 13 seasons. He has served as the chair of the Department of Music and interim chair of the Department of Art. Over the past eight years, he has led more than 100 Honors College students on Study Abroad programs to 12 countries in Western and Eastern Europe. He enjoys traveling and providing life changing experiences to young people while helping them see the world from a much broader perspective. In 2001 and 2012, he was honored with the Robert K. Ratzlaff Outstanding Faculty Award by the Student Government Association.
Johnson joined the faculty in 1986 and currently teaches courses in the Human Resource Development program and in the Workforce Development program for the Department of Technology and Workforce Learning. He is the advisor for students in the Supervision and Leadership Emphasis of the Bachelor's in Workforce Development degree and serves as the chair of the Faculty Senate General Education Committee. Johnson was selected as the National Technical Educator of the Year 2000 by the Association of Career and Technical Education and received PSU's Outstanding Faculty Award three times. On campus, Johnson has served as President of the PSU Faculty Senate, The PSU Faculty Association, and PSU/KNEA. Beyond PSU, he serves as a consultant to the Apprenticeship Industry, where he improves training quality for groups such as the International Alliance of Stage, Theatrical, and Motion Picture Employees, the International Foundation for Employee Benefit Plans, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, the Utility Workers Union of America, the United Alliance, the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Union and the International Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Training Program.
Siam has been teaching in the Chemistry Department for 30 years, specializing in computational chemistry and molecular modeling. Siam has conducted extensive research in his field and published more than 80 articles, many with student co-authors, and two book chapters both nationally and internationally. He has presented at many conferences and was the recipient of two Wichita State University’s Watkins Fellowships and two National Science Foundation-Research Sites for Educators in Chemistry Fellowships. Siam is a member of the American Chemical Society, the National Education Association, and the Kansas National Education Association. He is a winner of the E. Ann Nalley Regional Award for Volunteer Service to the American Chemical Society in recognition of contributions to the ACS. Siam has served in several elected positions, including on the Council of the ACS for 20 years, as a board member of the KNEA, as Faculty Senate president, as president of the Council of Faculty Senate Presidents at the Kansas Board of Regents, and as president of the PSU chapter of KNEA. As chair of the Chemistry Department, Siam spearheaded the Polymer Chemistry Initiative, which resulted in the hiring of three faculty members in chemistry and one in plastics engineering technology. He also played a role in helping to obtain tuition waivers for dependents of PSU employees.
The reception honoring them is open to the public; refreshments will be served.