University Honors Faculty, Staff for Advising, Research, Teaching, Outreach

University Honors Faculty, Staff for Advising, Research, Teaching, Outreach

The University of Toledo recently recognized its outstanding advisors, researchers and teachers, and announced the recipients of the Edith Rathbun Award for Outreach and Engagement for the 2023-24 academic year.

"We are proud to have so many University of Toledo faculty and staff dedicated to the success of our students and the University," said Dr. Scott Molitor, interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. "Every year we recognize the exceptional efforts of some of the outstanding members of our University based on the campus community nominations. Congratulations to this year's inspiring recipients."

Recipients of the Outstanding Teacher Award are:

Dr. Rhonda Aguiton, a professor in the Department of Teacher Education in the Judith Herb College of Education.

One of her nominators shared, "I have had professor Aguiton since my sophomore year of college. I am now in my last semester of college and she remains the best professor I have had at The University of Toledo in the education program. She has always challenged my peers and I to be the best that we can be while still being understanding and accommodating when needed. She teaches with so much passion that we would all genuinely look forward to her lectures."

Another nominator wrote, "Rhonda is the absolute sweetest human being. She really cares about her students as people and as educators. She goes above and beyond to make sure that everyone feels welcome and safe in her classroom. She has taught me so much regarding teaching that I will take into my future classroom."

Bashar Al-Hariri, a senior lecturer in the Department of English Language and Literature in the College of Arts and Letters.

"His enthusiasm makes everyone smile," shared one of his nominators. "His lectures are the most fun part of my week. We laugh, we learn, all while completing our class assignments. He treats everyone fairly and makes an effort to remember details about every student. His explanations are clear and simple."

"He genuinely cares about his students. He is passionate about his job and he brings positivity to the classroom," another student said.

Dr. Gaby Semaan, an associate professor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures in the College of Arts and Letters

A student wrote, "He provides a lot of information to help reinforce the material from the class and helps us understand content with engaging activities. I appreciate the team activities and group discussions that I don't experience as much in my other classes."

"He actively engages students during lectures, encouraging their participation and fostering a dynamic learning atmosphere," said a nominator. "I have attended several of his lectures where he skillfully incorporates interactive discussions and activities, promoting critical thinking and stimulating intellectual curiosity among students. His ability to create an engaging and inclusive learning environment leaves a lasting impact on his students."

Lesa Byrnes, a professor in the College of Law.

"A very caring professor and will help you when you are struggling," said one student. "Gives great tips and supplements, the best professor I have had so far."

One of her nominators wrote, "She's very encouraging to try in class, because it's OK to ask questions, even if you are wrong in class. She also gave me examples of how being a lawyer is more than just writing well, it includes being a good person and being personable."

Another nominator went on to say, "Professor Byrnes is the kindest, most supporting and encouraging professor at the school of law. She makes the learning environment one that everyone wants to be a part of."

Dr. Coral Matus, an associate professor in the College of Medicine and Life Science.

"She is an outstanding lecturer," said one of her nominators. "Whenever I listen to one of her lectures, the material 'clicks.' Her explanations stay with me and help me to succeed in the class. She does an amazing job thinking about the objectives of the lecture then explaining it clearly with pictures and videos and relevant patient examples."

Another nominator stated, "She made me feel heard. She listened to what I had to say and helped me see the bigger picture. She always takes time whenever a student needs help."

A student said, "She is an encouraging professor, a patient emailer, a gifted teacher and kind corrector. She is truly one of the best at UT."

Sandra Robinson, a Distinguished University Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

One of her nominators said, "Sandra was the best calculus teacher I have ever had. She was incredibly understanding and the way she taught was very effective in my understanding of each topic we covered. She did practice problems that were relating to our test and homework, she allowed extensions for all difficult homework and she spent hours in her office hours helping each individual student with any questions they had. Her teaching made me feel the best equipped to continue my education as an engineering student and I am very thankful I was in her class."

Another nominator shared, "Sandra is the best professor I have had at The University of Toledo. She always made sure everyone knew that she would help them if needed. She reminded us about her office hours and would always help students after class."

Recipients of the Outstanding Research and Scholarship Award are:

Dr. Jon Elhai, a professor in the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Letters.

Dr. John Elhai is being recognized for outstanding scholarly and research contributions. To date, he has published 378 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, 19 academic book chapters and three co-edited books. He has presented at more than 200 conference presentations. Elhai's current h-index is 93 and, according to Google Scholar, Elhai's work has been cited a total of more than 31,000 times, placing him as the second-most highly cited researcher currently employed at UToledo.

For many years, Elhai made substantial contributions to the clinical science of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). His empirical research has focused on clarifying and studying revisions to the diagnostic symptom structure of the disorder. This scientific advancement led to the diagnosis of PTSD changing by splitting these symptom clusters with the 2013 release of DSM-5, in accordance with his empirical findings. Thus, Elhai's research was an important contributing factor to the more accurate and current understanding of the disorder and how mental health professionals currently diagnose PTSD.

Dr. Rujun Gong, a professor in the Division of Nephrology and Department of Medicine in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences.

Gong's research has been widely recognized and disseminated, with invited lectures at prestigious conferences, including the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week in 2023. In addition to his research publications, Gong has been prodigious in securing research support from prestigious funding agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and private industry funding. Gong currently has five active research grants and two pending grant submissions.

Gong has been engaged in groundbreaking research focusing on the pathogenesis of acute and chronic kidney disease, addressing key challenges in nephrology. His work is characterized by its innovative concepts and methodologies, rigorous analysis and interdisciplinary approach, which have led to novel insights and solutions in the field of kidney disease.

Gong's research contributions are evident by publications in top-tier journals in medical research journals, including the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Kidney International and the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. His work has been widely recognized and well received by his peers, contributing to meaningful discussions and collaborations within the academic community.

Dr. Jian-Ting Zhang, McMaster Endowed Chair of Biochemistry and Cell and Cancer Biology in the Department of Cell and Cancer Biology in the College of Medicine and Life Science.

Zhang is being recognized as an international academic leader in the field of therapeutic resistance biology and drug discovery. The impact of Zhang's productive scholarship is reflected by his more than 140 publications and his inventions, with five approved patents and a successful clinical trial based on his discoveries. Zhang has been recognized nationally and internationally. He was invited to serve as the inaugural Editor-in-Chief for the International Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, a rare honor only reserved for highly regarded academic scholars.

In 2021, Zhang was elected as Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world's largest multidisciplinary scientific society. His recognition also includes the sustained federal grant support of his high impact research program for the past 30 years, making him the second current AAAS Fellows at The University of Toledo.

Recipients of the Edith Rathbun Award for Outreach and Engagement are:

Dr. Anju Gupta, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering in the College of Engineering.

Gupta is the principal investigator for the National Science Foundation NSF-funded UToledo ADVANCE program. ADVANCE seeks to promote systemic change to enhance gender equity and inclusion for STEM faculty. For the program, Gupta developed a career-life survey to determine faculty needs. The survey is currently available to the UToledo community and has received more than 200 responses. She organized a Faculty Allies workshop that attracted participants from six regional universities and a STEM Allies: Ambassadors for Change workshop for STEM doctoral students at UToledo to help them prepare for their professional careers.

Gupta is dedicated to educating, empowering and engaging women of all ages through initiatives with Women of Toledo (WOT), a non-profit serving the Northwest Ohio community. She recently hosted a Think Tank on Allyship on International Women's Day 2024 for an audience that included United Nations WOT HeforShe representatives, Toledo community DEI advocates and local working professionals.

Dr. Youngwoo Seo, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering.

Seo's dedication to community engagement was particularly evident during the Toledo Water Crisis of August 2014, where his swift and decisive actions played a pivotal role in mitigating the crisis's impact on our region. As part of the interdisciplinary Water Task Force at The University of Toledo, Seo collaborated with a diverse team of faculty members to provide vital technical support and information to public officials and the broader community.

Seo's collaborative research has directly helped many local water utilities find insightful management solutions to address various water quality-associated issues and have directly supported local water utilities in solving their unique problems.

His collaborative approach facilitated partnerships with local municipal water utilities, directly supporting their efforts to optimize water treatment processes and address water quality-associated issues. More notably, he has supervised many undergraduate and graduate students, supporting them in their community service-based learning. Specifically, he has been supporting 47 undergraduate students' (31 students from underrepresented groups) research with external research grants.

Recipients of the Outstanding Advisor Award are:

Dr. Jiayong Liu, an associate professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences.

Lui shared in his philosophy of advising statement that he is deeply committed to nurturing the holistic growth of each student under his guidance. "Beyond the realm of academic achievement, I prioritize their physical and emotional well-being, recognizing the interconnectedness of these facets in their overall development."

His nominators also agree that he is committed to his students. A student nominator shared, "Dr. Liu demonstrates a very caring attitude, and I can tell that he wants me to succeed and is in my corner every step of the way. Dr. Liu is an amazing advisor that is always available to talk, great at communication and makes me feel supported throughout my projects."

Heather Tessler, director of Student Services in the College of Health and Human Services.

Her nominator stated, "Heather listens to students and then encourages them to become active participants in creating an appropriate plan of study so they can achieve success in their chosen career. She is adept at helping traditional and nontraditional students, on-campus or online."

Heather stated in her philosophy of advising statement that it is important to "provide an open environment in which students can vent their frustrations, share feelings of being overwhelmed, or sometimes just talk about issues in their lives." Her advising practice is centered on the following concepts: focus on a student's strengths, provide support and a sense of belonging and clarify policies and procedures.

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