Graduate College

This year's Graduate College Awards Ceremony was held April 23, 2024. The Graduate College is extraordinarily proud of each of our honorees this year! Through the last year, we have all persisted to be flexible and do our best, and these honorees exemplified the traits needed for commitment to graduate education. Please join us in recognizing each awardee in the following categories. 

 

Honorary Commencement Marshals 

Honorary Commencement Marshals demonstrate exemplary scholarly achievement that capture the essence of OSU’s land-grant mission.

• Zhidong Su is completing a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Electrical Engineering in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology under the direction of his research advisor, Dr. Weihua Sheng. 
• Kirstin Michelle Sylvester is completing a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Counseling Psychology in the College of Education and Human Sciences under the direction of her research advisor, Dr. Sue Jacobs.
• Owen Edwards is completing a Master of Science degree in Integrative Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences under the direction of his research advisor Dr. Bo Zhang.
• Gabrielle Jones is completing a Master of Science degree in Entomology and Plant Pathology in the Ferguson College of Agriculture under the direction of her research advisor Dr. W. Wyatt Hoback. 

 

 

Robberson Summer Dissertation Fellowships & Research & Creative Activities Grants Recipients

Summer Dissertation Fellowships support summer research

for outstanding OSU post-candidacy, doctoral students.

 

Graduate Research Excellence Awardees

In partnership with the Research Office, the GREAs recognize outstanding research accomplishments as reflected in the thesis and dissertation. 

From Subject Matter Group I – Biological Sciences:

• Dr. Kumar Shrestha, who received a Ph.D. in Plant Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, advised by Dr. Huang Yinghua.

From Subject Matter Group III– Physical Sciences and Technology:  

• Dr. Zhangyue Shi, who received a Ph.D. in Industrial Enginering and Management in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, advised by Dr. Chenang Liu.
• Emmanuel Yangue, who received a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, advised by Dr. Chenang Liu.

From Subject Matter Group IV –Social Sciences: 

• Dr. Clarissa Corkins, who received a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science in the College of Education and Human Sciences, advised by Dr. Amanda Harrist.

From Subject Matter Group V – Education:

• Dr. Tyler Price, who received a Ph.D. in Agricultural Education in the Ferguson College of Agriculture, advised by Dr. Craig Edwards.
• Kyleigh Hilburn, who received a Master of Science in Agricultural Education and Leadership in the Ferguson College of Agriculture, advised by Dr. Lauren Lewis Cline.

 

Technical Abstract Writing Contest

In partnership with the OSU Writing Center, the workshops and

contests focused on how to present scholarly work in an abstract targeted to either a technical or public audience.

Spring Technical Abstract Writing Contest

• Receiving the First Place $300 award is Noopur Dasgupta from Microbiology, Cell & Molecular Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences. The abstract is entitled “Chlamydia trachomatis recruits Phospholipase C and phosphorylated Phospholipase C to the inclusion.”
• Receiving the Second Place $200 award is Jesse Hurd from Integrative Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences. The abstract is entitled “Adult male prairie voles exhibit testicular plasticity and adaptive sperm production in response to conspecific female exposure: implications of social monogamy and sexual promiscuity.”
• Receiving the Third Place $100 award is Oluwatobi Quadri  from Microbiology, Cell & Molecular Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences. The abstract is entitled “The Future of Sustainable Energy: Optimizing Biological Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass for Biofuel Production.”

 

Graduate Dean's Certificate

the Graduate Dean’s Certificate is the highest level of achievement. It requires intentional effort to develop as a professional as graduate students prepare to transition from graduate school to working as a professional. By completing all level activities in at least four of the six competencies, students can earn the Graduate Dean’s Certificate and medallion that can be worn with their academic regalia.

•  Joanna Nandita Kolpillai from the Comparative Biomedical Science program in the Graduate College.
• Andrea Valentina Plata Martinez from the Art History program in the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Gabriela Hernandes Villani  from the Plant Biology program in the College of Arts and Sciences.

 

Graduate College Ambassadors

In partnership Ambassadors are graduate students who are passionate about OSU, excited about their graduate student experiences and eager to share their insights with future graduate students.

 

From the College of Arts and Sciences

• Katelyn Cooke, Geography.
• Adeola Favour, Mass Communications.
• Rosty Martinez Duque, Physics

From the College of Education and Human Sciences

• Femi Olawale, Nutritional Sciences.

From the College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology

• Matthew Nare, Industrial Engineering and Management.
• Jimmy Uba, Industrial Engineering and Management.

From the College of Veterinary Medicine

• Bhuvana Plakkot, Comparative Biomedicine

From the Ferguson College of Agriculture

• Grace Williams, Plant and Soil Science.

From the Graduate College

• Nathaniel Bolujoko, Environmental Science.

From the Spears School of Business

• Tenzin Youlo, Hospitality, Tourism Management.

 

Service Leadership Award

• Sonika Poudel, who served as Social Chair of the GPSGA for the 2023-24 academic year.
• Haridas Kumar Das, who served as Parliamentarian.
• Abiola Samson Olaniyi, who served as Communications Director.
• Michael Afolabi, who served as Intergovernmental Liaison.
• Torsha Goswami, who served as International Affairs Liaison.
• Mahesh Sivasubramanian , who served as Secretary prior to graduating in December.
• Eshan Maitra, who served as Treasurer.
• Enrico Laoh, who served as Vice President.
• Marcia Sun, who served as President for a second consecutive term.  

 

GPSGA Phoenix Award 

The Phoenix Award is the highest honor awarded by GPSGA. Awards recognize OSU graduate students who demonstrate exemplary achievement in leadership, scholarship, community and university service, and professional involvement.

• Doctoral degree program recipient Jeevotham Senthil Kumar from Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the Ferguson College of Agriculture.
• Master’s degree program recipient Owen Edwards from Integrative Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences.

 

GPSGA Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant

Nominated by faculty, administrators or graduate students, this award recognizes outstanding work and dedication as a GTA.

• Hann Bingham Brunner  from English in the College of Arts and Sciences.

 

Phoenix Graduate Faculty Mentor Award

Given in recognition of excellence in mentorship of graduate students.

• Dr. Douglas Knutson, faculty in School of Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psychology in the College of education and Human Sciences

 

Outstanding Graduate Coordinator

This award recognizes the exemplary service of faculty and staff who lead and manage graduate programs, providing an invaluable service to OSU.

• Dr. Jill Joyce from Nutritional Sciences in the College of Education and Human Sciences.