Sponsored research fetes faculty, staff accomplishments

Charles “Chip” Benight, professor, Department of Psychology and more than 30 other faculty and staff were honored Oct. 21 for their efforts to generate sponsored academic research.

At a red carpet reception in Berger Hall, Kelli Klebe, associate vice chancellor for research and faculty development, Academic Affairs, recognized Benight for generating more than $5 million in sponsored research as well as individuals who submitted their first-ever research grant proposal, received an award for the first time, or surpassed $1 million in research funding.

“We appreciate you taking a shot,” Klebe said before presenting shot glasses to those who submitted their first proposal. “That is the first step.”

Klebe thanked the more than 140 UCCS personnel who support sponsored programs and noted that more than 250 people are involved in generating more than $10 million in annual sponsored program activity.

Benight directs the Trauma, Health and Hazards Center. The center researches and works directly with those who have suffered extreme events including war, natural disaster and violence. The center also works with first responders.

For his efforts, Benight received a check for $5,000 as well as a trophy noting his achievement of surpassing $5 million in grant funding while at UCCS. Only three other UCCS faculty achieved that level of sponsored research funding. They are Terrance Boult, El Pomar Chair of Innovation and Security, College of Engineering, Robert Camley, professor, Department of Physics, and Zbigniew Celinski, professor, Department of Physics.

Others honored Wednesday include

Million Dollar Club

• Chinghua Edward Chow, professor, Computer Science Department, College of Engineering and Applied Science
• Leilani Feliciano, associate professor, Psychology Department, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
• Anatoliy Glushchenko, professor, Physics Department, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
• Deborah Kenny, associate dean, Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences
• Rory Adrian Lewis, assistant professor, Computer Science Department, College of Engineering and Applied Science
• Janel Owens, assistant professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
• Qing Yi, associate professor, Computer Science Department, College of Engineering and Applied Science

First Award Recipients

• Grant Clayton, assistant professor, Curriculum and Instruction Department, College of Education
• Jay Dawes, assistant professor, Health Sciences Department, Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences
• Craig Elder, associate professor, Health Sciences Department, Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences
• Cerian Gibbes, assistant professor, Geography and Environmental Studies Department, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
• Karin Larkin, curator, Anthropology Department, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
• Phillip Morris, director, Office of Veteran and Military Student Affairs
• Stephanie Ryon, assistant professor, School of Public Affairs
• Kotoro Shoji, postdoctoral fellow, Trauma, Heath, and Hazards Center
• Jonathan Ventura, assistant professor, Computer Science Department, College of Engineering and Applied Science
• Richard White, computer science doctoral student, College of Engineering and Applied Science

First Proposal Recipients

• Melissa Benton, associate professor, Nursing Department, Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences
• Jill Bradley-Giest, assistant professor, College of Business
• Valerie Martin Conley, dean, College of Education
• Maja Krakowiak, associate professor, Communication Department, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
• Meghan Lybecker, assistant professor, Biology Department, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
• Chris Nelson, program director, Online Graduate Programs, College of Engineering and Applied Science
• James Pearson, professor, Biology Department, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
• Darshika Perera, assistant professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Applied Science
• Mary Rupp, instructor, Kraemer Family Library
• Kimbra Smith, assistant professor, Anthropology Department, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
• Stephany Spaulding, associate professor, Women’s and Ethnic Studies Program, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
• Colleen Stiles, instructor, Bachelor of Innovation Program, College of Business
• Kevin Tvrdy, assistant professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
• Zek Valkyrie, instructor, Sociology Department, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
• Patricia Witkowsky, instructor, Leadership, Research, and Foundations Department, College of Education

 

— Photos by Ali Laforce and Jeffrey M Foster