Distinguished University Awards

The Department of English is widely recognized within The Ohio State University community for the inclusive excellence of its teaching, research and service. Selection committees for the university's most prestigious awards regularly identify departmental faculty and staff as standing out among their peers. The department boasts:

We are proud to introduce the English faculty and staff recipients of these prestigious awards.


MOST RECENT RECIPIENTS BY CATEGORY

(In alphabetical order by award title)

Photo of Prof. Risinger

 


JACOB RISINGER | Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching (2022)

 


Simone Drake

 

 

SIMONE DRAKE | Distinguished Diversity Enhancement Award (2023)


Professor Adéẹ̀kọ́ speaking

 


ADÉLÉKÈ ADÉẸ̀KỌ́ | Distinguished Scholar Award (2023)

 


Photo of Elissa Washuta

 


ELISSA WASHUTA | Early Career Distinguished Scholar Award (2022)


Professor Emerita in English Valerie Lee poses smiling in front of a gray backdrop

 

 

VALERIE LEE | Distinguished Service Award (2018)


Headshot of Academic Program Coordinator Kathleen Griffin

 

 

KATHLEEN GRIFFIN | Distinguished Staff Award (2019)


Frederick Luis Aldama

 


FREDERICK LUIS ALDAMA | Distinguished University Professor (2019)


Professor Jared Gardner poses, smiling, in front of a striped background

 


JARED GARDNER | President and Provost's Award for Distinguished Faculty Service (2022)

 


Wendy Hesford

 

 

WENDY S. HESFORD | President and Provost's Award for Distinguished Faculty Service (2022)


Meghan Hattaway

 

 

MEGHAN HATTAWAY | Provost's Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Lecturer (2018)

 

DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY AWARDS

The Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching annually recognizes a maximum of ten faculty members for their teaching excellence.


2022

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

  • David Herman

2011

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

1999

1997

1993

1990

1989

  • Marlene Longenecker

1985

  • Ernest Lockridge
  • John Sena

1982

1981

  • David Citino

1978

  • Marlene Longenecker

1976

1975

  • John Sena

1974

  • Barbara Rigney

1973

  • James Kincaid

1966

  • Gordon Grigsby

1965

  • James Fullington

The Distinguished Diversity Enhancement Award annually recognizes up to five recipients for exceptional diversity efforts.


2023

2016

2014

2012

2011

  • Chadwick Allen

2009

  • Debra Moddelmog

2008

2002

  • Jacqueline J. Royster

2001

  • Brenda Jo Brueggemann

1987

  • John Sena

The Distinguished Scholar Award honors senior professors for their exceptional scholarly accomplishments and the Early Career Distinguished Scholar Award honors younger faculty members for their demonstrated scholarly potential.


2023

2022

2021

2016

2015

2014

2004

2001

  • John N. King

1998

  • Andrea A. Lunsford

1986

  • Edward P.J. Corbett

1979

  • Richard D. Altick

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals who have rendered exceptional service to the university. Recipients of this award have provided a broad spectrum of services to the university in both official and unofficial capacities.


2018

2015

  • Christian Zacher

1991

  • Albert Kuhn

1984

  • L. Neal Smith

1983

  • Richard Altick

1974

  • Robert M. Estrich

The Distinguished Staff Award annually honors 12 staff members for their outstanding achievements, service, leadership and dedication to The Ohio State University. It is the highest honor bestowed upon staff at the university since its inception in 1984.


2019

2008

  • Kimberly Kovarik

2001

  • Christopher M. Griffin

1996

  • Lorraine F. Carlat

1994

  • Carla J. Wilks

The Distinguished University Professor title is awarded permanently to no more than three faculty members per year in recognition of their exceptional teaching, research, scholarly or creative work, and service. It is the highest faculty honor at the university.


2019

2008

2004

  • John N. King

The President and Provost's Award for Distinguished Faculty Service recognizes faculty members for their contributions to the development and implementation of university policies and programs through non-administrative roles, while continuing to teach and pursue scholarship.


2022

2011

2007

2006

2005

  • Christian K. Zacher

1998

The Provost's Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Lecturer annually recognizes a maximum of six lecturers, senior lecturers or other associated faculty members for their teaching excellence.


2018

  • Meghan Hattaway

2015