Collis R. Geren Award and Patricia R. Koski Award for Excellence in Graduate Education

The Collis R. Geren and Patricia R. Koski Award for Excellence in Graduate Education recognizes faculty and staff with a record of outstanding service and/or leadership to graduate education on the University of Arkansas campus, community, and graduate education at large.

Awards are made in three categories: (1) Outstanding Faculty, (2) Outstanding Staff Member, and (3) Outstanding Graduate School & International Education Staff Member. Special awards may be made at the discretion of the Graduate Dean. Nominations are solicited each spring semester by the Associate Dean of the Graduate School.

Previous Winners of the Award

2023

  • Outstanding Faculty:

    Kristofor R. Brye, university professor of applied soil physics and pedology
  • Outstanding Staff:

    Mike Waldie assistant dean of the Walton College Graduate School of Business
  • Outstanding GSIE Staff:

    Michael C. Freeman, director of international students and scholars

2022

  • Outstanding Faculty:

    Gregory Parnell, Professor of Practice, Industrial Engineering
  • Outstanding Staff:

    Nancy Fondren, Coordinator of Academic Services, Graduate School of Business
  • Outstanding GSIE Staff:

    Cheri Poellot, Assistant Director of Administration and Special Projects, Graduate School Admissions and Recruiting Office

2021

  • Outstanding Faculty:

    Gregory Salamo, Distinguished Professor of Physics
  • Outstanding Staff:

    Brenda Foster, Administrative Support Supervisor, Department of History
  • Outstanding GSIE Staff:

    Renee Hearon, Program Specialist, Materials Science & Engineering Program
  • Special GSIE Team Award:

    GSIE Office of Financial Affairs including Melissa Erwin, Sedivy Reigh, Julie Burden, Carol Wade, and Paula Lasner

2020

  • Outstanding Faculty:

    Val Hunt, Associate Professor of Political Science
  • Outstanding Staff:

    Shelly Gahagans, Nonresident tax coordinator, Human Resource
  • Outstanding GSIE Staff:

    Karl Anderson, Assistant Director of Recruiting

2019

  • Outstanding Faculty:

    Adnan Alrubaye, clinical assistant professor of Biological Sciences
  • Outstanding Staff:

    Dave Dawson, Registrar
  • Outstanding GSIE Staff:

    Cassie Franklin, assistant to the dean, Graduate School and International Education

2018

  • Outstanding Faculty:

    William McComas, Parks Family Professor of Science Education, College of Education and Health Professions
  • Outstanding Staff:

    Lisa Kulczak, associate registrar for curriculum management
  • Outstanding GSIE Staff:

    Amanda Cantu, director of communications and director of graduate retention and graduation, Graduate School and International Education

2017

  • Outstanding Faculty:

    Douglas Rhoads, university professor of Biological Sciences
  • Outstanding Staff:

    Bryan Hill, assistant dean for student recruitment and diversity, College of Engineering
  • Outstanding GSIE Staff:

    Vicky Hartwell, graduate student fellowships, Graduate School and International Education

2016

  • Outstanding Faculty:

    John Norwood, professor of accounting, Walton College of Business
  • Outstanding Staff:

    Joe Euculano, director of development initiatives, University Development
  • Outstanding GSIE Staff:

    Kim London, graduate admissions, Graduate School and International Education

2015

  • Outstanding Faculty:

    Brinck Kerr, professor, Political Science
  • Outstanding Staff:

    Stephanie Neuberger, clerical assistant III, Registrar
  • Outstanding GSIE Staff:

    Nicholas Daehn, UAConnect project director, Graduate School and International Education

2014

  • Outstanding Faculty:

    Ken Vickers, director, Microelectronics-Photonics
  • Outstanding Staff:

    JoAnn Kvamme, administrative specialist III, Environmental Dynamics
  • Outstanding GSIE Staff:

    Lynn Mosesso, director, Graduate and International Admissions and Recruitment
  • Staff Posthumous Award:

    Paul Byers, director of IT services for Graduate School and International Education

2013

  • Outstanding Faculty:

    Randy Brown, faculty, Electrical Engineering
  • Outstanding Staff:

    Julie Rogers, Registrar’s Office
  • Outstanding GSIE Staff:

    Michael Rau, Graduate School and International Education
  • Special GSIE Award:

    Mary Margaret Hui, doctoral student in Higher Education

2012

  • Outstanding Faculty:

    Rick Ulrich, professor of chemical engineering, College of Engineering
  • Outstanding Staff:

    Joda Parent, staff member, Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences
  • Outstanding GSIE Staff:

    Susan Byram, assistant director of graduate and international admissions, Graduate School and International Education

2011

  • Outstanding Faculty:

    Luke Parsch, associate professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness, Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences
  • Outstanding Staff:

    JoAnn Pepper, financial systems coordinator, Treasurer
  • Outstanding GSIE Staff:

    Patricia Koski, associate dean, Graduate School and International Education

2010

  • Outstanding Faculty:

    Scott Mason, associate professor, Industrial Engineering
  • Outstanding Staff:

    Nancy Sloan, program manager, Operations Management
  • Outstanding GSIE Staff:

    Collis R. Geren, vice provost for research and dean of the Graduate School

The Collis R. Geren award was created in 2010 in honor of Geren who served as the Dean of the Graduate School for nearly twenty years.


This award was renamed in 2021 to also honor Dr. Patricia Koski who served as the Dean of the Graduate School (2020-2021) and as Associate Dean of the Graduate School (1996-2020)