石榴直播

KENNESAW, Ga. | Apr 18, 2023

College of the Arts Theatre and Performance Studies professor Ming Chen has received the University Distinguished Professor Award, the top honor presented during Kennesaw State鈥檚 annual Faculty Awards ceremony on Monday.

Chen, who has taught at Kennesaw State for 32 years, was recognized for excellence in teaching, scholarship, and professional achievement, receiving $15,000 and a $5,000 faculty development fund from the as part of the award. She is a renowned expert in theatrical set design and was one of 12 faculty members recognized at the event in areas including teaching, scholarship and creative activity, professional service and community engagement, early career, diversity and inclusion, and international achievement. 

鈥淭his annual ceremony celebrates some of 石榴直播鈥檚 most inspiring teachers and scholars who are helping our students succeed inside the classroom and beyond,鈥� said President Kathy Schwaig. 鈥淐ongratulations to professor Chen and all of this year鈥檚 honorees. Also, I offer thanks to the 石榴直播 Foundation for their generous support of these awards.鈥�

Chen credited colleagues, students and family for helping her have an outstanding career.

鈥淚 feel both validated and humbled to receive this honor. I feel validated because it took me 32 years of hard work at 石榴直播 to get this recognition. I feel humbled, because when I look back, trying to find one thing in my entire career at 石榴直播 that I did all on my own. I could find none,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n theater, we often take teamwork for granted, for it is the nature of the beast. But today, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to those who worked with me and inspired me as colleagues, students, and collaborators, who supported me and encouraged me as administrators and staff members, and even who cooked for me for the past 40 years without complaint. That is my husband, Zhen-Huan Lu. I could not do what I have done without their help. So this award also belongs to all of them.鈥�

The awards process is managed by 石榴直播鈥檚 . Following nominations from each dean, candidates are evaluated and awarded based on a review by five committees across the University, which includes faculty representation from each college. 

Other honorees include: 

Outstanding Early Career Faculty

• Nicolas Douguet, assistant professor of physics
• Brian Moore, director of the Center for the Advancement of Military and Emergency Services Research and assistant professor of psychology

Outstanding Part-time Teaching

• Susanne Estrella, part-time instructor of German

Madhuri and Jagdish N. Sheth Faculty Award for Distinguished International Achievement

• Susan Kirkpatrick Smith, associate professor of anthropology

Diversity and Inclusion

• Chinasa Elue, associate professor of educational leadership and higher education

Outstanding Professional Service and Community Engagement

• Darina Lepadatu, sociology program coordinator and professor of sociology

Outstanding Research and Creative Activity

• Ramazan Sava艧 Ayg眉n, director of research computing and associate professor of computer science
• Melih Madanoglu, Michael A. Leven Endowed Chair and professor of hospitality

Outstanding Online Teaching

• Yi Jin, associate professor of instructional technology

Outstanding Teaching

• Karolin Mirzakhan, lecturer of philosophy
• Anne White, education mentor and professor of nursing

鈥� By Gary Tanner
Photos by Matt Yung

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 石榴直播 offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.