FSOS faculty and students win awards at CEHD Spring Assembly
Faculty and student workers from Family Social Science won five awards at the annual CEHD Spring Assembly. The CEHD Awards and Honors program recognizes outstanding work in the college each year. Award recipients are nominated by peers and colleagues who also submit letters of support.
Faculty members Margaret Kelly, Jenifer McGuire, Tai Mendenhall and student workers Miguel Quinones and Kaylina Smith were all recognized for their outstanding contributions to the CEHD and University community.
Margaret Kelly, senior teaching specialist and director of undergraduate studies, was honored with the Distinguished Teaching Award that recognizes “recognizes outstanding contributions by a college faculty member and P&A instructional staff member who enhances learning through classroom and/or field-based teaching, student advising and academic innovations.”
Jenifer McGuire, professor and extension specialist, was recognized for her research in support of LGBTQ+ youth and families with the Excellence in Research Award. She has also shared her expertise with regional and national media to build understanding of the issues facing trans youth and their families that affect their mental health and well-being.
Tai Mendenhall, professor, was honored with the Marty and Jack Rossman Award, that recognizes tenured faculty “who has demonstrated a truly exceptional level of creativity and productivity in scholarship, teaching and service, and who shows great promise of continuing such achievement.”
Miguel Quinones, graduate student, and Kaylina Smith, undergraduate student, won Outstanding Student Employee Awards that are designed to recognize “exceptional service contributions to the CEHD, the University community, and the surrounding community.”
Quinones, who serves as president of Graduate Students in Education and Human Development (GradSEHD), is a third-year graduate student. His research explores Latino family well-being and how Latino families’ socioeconomic situation affect their financial practices. He has presented several webinars for Extension on “Tandas”, an informal financial practice that addresses the social, cultural, and economic needs of Mexican American families.
Smith was honored for her contributions and positive impact on the Family Social Science community. Joining FSOS in February 2022, she consistently demonstrated initiative, leadership, and outstanding service. She showed initiative and did not hesitate to take on extra responsibilities to support department events. Smith will graduate in May and immediately start her career as a case manager for Lutheran Social Services.