NSU Honors Faculty With Circle of Excellence Awards

TAHLEQUAH Northeastern State University presented the 2007-2008 Circle of Excellence Awards to Dr. Jon Shapiro, Katy Rempe Ellis and Dr. John Diamantopoulos at a special ceremony on Thursday, April 24 in the NET Building Tower. The Circle of Excellence awards recognize outstanding faculty and reward them for their hard work in the areas of research, teaching and service.

Dr. Shapiro, Ms. Ellis and Dr Diamantopoulos epitomize what is truly great about the faculty here at Northeastern, said Dr. Dalton Bigbee, vice president for Academic Affairs. The faculty at NSU labored for many years without many accolades, and these Circle of Excellence Awards are our way of recognizing their achievements in the areas of research, service and teaching.

Each recipient will receive a brick to be placed in the Circle of Excellence, located in front of Seminary Hall. In addition to securing a permanent place in NSU history, recipients will receive a substantial award for their selection (their choice of a new computer or $2,500 to use toward professional development).

Dr. Jon Shapiro Research. Dr. Jon Shapiro, professor of Marketing received his Ph.D. from Virginia Tech with a specialty in International Business and Marketing. During his 13 years at NSU, his central research area focuses on the domains of Cultural Sensitivity and Knowledge, International Relationship Development, and Transformative Research within the areas of Mass Transportation, Health Care, and Information Technology. He has published at least one article each of these years. His research on public transportation systems in California has increased participation, while reducing pollution and costs. Shapiro, originally of Rockaway Beach, N.Y., also instituted the Brown Bag Research Series at NSU, which provides colleagues in the College of Business and Technology the opportunity to share their current research efforts. His writings are published in numerous outlets including the Journal of International Business Studies, the Journal of International Marketing, the Journal of Consumer Research, the Journal of Relationship Marketing, the Journal of Business Leadership, and the Journal of Business to Business Marketing.

Katy Rempe Ellis Teaching. Katy Ellis, instructor of Safety Management, is described by her colleagues as a collaborator, innovator and mentor for her students. As a teacher, Ellis uses a hands-on approach in her classes and is consistently ranked as one of the top faculty in student evaluations. Ellis, originally of Okemah, is more than a teacher to her students. She is a friend and mentor, always finding extra time to help with coursework, aid in job searches, or just lending an ear when they need to talk. Along with her colleagues in the College of Business and Technology, Ellis worked to develop the Supply Chain Management program, is the faculty sponsor for the NSU Safety and Environmental Management Association, and has worked to implement changes to programs so students are ready for certification and employment upon graduation.

Dr. John Diamantopoulos Service. Dr. John Diamantopoulos, associate professor of Mathematics, consistently contributes time to service opportunities within the department of Mathematics, the College of Science and Health Professions, the university and the Tahlequah community. Diamantopoulos, originally of Waukegan, Ill., has served on numerous professional and community committees, including serving as chair of the Oklahoma-Arkansas Section of the Mathematical Association of America, vice president of the NSU Faculty Council, and twice co-chaired the American Cancer Societys Relay For Life team at NSU. Under his leadership, Northeastern hosted the annual meeting of the Oklahoma-Arkansas Section of the Mathematical Association of America for the first time in 2007, which brought over 200 mathematics professionals from the two-state area to campus. Diamantopoulos is also a member of the American Mathematical Society of America and the Mathematical Association of America.

4/30/2008

Published: 2008-04-30 00:00:00