NSU celebrates 2024 DaVinci Institute winners

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Northeastern State University is celebrating the newest class of DaVinci award winners.

The DaVinci Institute has selected Associate Professor of Biology, Dr. Janaki Iyer, as the 2024 Creativity in Education Fellow.

Iyer’s proposal is titled "The Impact of Collaborations in Promoting Creative Thinking” and focuses on determining if collaborations can aid students in designing practical creative solutions.

“It is a great honor to receive this award and I feel very humbled to be selected,” Iyer said. “This award has reminded me of the efforts spent by my educators and mentors who have guided and supported me throughout my professional journey.”

The DaVinci Institute has selected Assistant Professor of Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Renee Cowan, as a 2024 DaVinci Institute Fellow.

Cowan’s Proposal is titled “Decodable Book Bags: Leveraging the School to Home Connection to Support Phonics Instruction" and focuses on how building a school-to-home connection, through the use of take-home Decodable Book Bags, can improve phonics learning for students.

“It is a huge honor to receive the 2024 DaVinci Fellow award,” Cowan said. “I am humbled to be included among such creative and dedicated scholars who have gone before me.”

The DaVinci Institute has also selected Associate Professor of Social Work, Dr. Samuel Asante, as a 2024 DaVinci Institute Fellow.

Asante’s proposal is titled “The BRIDGE Mentoring Project.” BRIDGE stands for Build, Restore, Initiate, Develop, Grow, and Empower. BRIDGE will seek to enhance college and career readiness among high school students from low-income households in the Tulsa Public School system and connect them to some of Tulsa’s most influential leaders who could serve as role models to them.

“I am grateful to the DaVinci Institute and Northeastern State University for recognizing my work and the importance of the project I intend to undertake to assist high school students from low-income families with their preparations for college and career,” Asante said.

The DaVinci Institute has selected NSU student Jocelyn Holden as a 2024 DaVinci Institute Scholar.

Holden’s Proposal is titled "Reading and Writing Together Project.” The purpose of the project is to create a meaningful and enriching literacy experience for students by partnering them with residents from a nearby retirement community.

“Receiving this award is an immense honor for me,” Holden said. “I am passionate about offering students diverse and engaging opportunities for learning.”

About the DaVinci Institute

The DaVinci Institute is organized exclusively for charitable, scientific and educational purposes, more specifically to serve as an Oklahoma think tank whose mission is to promote a statewide creative renaissance through lectures, workshops, professional development, research and advocacy.

To learn more about the DaVinci Institute and this year’s winners, visit https://academicaffairs.nsuok.edu/nsudavinciawards.aspx.

###