NSU Circle of Excellence Winners Honored

Tahlequah, Okla. Northeastern State University presented its 2010-11 Circle of Excellence Awards to Dr. Isaac Diianni for teaching, Dr. Jessica Martin for research and Dr. Stephen Sargent for service during a ceremony April 28 in the Tower Room of the Webb Educational Technology Center.

NSU president Don Betz said the awards celebrated the recipients, but also celebrated the efforts of the NSU faculty to establish an outstanding university.

What I notice about these three recipients is that they are all pretty young, Betz said. It reminds people my age that the rites of passage are clearly underway. What we do here is create opportunities for the next generation of teachers, learners, researchers and leaders.

However, we do leave some signs of what we value, and one of the things we value is this Circle of Excellence. It is wonderful that there are people we recognize in our own midst as having distinguished themselves because they gave the best that they have.

The Circle of Excellence awards recognize outstanding faculty for their outstanding accomplishments and commitment to educating students. Each honoree receives a brick bearing their name and award to be placed within the Circle of Excellence in front of Seminary Hall. In addition to securing a permanent place in NSU history, recipients receive a substantial award for their selection (their choice of a new computer or $2,500 to use toward professional development).

Diianni, associate professor of economics, teaches courses in the College of Business and Technology. He holds a Ph.D. and masters degree in economics from George Mason University and a bachelors degree in global economics from the University of California at Santa Cruz.

Martin is an assistant chemistry professor who joined NSUs natural sciences faculty in 2006. She holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California at Santa Barbara and masters and bachelors degrees in chemistry from Northern Arizona University. She works with undergraduate students pursing research at the interface of chemistry and biology.

Sargent is an associate professor of curriculum and instruction at NSU-Broken Arrow. He is also director of the NSU Reading Clinic. He has been program chair for the reading and literacy department since 2005. He holds a doctorate and bachelors degree from Oklahoma State University and a masters degree from the University of Tulsa.