Employees recognized for commitment, creativity and care
By Vicki Christian
Fisher College of Business
During Fisher’s annual Faculty and Staff Recognition Luncheon, more than 200 employees recently gathered to honor the colleagues whose hard work and dedication ensures that Fisher continues to help tomorrow’s business leaders thrive.
From redesigning the undergraduate student experience, to building stronger business connections and creating a supportive employee community, faculty and staff were recognized for their outstanding contributions and collaboration to bring key priorities at Fisher to life.
“What stands out most to me is not just how much is being accomplished, but how it’s being accomplished: with care, with creativity and with a deep commitment to our students and to one another,” said Interim Dean Aravind Chandrasekaran. “These efforts don’t happen by accident.
Throughout the celebration, employees were praised for their unwavering commitment to Fisher’s core values, while faculty were honored for their commitment to teaching, research and service.
“Our faculty continue to lead with impactful research and thought leadership that shapes how business is understood and practiced. That work remains central to who we are, and it strengthens everything else we do,” Chandrasekaran said. “Some contributions to our mission are highly visible; others happen quietly, over time. Together, though, they create something powerful: a college where students feel challenged and supported, where ideas are tested and expanded. That shared sense of purpose is what connects us, what drives us forward.”
Hover over the photo below to view the 2026 Recognition Luncheon photo gallery.
Awards and Recognitions
Coykendale Rising Star Award & Coykendale Service Excellence Award
The Coykendale Rising Star Award, named in honor of Cindy Coykendale, who provided more than 35 years of dedicated service to the college, is presented to a staff member with fewer than five years of Fisher service, while the Coykendale Service Excellence Award is reserved for a staff member with five or more years of Fisher service. Award winners demonstrate commitment and contribution to one or more of the core values of the college: integrity, empathy, perspective, collegiality, social responsibility and creativity. In addition, winners provide consistent and excellent job performance, promote a positive and motivating work environment and provide outstanding service to all.
- Coykendale Rising Star Award: Haleigh DePalma, senior college and regional recruiting and enrollment specialist, Executive Education
- Coykendale Service Excellence Award: Robyn Scholl, department administrator, associate director, Charles A. Dice Center
Fisher Community Champion Award
The winner of the Fisher Community Champion Award is a staff member who transcends their formal job responsibilities to cultivate a collegial and welcoming atmosphere for all members of the Fisher community. The recipient embodies the belief that a community embracing everyone fosters a robust and unified culture.
- Fisher Community Champion: Kay Smith, academic outreach and engagement liaison, Office of ACCESS
Fisher Culture Champion Award
The winner of the Fisher Culture Champion Award is a staff member who serves as an unsung hero, working to support colleagues, often without fanfare or recognition. A culture champion exemplifies servant leadership, making a positive impact on all those around them.
- Fisher Culture Champion: Brian Oilar, senior undergraduate academic advisor, Undergraduate Programs and Advising
Fisher Values Awards
Culture and community are inextricably linked at Fisher. College employees take active roles in shaping the mission, purpose and values that guide our institution of higher learning. The Fisher Values Award recognizes staff members who demonstrate an unwavering commitment to Fisher’s core values. One award is given for each core value listed in Fisher’s strategic plan.
- Integrity: Jessica Hall-Ciccone, manager, academic program services, Undergraduate Programs and Advising
- Empathy: Asiah Stewart, senior academic program services specialist, Undergraduate Programs and Advising
- Embrace Perspectives: Emily Salopeck, global business operations senior analyst, Office of Global Business
- Community: Jackie Pittman, academic program coordinator, Marketing and Logistics
- Social Responsibility: Jarrod Amstutz, recruiting and admissions coordinator, Graduate Programs Office
- Creativity: Dustin Stinson, marketing and communications specialist, Graduate Programs Office
The Outstanding Undergraduate Instructor Awards are student-nominated awards celebrating exceptional teaching by faculty and staff. They honor individuals who, through their commitment to excellence in teaching, have gone above and beyond to provide the next generation of business leaders with exceptional educational experiences.
- Nathan Craig, associate professor, Operations and Business Analytics
- Brian Monsen, assistant professor, Accounting and Management Information Systems
- Andrew Piletz, senior lecturer, Marketing and Logistics
- Jacquez Printup, undergraduate academic advisor, Undergraduate Programs
- Heidi Shull, vice chair and senior lecturer, Management and Human Resources
- Ivan Smith, senior lecturer, Finance
Lifetime Achievement in Teaching
- Lawrence Inks, clinical professor, Management and Human Resources
Faculty Pace Setters Awards
The Faculty Pace Setters Awards honor the outstanding contributions of faculty in the areas of teaching, research and service, the cornerstones of academic excellence. Each award reflects the college’s deep appreciation for the transformative role faculty play in shaping Fisher’s mission and advancing its reputation as a world-class business institution.
Daniel Westerbeck Teaching Excellence Award
The Daniel Westerbeck Teaching Excellence Award was established in 2000 with a gift to the college. The award draws from student input to honor two Fisher College of Business faculty members, one teaching at the undergraduate level, another at the graduate level, for teaching excellence.
- Daniel Westerbeck Teaching Excellence Award, Undergraduate: Dan Oglevee, senior lecturer, Finance
- Daniel Westerbeck Teaching Excellence Award, Graduate: Hun Lee, associate professor, Management and Human Resources
Bostic-Georges Faculty Service Award
The Bostic-Georges Faculty Service Award was established in March 2002 with gifts from the Bostic family of Columbus, Ohio; the Georges family of Westerville, Ohio; and other friends and supporters. The award recognizes a Fisher faculty member for exemplary service to the college and/or university community.
- Bostic-Georges Faculty Service Award: Rick Young, director, honors accounting program, professor, Accounting and Management Information Systems
Pace Setters Faculty Research Award
The Pace Setters Faculty Research Award was established to recognize a Fisher faculty member who has made a notable research contribution in their field of study. Nominees are evaluated on the basis of the impact of their research in a given area. The college research committee makes the final selection.
- Pace Setters Faculty Research Award: Kurt Gee, associate professor, Accounting and Management Information Systems
Staff Pace Setter Award
The Staff Pace Setter Award recognizes an individual who exemplifies exceptional leadership, dedication and innovation in their role at the college. This award celebrates a staff member who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to advancing the college’s mission and vision through creativity, influence and collaboration. The Staff Pace Setter embodies the spirit of the Pace Setters Awards, showcasing extraordinary leadership and fostering a culture of excellence and teamwork while inspiring others to reach their full potential. Both team leaders and individual contributors are eligible for this award. Recipients must have a minimum of five years of service at Fisher.
- Staff Pace Setter: Jill George, lead career counselor, Office of Career Management
- Staff Pace Setter: Beth Miller, director, client relationship, Executive Education
Undergraduate Curriculum Innovation Task Force
- Elliot Bendoly, Richard M. Ross Chair in Management, professor, Operations and Business Analytics
- Keely Croxton, professor, Marketing and Logistics
- Tim Judge, Joseph A. Alutto Chair in Leadership Effectiveness, Management and Human Resources
- Michael Knemeyer, professor, Marketing and Logistics
- Jana Lithgow, executive director, Undergraduate Programs
- Bernadette Minton, Arthur E. Shepard Endowed Professorship in Insurance, chair, Department of Finance
- Waleed Muhanna, professor, Accounting and Management Information Systems
- Mi Kyong Newsom, clinical assistant professor, Operations and Business Analytics
- Jon Quinn, senior lecturer, Marketing and Logistics
- Heidi Shull, vice chair and senior lecturer, Management and Human Resources
- Kathy Wantuch, senior lecturer, Accounting and Management Information Systems
- Chad Zipfel, senior lecturer, Finance
Fisher Buckeye Wellness Innovators
- Christiana Cordiano, instructional development specialist, Information Technology Services
- Beth Miller, director, client relationship, Executive Education
- Dylan Williams, business operations manager, Fisher Leadership Initiative
Staff Advisory Committee
- Nicole Adams, administrative assistant, Graduate Programs Office
- Thomas Shuman, IT multi-discipline senior specialist, Information Technology Services
- Randy Spears, associate director of instructional development, Information Technology Services
Fisher Innovation Tournament Committee
- Melanie DiFeo, chief of staff, Dean's Office
- Gretchen Gombos, Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Fisher Shared Services Center
- Kavya Jayanthi, fourth-year marketing student
- Jana Lithgow, executive director, Undergraduate Programs
- Bernadette Minton, Arthur E. Shepard Endowed Professorship in Insurance, chair, Department of Finance
- Brian Mittendorf, H.P. Wolfe Chair in Accounting, Accounting and Management Information Systems
- Annie Platten, associate director, Center for Operational Excellence
- Paul Reeder, executive director, Center for Innovation Strategies
- Daniel Serpa Perez, MBA candidate
- Andrew Van Buskirk, Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. Foundation Professorship in Business, Accounting and Management Information Systems
- Amy Weisbach, manger, data analytics and rankings, Fisher Shared Services Center
Student Success Committee
- Christine Bunker, senior lecturer, Marketing and Logistics
- Dominic DiCamillo, senior director, Office of Global Business
- Ralph Greco, senior lecturer, Operations and Business Analytics
- David Harrison, senior director, Office of ACCESS
- Katie Hipp, senior career advisor, Office of Career Management
- Patrick Kielty, clinical assistant professor, Accounting and Management Information Systems
- Katie Mellett, senior director, operations and donor relations, Office of Advancement
- Tanya Menon, professor, Management and Human Resources
- Jill O'Neill, project management consultant, Associate Dean's Office
- Taner Pirim, assistant clinical professor, Finance
- Leanda Rix, managing director, fFull-Time MBA, Graduate Programs Office
- Kay Smith, academic outreach and engagement liaison, Office of ACCESS
- Ismael Talke, senior lecturer, Operations and Business Analytics
- Cynthia Turner, associate dean for access and student success
- Matthew Waitkus, manager, academic advising, Undergraduate Programs