Kettering University faculty and staff members gathered in person and virtually to celebrate their colleagues’ accomplishments during the annual Celebration of Excellence event Thursday.

University President Dr. Robert K. McMahan, Provost Dr. James Zhang and Director of Human Resources Rob Blosser gave presentations. 

“These past few years have been unlike any we could have imagined, but, I hope you are as proud as I am of the way that we as a University and community cared for each other and came together through it all—just as we are today,” McMahan said. “And that is because of each of you—the faculty and staff of Kettering University.”

Recipients earned awards for service, teaching, research and fellowship as well as the highly anticipated True Kettering Staff Awards and the Bulldog Award.

McMahan selects the Bulldog Award to recognize a staff member who brings excellence to their work, goes beyond what is asked of them, volunteers their time and talents, and takes on extra projects to ensure the University achieves its goals.

This year, McMahan selected four recipients.

“There are clearly several who deserve the recognition—and whose contributions are so extraordinary—that to pick one would be an unacceptable exclusion of the others,” McMahan said. “... Each is deserving of the recognition solo in their own right, but it is a testament to the dedication of our staff that we have so many superlative awardees this year.”

This year’s Bulldog Award recipients are:

• Joe Asperger, Director of Physical Plant
• Tabitha Bourassa, Senior Business Analyst, Instructional, Administrative and Information Technology
• Andrea Kehoe, Director of Foundation Relations
• Nadine Thor, Director of Auxiliary Services

Asperger has been at the University for almost 18 years. McMahan credited him with making the Learning Commons “come alive.”

“His tireless efforts, his ability to keep this project going with uncompromising excellence despite many supply issues and COVID, to manage hundreds of individuals and organizations in the process, all speak to his true Kettering spirit and tenacity,” McMahan said. “And that doesn’t begin to touch all of the things he does every day to keep the entire campus running smoothly.”

Asperger said the recognition is humbling. 

“It has been a joy transforming our facilities to foster innovation, collaboration, creativity and safety for everyone to experience,” he said.

Bourassa has worked in multiple departments in her nearly 30 years at the University. McMahan said no matter what she does, Bourassa always has the best interests of the University in mind.

“No matter the challenge Kettering faces, she always approaches it with a collaborative attitude and deliberate optimism,” McMahan said. “She works to identify solutions that benefit Kettering and then to champion them through completion with true Bulldog determination.”

Like Asperger, Bourassa said the recognition is humbling.

“We have so many incredible employees who are amazing with students and work very hard to make Kettering the incredible place it is,” she said. “To be recognized for this award is very humbling. Thank you so very much!”

Kehoe, who has been at the University for five years, leads “with grace even in highly demanding, pressure-filled and time-sensitive situations,” McMahan said.

“She has, at times, reined in chaos with exemplary management skills,” he said. “... It has been said to me several times, ‘If you want something done with uncompromising excellence, ask her to do it.’ And I know this to be true from personal experience.”

Kehoe called it an honor to be recognized with Asperger, Bourassa and Thor.

“So many of our colleagues go above and beyond for the institution daily,” she said. “When you see so many great examples of hard work and dedication, it encourages you to provide that in return.”

Thor, who has been at the University for 21 years, earned her Bulldog award for helping navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and managing the transition to a new food service provider and the University response to the Flint Water Crisis. 

“She is a highly capable, steady, detail-driven professional who quietly goes about her role in assisting those she works with,” McMahan said.

Thor said she couldn't do anything without the help of others.

"I really appreciate this recognition for the various opportunities that have been given to me, and grateful for all of the assistance from the staff, faculty and students at the University over the past 21 years," she said.

Colleagues nominate their peers for the True Kettering Staff Awards, then a committee of previous winners selects the current year’s recipients. To be considered for the award, staff members go above and beyond their typical job responsibilities and exemplify the University’s mission, vision and the True Kettering Values of respect, integrity, creativity, collaboration and excellence.

This year’s True Kettering winners are:

• Jerry Kozlowski, Senior Academic Lab Coordinator in Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Shari Luck, Academic Orientation and Retention Coordinator in the Academic Success Center
• Brian Ross, Senior Maintenance Carpenter

Faculty Fellowship Awards worth $6,000 apiece went to five faculty members in support of specific research activities. The following faculty members received Fellowship Awards:

• Dr. Reem Alzahabi, Assistant Professor of Psychology, for his proposal, “Characterizing Cognitive and Behavioral Profiles in Autonomous and Distracted Driving”
• Dr. Javad Baqersad, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, for his proposal, “Developing Digital Twins for Dynamic Systems Using Digital Image Correlation and Vibration Expansion”
• Dr. Foroogh Rouhollahi, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, for her proposal, “Hollow Carbon Nanotubes for Highly Stable Lithium-Metal Anode”
• Dr. Demet Usanmaz, Assistant Professor of Physics, for her proposal, “A Systematic Approach to Explore Nanostructured Thermoelectrics”
• Dr. Jamal Mostafavi, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, for his proposal, “Material Characterization of Structures Using Digital Image Correlation, Finite Element Modeling and Physics-Constrained Deep Learning”

Baqersad also earned recognition for receiving a patent this year for technology he developed on campus. The patent is titled, “System and Method for Determining Operating Deflection Shapes of a Structure Using Optical Techniques.”

In addition, the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) received 35 nominations for 21 faculty members, with the following earning awards: 

• Outstanding Teaching Award: 
  • Dr. Farnaz Ghazi Nezami, Associate Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
  • David Hennicken, Mathematics Lecturer
  • Dr. Badri Rao, Associate Professor of Liberal Arts

• Terrell Teaching Innovation Grant: 
  • Dr. Monserrat Rabago Smith, Associate Professor of Natural Sciences, to develop short videos relevant to multiple disciplines addressing topics that interest Gen Z students and cross over with topics covered in the Kettering curriculum, with an emphasis on General Education courses.
  • Dr. Jennifer Bastiaan, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and Kristy Brinker Brouwer, Professor of the Practice of Mechanical Engineering, to create two new Dynamic Systems with Controls Labs (MECH-431).

Mathematics Professor Ed Masha was posthumously honored for his selfless contributions throughout his Kettering career. Masha worked at Kettering for more than eight years and was a member of the CETL Advisory Board during most of that time.

“He was a cherished colleague and an excellent professor who was beloved by his students,” Zhang said. “He loved mathematics, but he loved his students even more and made sure they knew it.”

Zhang presented a plaque to Masha’s wife, Natalie, and another plaque will hang in the CETL to inspire others to remember his wise words: “It’s all about the relationship that you have with the students.”

Vice President for Kettering Global, Dr. Christine Wallace, presented Dr. Kenneth Williams, Assistant Teaching Professor of Business Administration, with this year’s Kettering University Online Instructor of the Year Award.  Kettering University Online students, mentors and staff members submitted nominations for the honor.

“This professor stands out because they are so dedicated to the success of students,” one student noted. “They made me feel encouraged and helped with my success in the class. You are able to see the passion for students and their education along with their success.”

The ceremony also celebrated faculty and staff members for their years of service to the University. 

When faculty members receive their fourth award, a plaque featuring their photos is added to the faculty honor wall in the Great Court of the Campus Center. This year, a plaque will be added of Nezami.