Four FMU professors honored for teaching, service, research, governance

Four Francis Marion University faculty members were honored for outstanding individual work during the past year at an annual faculty recognition banquet Thursday night.

Associate Professor of Mathematics Dr. Sharon K. O’Kelley received the Award of Excellence in Teaching; Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. David M. Malakauskas received the Award of Excellence in Scholarship and Research; and Associate Professor of Philosophy Dr. Matthew Turner received the Award of Excellence in Service.

Faculty SACSCOC Coordinator and Professor of Sociology Dr. Russell E. Ward, Jr. was also honored with the Charlene Wages Shared Governance Award, a special award presented by the FMU chapter of the American Association of University Professors. The shared governance award is given to a faculty member who has made significant contributions to shared governance – the balance between faculty and administrative leadership at a university – at FMU.

O’Kelley earned her B.A. from Erskine College, her M.S. from Montana State University and her Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from the University of Georgia.

Malakauskas earned his B.A. and M.S. from Humboldt State University and his Ph.D. in entomology from Michigan State University.

Turner earned his B.G.S. from the University of Michigan and his Ph.D. in Philosophy from Temple University.

Ward earned both his B.A. and M.A. from Bowling Green State University and his Ph.D. in sociology from Kent State University.