Three faculty members were announced recently as 2023 President and Provost's Award for Distinguished Faculty Service recipients. Kay Bea Jones, professor in the Knowlton School of Architecture; Steven Lopez, associate professor of sociology; and Piers Norris Turner, associate professor of philosophy, received surprise visits from university leadership announcing the award.
The President and Provost's Award for Distinguished Faculty Service recognizes faculty members for their contributions to the development and implementation of university policies and programs through non-administrative roles while continuing to teach and pursue scholarship. The award annually recognizes up to three tenure-track, clinical or research faculty members who have been at Ohio State for at least five years.
“All our faculty members contribute significantly to the foundation of our institution, providing academic excellence across a wide variety of disciplines,” said President Kristina M. Johnson. “This award recognizes those whose work on top of scholarship and research serves to advance university policies and programs that positively impact our entire campus community. These individuals have gone above and beyond for Ohio State — from mentoring students to assisting and supporting fellow faculty members — and we are truly fortunate to work alongside them.”
A dedicated teacher, mentor and creative professional, Kay Bea Jones has served as a catalyst for productive change since arriving at Ohio State's Knowlton School of Architecture in 1985. "Her most sustained accomplishments toward social justice can be seen in her dedication to equity for women on campus and in the profession," noted a nominator. Instrumental in helping found The Women's Place at Ohio State, Jones was recognized as a Glass Breaker by the President and Provost's Council on Women for her efforts to improve workplace culture and uplift women across the university. An equally passionate innovator, she was awarded the College of Engineering's Ralph L. Boyer Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Innovation in recognition of her work in founding the Knowlton School's global education program in Rome, which she led for 30 years.
Steven Lopez has demonstrated exceptional and longstanding service to the university and his department in a variety of roles, exemplifying the kind of service that is highly consequential in the life of Ohio State faculty and the university community, noted a nominator. As former chair and a continuing member of the Faculty Hearing Committee, Lopez played a critical role in shaping revisions to university rules surrounding faculty misconduct. As chair of the Department of Sociology's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee, he led an extensive review process culminating in a departmental climate assessment and a series of proposals for reforms aimed at helping his department become a more inclusive and welcoming place for marginalized individuals. Lopez has served on the Ohio State faculty since 2002.
As co-founder, Steering Committee chair, and since 2019, director of the Center for Ethics and Human Values (CEHV), Piers Norris Turner has been a principal driver in its growth and success, noted his nominators. Under his direction, the CEHV continues to build thoughtful and sustainable programming that addresses the ethical questions underlying social and political challenges. Working closely with CEHV’s steering committee, Turner provides intellectual and strategic guidance, internal administrative oversight and bridge-building to university partners for all CEHV programs. Widely sought across the university community for his expertise in ethics training and civil discourse, Turner played key roles in articulating frameworks for Ohio State's Shared Values Initiative and Civil Discourse Project. He was also instrumental in helping establish the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) multidisciplinary major in the College of Arts and Sciences. He serves as a faculty advisor to the program and the undergraduate PPE Society student organization.
"These three faculty members have done so much to advance academic life at Ohio State,” said Senior Vice President and Provost Melissa L. Gilliam. “Through their diligent work, they have demonstrated an inspiring level of commitment — not only to their colleagues, but also to our university’s talented students."
The awardees received surprise announcements from a group of senior university leaders, including President Johnson, Provost Gilliam, Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Patrick Louchouarn and Vice Provost for Academic Policy and Faculty Resources Helen Malone. The Office of Academic Affairs awards recipients a cash award and an increase to their base salaries. The awardees will be honored at a faculty awards celebration in late April.