The College of Science gathered on Feb. 26 to recognize and celebrate our high achieving faculty and staff at the 2025 Combined Awards Ceremony. The evening celebrated the very best in the College, from teaching, advising and research to inclusive excellence, administration and service.
The following faculty and staff received awards in the categories of teaching and advising.
Congratulations to all the awardees!
Eric Cole, academic advisor in the Department of Integrative Biology, received the Olaf Boedtker Award for Excellence in Academic Advising.
Eric Cole, academic advisor in the Department of Integrative Biology, received the Olaf Boedtker Award for Excellence in Academic Advising.
Students state that Cole is encouraging and relatable, and he helps students confidently navigate their academic and career paths. Cole shows an exceptional level of empathy and consistency in his advising, and he takes the time to understand student’s unique challenges, offering personalized support and consistent follow-up.
“I am glad to say he is my advisor, and everyone needs someone like Eric,” one student nominator wrote.
Cole is a dedicated, empathetic and reliable advisor who consistently goes the extra mile for his students. His students appreciate his down-to-earth nature, including his famous flip flops.
Malcolm Lowry, assistant professor (senior research) in the Department of Microbiology, received the Loyd F. Carter Award for Outstanding and Inspirational Undergraduate Teaching in Science.
Malcolm Lowry, assistant professor (senior research) in the Department of Microbiology, received the Loyd F. Carter Award for Outstanding and Inspirational Undergraduate Teaching in Science.
Lowry is known for his engaging teaching style that is highly contemporary to current events in the world. Specifically, students noticed his excitement for teaching and passion for class materials.
“Dr.Lowry is by far the best professor I’ve had in my educational career. He encourages students to reach out for issues and I’ve never felt so safe in a classroom before. He connects with us and treats the classroom like home,” one student nominator wrote.
Students also appreciated his use of attention-grabbing moments and explanations during lectures, which are strengthened by his use of new technologies and current research in the field.
Denis Drolet, senior instructor I and advisor in the Department of Chemistry, received the Loyd F. Carter Award for Outstanding and Inspirational Graduate Teaching in Science.
Denis Drolet, senior instructor I and advisor in the Department of Chemistry, received the Loyd F. Carter Award for Outstanding and Inspirational Graduate Teaching in Science.
Drolet is an exceptional educator whose dedication and passion leave a lasting impact. He is known for making learning both interesting and entertaining, effectively conveying complex concepts in a relatable and engaging manner. Drolet goes above and beyond to support his students, showing genuine care for their success. His passion for teaching is evident in his ability to make learning fun and engaging, while simultaneously creating a positive and stable learning environment.
“He is an exceptional professor,” one student nominator wrote. “He is extremely down to earth, demonstrates clear passion towards his teachings and sincerely cares about his students on a personal level, despite having thousands of them. I was extremely sad when I couldn’t sign up for his class next term due to how fast they filled up, which demonstrated just how great of a professor he is.”
Margaret (Margie) Haak, senior instructor II and head advisor in the Department of Chemistry, received the Fred Horne Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching Science.
Margaret (Margie) Haak, senior instructor II and head advisor in the Department of Chemistry, received the Fred Horne Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching Science.
To quote her nominators, Haak has given her heart and soul to the Chemistry Department” over the past 30 years. Her innovative teaching methods have transformed learning experiences for countless students. She was the first to introduce electronic homework platforms in Chemistry courses and created the "Atoms First" approach in general chemistry, significantly improving the flow and understanding of the course material.
Haak also pioneered the use of computers in chemistry labs and integrated active learning strategies into the general chemistry sequence long before active learning was a common practice. She worked to introduce the flipped classroom model for the introductory general chemistry sequences, creating the foundation of the curricular model that supports the course, and thousands of OSU students, today.
The student nominator mentioned how much Haak helps students feel like they belong in science and like they are visible people in a huge class of many students. This student states “I have always felt a bit out of place, but she made me feel at home. I knew in her class I would be seen as myself and not judged for my disabilities. She did everything she could to provide me with a successful learning experience.”
