CHaSS Awards

Recognizing excellence among our students, faculty, and staff

Every year we honor students, faculty, staff, and alumni from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Scholarship recipients, students of the year, and faculty honors are part of this special ceremony, which is an annual celebration of the people who make CHaSS great!

The 2025 CHaSS Awards Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. in the Taggart Student Center Ballroom.

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Watch the Awards Ceremony Live Stream

Watch the 2024 Award Ceremony recording on YouTube.

CHaSS Awards

Teacher of the year

Julie Stevens | Social Work

Researcher of the Year

Jessica Schad | Sociology, Anthropology & Criminal Justice

Lecturer of the Year

Kim Andrus | World Languages & Cultures

ED Glatfelter Faculty Service

Christopher Conte | History

Undergraduate Researcher of the Year

Jacob Sagers | Political Science

Undergraduate Researcher Mentor of the Year

Jayme Walters | Social Work

Undergraduate Faculty Mentor of the Year

Colin Flint | Political Science

Graduate Faculty Mentor of the Year

Brian Droubay | Social Work

Graduate Student Instructor of the year

Dorcas Anabire | Technical Communication & Rhetoric

Doctoral Student Researcher of the Year

Wesley Mathis | Technical Communication & Rhetoric

Master's Student Researcher of the Year

Nowrin Fatema | Sociology

Outstanding Employee of the Year (Light of Old Main Award)

Nikki McGahee | Sociology, Anthropology & Criminal Justice

Outstanding Employee of the Year (True Blue Award)

Julie Christiansen | Dean's Office

Legacy Award

Tabi Wagner | Political Science

CHaSS Valedictorian

Kyla Dahle | English with emphasis in Creative Writing

Scholar of the Year

Katelyn Parker | International Studies

Kiwanis Award

Sky Johns | Sociology

Giraffe Award

Our college motto is “Think, Discover, Create,” and our Giraffe Award recognizes members who put this motto into practice by taking risks to pioneer new initiatives that enhance the way CHaSS serves students. This award recognizes those who stick their necks out in their teaching, research, or service. While it is impossible to tell you everything these remarkable nominees do for us, the following are notes on what makes them exceptional colleagues. They remind us that taking a risk is a worthwhile action as we work together to create the college of the future.

Giraffe Award Nominees

Nicole Allen & Sidi Meyara

Communication Studies & Philosophy

Xiao Tan

English

Amanda Katz

History

Aggrey Otieno

Journalism & Communication

Erin Cox

Journalism & Communication

Jayme Walters

Social Work

Kimball Zent

Social Work

Jessica Schad

Sociology, Anthropology & Criminal Justice

Judson Finley

Sociology, Anthropology & Criminal Justice

Lucia Sanchez Gilbert

World Languages & Cultures

Maria Cordero

World Languages & Cultures

Ross Peterson Distinguished Lifetime Service Award

Diane Calloway-Graham

Diane Calloway-Graham earned a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Utah in 1990 and joined Utah State University the same year. Over a distinguished career, she served as Social Work Program director, earned tenure, and became a full professor in 2016. Recognized for excellence in teaching and mentorship, Diane received multiple awards, including CHaSS Teacher of the Year. As an emeritus faculty member, she has continued to support the department by helping to prepare the next generation of social workers.

Students of the Year

Interdisciplinary Programs

Ysabel Birmingham

Liberal Arts

Grace Williams

Aerospace Studies

Gabriel Clark

Communication Studies

Hannah Teasdale

Global Communication

Lindsey McBrayer

Philosophy

Patrick Matthews

Literature

Eva Meyer

English Teaching

Hannah Barker

Creative Writing

Noelani Hadfield

Technical Communication and Rhetoric

Lauren Astle

History

Christine Cooper

History Teaching

Jenna Pack

Religious Studies

Chloe Lewis MacCabe

Classics

Jacob Zollinger

Broadcast/Multimedia Journalism

Kelly Winter

Print Journalism

Aubrey Holdaway

Public Relations

Hannah Castro

Social Media

Brian Kirk

Military Science

Isaac Semadeni

Political Science

Eden Ward

International Studies

Benjamin Johnson

Law & Constitutional Studies

McKenzie Pedersen-Campbell

Sociology

Rachael Gentry

Anthropology

Alyssa Ahmann

Criminal Justice

Asa Finch

Asian Studies

Eileen Lindsay

Chinese

Jace Bingham

French

Jacob Sagers

French Teaching

Laura Ranger

German

Britton Austin

German Teaching

Dallin Hunter

Portuguese

Seth Oates

Spanish

Eden Ward

Spanish Teaching

Levi Barnett

Intensive English Language Institute

Angel Roja

Utah Public Radio

Naomi Cragun

Social Work

Brooklyn Timbimboo

Recognition of Student Leadership

CHaSS Student Senator

Landry Hunter

Landry Hunter, a senior at Utah State University, is earning a degree in law and constitutional studies with minors in sociology and criminal justice. As the 2024-2025 CHaSS student senator, she champions student voices. Post-graduation, she will attend the University of Washington School of Law.

Student Council

CHaSS Senator	Landry Hunter
President	Tate Jensen
Academics Director	Ryley Cottrell
Advocacy Representative	Lina Le
Advocacy Representative Assistant	Spencer Wilkinson
Events Director	Tyson Holman
ROTC Representative	Ethan Greenmum
ROTC Representative Assistant	Austin Lefler
Council Member	Colin Hastings
Council Member	Payden Dalley
Council Member	Katie Bingham
Council Member	Dani Packer
Council Member	Ashleigh Irvine
Council Member	Rosie Cameron

Ambassadors

Abigail Stanger

Bridger Thorne

Brielle Dursteler

Chelsea Ballou

Eden Ward

Felicity Westwood

Hannah Castro

Hannah Wetzel

Jade Velazquez

Jodi Price

McKenzie Pedersen-Campbell

Sascha Baldauf

CHaSS Aggie First Scholars Leadership Award

The CHaSS Aggie First Scholars Leadership Award honors students who have demonstrated excellent leadership through their involvement in the Aggie First Scholars program at Utah State University. Award winners are exemplars of the USU Principles of Community and have demonstrated excellence in their academic pursuits at USU.

Jessie Miller

Jade Velazquez

CHaSS Inspiration Award

The CHaSS Inspiration Award honors college alumni making outstanding contributions in the area of service, particularly those committed to improving the lives of others and advancing society in meaningful and lasting ways. These alumni inspire others to lead initiatives that bring about positive change in the world.

Danny Beus

Friends of CHaSS

The Friend of CHaSS Award recognizes outstanding service to further the college’s mission. These individuals have an affinity and a passion for the Humanities and Social Sciences and have helped CHaSS create a strong foundation through their partnership.

Janet Osborne

Nancy and Robert Funk

CHaSS Distinguished Alumni

The CHaSS Distinguished Alumni Award celebrates college alumni who have demonstrated outstanding and exemplary achievements in their profession. These accomplished individuals have made an impact in their field, and this award celebrates their distinguished careers and the recognition they bring to our college.