College of Education Awards
Jack Miller Awards
The purpose of the Jack Miller Faculty Awards is to recognize and reward faculty for demonstrated excellence in the areas of teaching, service and/or scholarship. The awards are determined by a faculty member’s performance based on specific criteria. If no faculty member meets those criteria for a given period of review, an award will not be made.
The competition is open to all full-time, tenure-track, COE faculty who have completed at least three (3) years of full-time, tenure-track service at Georgia Southern University. More information may be found on the Tenure and Promotion Committee website. (*MyGeorgiaSouthern login credentials are required for this website )
2023 Jack Miller Award Recipients

Jack Miller Educator of the Year

Jack Miller Award for Teaching

Jack Miller Award for Scholarship & Creative Activity

Jack Miller Award for Service
2022 | Shelli Casler-Failing, Jack Miller Educator of the Year Award Kristen Dickens, Jack Miller Award for Teaching Mete Akcaoglu, Jack Miller Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity Taylor Norman, Jack Miller Award for Service |
2021 | Katie Brkich, Jack Miller Educator of the Year Award Steven Tolman, Jack Miller Award for Teaching Peggy Shannon-Baker, Jack Miller Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity Kymberly Harris, Jack Miller Award for Service |
2020 | Lacey Huffling, Jack Miller Educator of the Year Award Pamela Wells, Jack Miller Award for Teaching Amanda Glaze-Crampes, Jack Miller Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity Fayth Parks, Jack Miller Award for Service |
2019 | Alma Stevenson, Jack Miller Educator of the Year Award Juliann McBrayer, Jack Miller Award for Teaching Katie Brkich, Jack Miller Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity Kelly Brooksher, Jack Miller Award for Service |
2018 | Mete Akcaoglu, Jack Miller Educator of the Year Award Alisa Leckie, Jack Miller Award for Teaching Gutierrez de Blume, Jack Miller Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity Catherine Howerter, Jack Miller Award for Service |
2017 | Amanda Wall, Jack Miller Educator of the Year Award Aslihan Unal, Jack Miller Award for Teaching Julie Garlen, Jack Miller Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity Michelle Reidel, Jack Miller Award for Service |
2016 | Sabrina Ross, Jack Miller Educator of the Year Award Jonathan Hilpert, Jack Miller Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity Cordelia Zinskie, Jack Miller Award for Service |
2015 | Dawn Tysinger, Jack Miller Educator of the Year Award Meca Williams-Johnson, Jack Miller Award for Teaching Alma Stevenson, Jack Miller Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity Jeff Tysinger, Jack Miller Award for Service |
2014 | Lina Soares, Jack Miller Educator of the Year Award Julie Maudlin, Jack Miller Award for Teaching Charles Hodges, Jack Miller Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity Kymberly Drawdy, Jack Miller Award for Service |
2013 | Greg Chamblee, Jack Miller Educator of the Year Award Sabrina Ross, Jack Miller Award for Teaching Sally Brown, Jack Miller Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity Terry Diamanduros, Jack Miller Award for Service |
2012 | Scott A. Beck, Jack Miller Award for Teaching Robert L. Lake, Jack Miller Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity Julie G. Maudlin, Jack Miller Award for Service |
2011 | Yasar Bodur, Jack Miller Educator of the Year Award Elizabeth Edwards, Jack Miller Award for Teaching Brenda Marina, Jack Miller Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity Dan Rea, Jack Miller Award for Service |
2010 | Christine A. Draper, Jack Miller Award for Teaching Dorothy A. Battle, Jack Miller Award for Service Meca Williams-Johnson, Jack Miller Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity |
2009 | Michael T. Moore, Jack Miller Educator of the Year Award Michelle A. Reidel, Jack Miller Award for Teaching Judith F. Robbins, Jack Miller Award for Service |
2008 | Lorraine S. Gilpin, Jack Miller Educator of the Year Award Dana Sparkman, Jack Miller Award for Teaching Maggie LaMontagne, Jack Miller Award for Service Susan Trimble, Jack Miller Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity |
2007 | Mary M. (Missy) Bennett, Jack Miller Award for Teaching |
2006 | Marti Schriver, Jack Miller Educator of the Year Award Kent Rittschof, Jack Miller Award for Service John Weaver, Jack Miller Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity |
2005 | Cordelia D. Zinskie, Jack Miller Educator of the Year Award Susan Franks, Jack Miller Award for Teaching Leon Spencer, Jack Miller Award for Service Marla Morris, Jack Miller Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity |
2004 | William Reynolds, Jack Miller Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity |
2003 | Ming Fang He, Jack Miller Outstanding Educator Award |
2002 | Susan Trimble, Jack Miller Outstanding Educator Award |
2001 | Diane Zigo, Jack Miller Outstanding Educator Award |
2000 | Bud Pool, Jack Miller Outstanding Educator Award |
1999 | Marlynn Griffin, Jack Miller Outstanding Educator Award |
1998 | Wendy Chambers, Jack Miller Outstanding Educator Award |
1997 | Dale Grant, Jack Miller Outstanding Educator Award |
1996 | Mike Richardson, Jack Miller Outstanding Educator Award |
1995 | Deborah Thomas, Jack Miller Outstanding Educator Award |
1994 | Amy Heaston, Jack Miller Outstanding Educator Award |
Non-Tenure Track Faculty Awards

Senior Lecturer,
2023 Non-Tenure Faculty Award Recipient
The Instructor/Lecturer Faculty Award in Teaching and Service, created in 2020, recognizes and rewards non-tenure track faculty who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of teaching and service. Non-tenure track faculty who have completed at least three years of service in the College are eligible for consideration. Evaluation criteria include consistent, successful service activities, diverse service, uncompensated service, evaluations of teaching, evidence of professional development, engagement in curricular activities, and collaborative work with P-12 educators.
- 2022 – Heather Huling
- 2021 – Courtney Toledo
- 2020 – Heather Scott
Commitment to Diversity Award

Associate Professor,
2023 Commitment to Diversity Award Recipient
The Commitment to Diversity Award recognizes College of Education faculty or staff who show ongoing engagement in issues of diversity and demonstrate innovative and unique perspectives to promoting and building respect for diversity in the classroom.
- 2022 – Not awarded
- 2021 – Beverly Miller
- 2020 – Chelda Smith
Betty-Ware Wray Staff Award

Program Director, Eagle Academy
2023 Betty-Ware Wray Staff Award Recipient
The Betty-Ware Wray staff award is given annually to a College of Education (COE) staff member who has excelled in their job performance as well as University service. Staff members are nominated for the Betty-Ware Wray Award by COE faculty, staff and students, and the nominations are reviewed by the College’s Staff Advisory Council.
- 2022 – Mary Thaler
- 2021 – Matthew Dunbar
- 2020 – Cinnamon Dowd
- 2019 – Angela Mills-Fleming
- 2018 – Christina Thompson
- 2017 – Carol Fox
- 2016 – Lisa Wilson
- 2015 – Lydia Cross
- 2014 – Pat Parsons
- 2013 – Earnestine Burns
- 2012 – Sherry Smith
- 2011 – Michelle Rivera
- 2010 – Tabitha Anderson
- 2009 – Laura Saunders
- 2008 – Wanda Mathew
- 2007 – Gloria Martin
- 2006 – Donna Colson
- 2005 – The inaugural award was presented posthumously to Ms. Betty-Ware Wray
Last updated: 8/23/2023