MSU faculty and staff members receive award recognition at Fall Convocation

Three Morehead State University faculty members and one MSU staff member received various awards of distinction during the University’s Fall Convocation ceremony, which was held the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 8, in Button Auditorium.

The Distinguished Teacher Award was presented to Dr. Greg Detweiler, professor of music, and the Distinguished Researcher award was given to Professor of Education Dr. Edna Schack. The award for Distinguished Faculty Service was given to Dr. Scott Davison, professor of philosophy. Risa Boyd, an academic department specialist, received the Distinguished Staff Service award.  

Greg Detweiller is beginning his 21st year as director of choral studies at MSU. He conducts the Chamber Singers and Concert Choir and teaches conducting and vocal pedagogy. Under his direction, the MSU Choir has traveled to Canada, Costa Rica, multiple European countries and the Czech Republic while earning accolades and awards at multiple international competitions and festivals. Detweiller has also received recognition in the form of the Outstanding Service Award from the General Commission of Chaplains and Armed Forces Personnel for his work as a choral conductor in 2002, and the Kentucky Educators Association selected him as Teacher of the Year in College-University Education.

Edna Schack is professor of education and co-director of MSUTeach, a program where best teaching practices are integrated within a student’s STEM content area and allows for the completion of a Bachelor of Science degree and teacher certification within four years.  

She and her colleagues have secured grants from the National Science Foundation, the Volgenau Foundation, the National Math and Science Initiative, MSU and other funders, totaling over $4 million directed toward mathematics teacher preparation. She has served as an editor for academic journals and papers, has had her work published in multiple peer-reviewed journals and she presents at local, national and international venues.

Risa Boyd worked as a nurse prior to joining MSU in 2008 as a member of the Office of Enrollment Services. After nearly eight years, she joined the Department of Early Childhood, Elementary and Special Education as the academic department specialist in January 2015. She completed her Bachelor of University Studies degree at MSU while working for the University full-time. MSU faculty members nominated Boyd for the honor for her effective communication, her willingness to assist in numerous tasks, and fostering a welcoming departmental environment through her genuinely positive attitude.

Scott Davison has been an MSU philosophy faculty member since 1995. He is the author of two books, several popular and scholarly works and currently serves as associate editor for the journal Faith and Philosophy and a book review editor for the International Journal of Religion. He previously received the MSU Distinguished Researcher Award in 2012. Davison also serves as an elected official, representing District 5 on the Rowan County School Board.