OCCC recently celebrated the achievements and dedication of its faculty and staff during the Academic Affairs Faculty and Staff Recognition Luncheon, an event that highlighted both individual excellence and the collective impact of the college’s workforce.
Held to honor contributions across multiple roles, the luncheon offered special recognition to the following:
- Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Members: Professor of Occupational Therapy Assistant Gale Largent, Professor of Sociology Deborah Morgan, Professor of English Jeff Provine, Professor of Mathematics Beth Rawlins and Professor of Business/Economics Don Ross
- Outstanding New Full-Time Faculty Member: Chair of Political Science Laura Halstied
- Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Members: Professor of Nursing Marilyn Dye, Professor of Business David Hunter, Professor of English Michael Robertson, Professor of Physics Joshua Stewart and Professor of Child Development Tressa Wilson
- Outstanding Staff Member: Pioneer Advisor-Editor Melissa Davis
- Outstanding Student Employees: Nathan Dubuque in the OCCC gameLab, Jacob Morrow in the Keith Leftwich Memorial Library, Carly Olson in the Speech Communications Lab and Ellise Wedel in the Biology Science Center
In remarks delivered during the event, OCCC leaders emphasized that the institution’s strength is in its people. President Mautra Jones reflected on the college’s continued growth and its broader impact, noting that the college now serves more than 23,000 learners annually and has awarded over 20,000 industry-aligned micro-credentials. She also highlighted the school’s economic contribution to the state, citing an estimated $447.24 million in output and thousands of jobs supported.
“These outcomes are not simply numbers,” Jones said. “They are the direct result of your dedication, your scholarship, your instruction, your mentorship and your belief in what is possible for every student who walks through our doors.”
Jones also pointed to the college’s approach, putting an emphasis on values such as collaboration, care and opportunity centered on students. She credited faculty and staff with helping students build confidence and envision futures they may not have previously imagined for themselves.
Vice President for Academic Affairs Liz Largent echoed those sentiments, focusing on the everyday impact of employees across campus. She described the honorees as the driving force behind OCCC’s supportive and inclusive environment.
“Through your teaching, your service and the countless ways you support our campus, you create moments of possibility for our students,” Largent said. “You help them see their potential, discover new paths and believe in their ability to succeed.”
Largent also noted that the recognition luncheon serves not only as a celebration of accomplishments but as an opportunity for faculty and staff to reflect on their shared purpose. She encouraged attendees to take pride in their work and to recognize the profound difference they make in students’ lives.
Among the honorees, Pioneer Advisor-Editor Melissa Davis expressed both surprise and gratitude in response to receiving the Outstanding Staff Member award. She credited her success to the strong support system around her, including colleagues, leadership and especially her students.
“I consider myself blessed to have such a supportive dean and so many wonderful colleagues,” she said, adding that her work with student journalists is particularly meaningful. “My students are amazing.”
Davis emphasized that the collaborative nature of her role contributes significantly to her effectiveness.
“It’s easy to do a good job,” she said, “when I’m surrounded by incredible people who love the newspaper every bit as much as I do.”
While individual achievements were recognized, the event consistently returned to a broader theme: the power of community. It highlighted that the college’s success is not defined by a single milestone or program, but by the collective efforts of those who teach, mentor and support students every day.
