KU Kudos: Faculty and staff achievements, July 2026
It’s time to celebrate Jayhawk colleagues’ achievements: KU News Service accepted submissions and combed websites, social media and newsletters for recent external honors and awards for current faculty and staff at the Lawrence, Edwards and Medical Center campuses and affiliates.
Have something to share? Submit by Aug. 20 for the next edition. Self-nominations are encouraged. Learn more about how to submit your professional achievements.
Elizabeth Ablah, professor of population health at the School of Medicine-Wichita, recently completed the 2025-2026 Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine fellowship program. Laura Tatpati, dean of KU School of Medicine-Wichita, has been selected to participate in the ELAM program for the 2026-2027 term.
Alyssa Appelman, Steve Bien-Aime, Tamar Wilner and Stephen Wolgast, all faculty members in the School of Journalism & Mass Communications, presented at the International Communication Association annual conference June 4-8 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Raj Bhala, University Distinguished Professor of Law, has been named to the advisory board of the Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies Journal of Law & Development.
The Kansas Board of Regents recognized Gwen Bohling, KU associate vice chancellor for institutional research, with the 2026 Data Quality Award. Now in its 14th year, the Data Quality Awards serve to recognize institutions for excellence in the quality and timeliness of data submissions.
Speakers at the Inspiring Women in Public Administration Conference will include Audrey Coleman, director of the Dole Institute of Politics. The event will take place Aug. 21 in Overland Park.
Will Collins, associate professor of civil engineering, received the American Society of Civil Engineerings Region 7 Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award for 2026. This award is given to faculty advisers who show exceptional service, leadership and dedication in supporting and mentoring ASCE Student Chapter members.
Grace Edgar, assistant professor of musicology, and Scott Murphy, professor of musicology, were among KU scholars who presented at the 22nd Music and the Moving Image conference at New York University.
Patricia Gaston, Lacy C. Haynes Professor of Journalism, presented "A Pulitzer Conversation" on a violence against women project at the Red Rocks State Historic Site Visitor Center in Emporia.
Brian Gordon, professor of health, sport & exercise science, was recently named a 2026 North American Society for Sport Management Research Fellow.
The American Planning Association named Bonnie Johnson, professor and assistant director of the School of Public Affairs & Administration, as the new book review editor for its journal.
Lauren Mann, assistant professor in the Department of Hearing & Speech, was an invited speaker at the 2026 Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders national conference.
Meggie Mapes, introductory course director and associate specialist in the Department of Communication Studies, was invited to speak at the TEDxKC event July 24. The conference theme is "The Future of Being Human after All."
Ashley Muddiman, associate professor and director of graduate studies in communication studies, participated as a community expert during a roundtable breakfast for American Public Square’s Civics Education Initiative.
Sean Seyer, associate professor of history, gave a keynote address for the International Association of Policy Professionals (IAPP) Conference, Navigate 2026: Digital Policy Leadership Summit. The June conference took place in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Donna Sweet, professor of medicine at the School of Medicine-Wichita, was presented with the Commission on Office Laboratory Accreditation Laboratory Excellence Award at the annual COLA Laboratory Conference May 5-8 in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) was awarded a Bronze Telly in the Craft-Editing Specialty category for a video titled "2026 Foundations of Frontline Leadership." KLETC Communications Manager George Taylor was the editor on the video project.
Yunwen Wangame, assistant professor of journalism, was invited to serve as an associate editor for the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers’ Transactions on Games.
The American Accounting Association has honored Mike Wilkins, Larry D. Horner/KPMG Professor, with two awards: 2026 Issues in Accounting Education Best Paper Award for his paper titled "Writing Introductions: A Framework and Commentary" and the 2026 Notable Contribution to Accounting Literature Award for his paper titled "How do team workloads and team staffing affect the audit? Archival evidence from U.S. audits."
Department of Occupational Therapy Education faculty member Alice Zhang presented at the 2026 International Society for Autism Research Conference.
Jack Zhang, associate professor of political science, was accepted to the Council on Foreign Relations Term Member program.
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