Franklin College paid tribute to four of its finest educators during the 2015 Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 23.
Kristin Flora
Kristin Flora, Ph.D., was recipient of the Clifford and Paula Dietz Award for Faculty Excellence. The award recognizes a faculty member who exhibits competence in his/her chosen discipline or profession; the ability to communicate effectively, not merely information about, but an understanding of his/her discipline or profession to students; and the ability to stimulate students and faculty colleagues to do their best work.
Flora is an associate professor of psychology. She occupies the Roscoe W. Payne Chair in Philosophy and Psychology and serves as the division head for social sciences at Franklin College. Flora earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and psychology from Valparaiso University and her master’s and doctoral degrees in experimental psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has taught psychology at Franklin College since 2007, becoming the department chair in 2009. Before coming to Franklin, Flora was a clinical outcomes analyst and research coordinator at a regional hospital in Wisconsin. There she was part of a team that performed extensive research on sports-related concussions, particularly in high school athletes. In 2013, the team’s manuscript was accepted for publication in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. Flora cites this as her greatest professional achievement to date. She has served on the steering committee for the Midwest Region of Psi Chi, an international honor society in psychology. She currently serves on the Psi Chi External Affairs Task Force. On campus, Flora dedicates time as a co-adviser for the college chapter of Psi Chi and has served as a team member of the college’s Intercultural Honors Experience since 2009. She has also been part of two study-abroad experiences at Franklin College. Flora was named Academic Adviser of the Year in 2011. She is a member of the Alpha Society and Alpha Lambda Delta honorary. Flora is a resident of Franklin.
Emily Stauffer
Emily Stauffer, Ph.D., was recipient of the Faculty Steering Committee Distinguished Service Award. The award is given to a faculty member who shows outstanding service to the college. Stauffer also received the award in 1997.
Stauffer, a professor of English, began teaching at Franklin College in 1983. She is a past recipient of the Clifford and Paula Dietz Award for Faculty Excellence and the Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award. She is a former chair of the Department of English, Speech and Theatre, and served as the division head for Fine Arts and Humanities. Stauffer earned her bachelor of arts degree magna cum laude in English from Gettysburg College. She earned her master’s degree in English from Pennsylvania State University and her doctorate in English from the University of Connecticut. Before joining the faculty at Franklin College, she taught high school English and worked at the University of Connecticut. While at Franklin College, Stauffer has advocated on behalf of women’s rights issues and people of color. She helped establish two student organizations on campus: the Student Association for the Support of Minorities, which she advised for 12 years, and Sigma Tau Delta, the English honorary society, of which she is a member. She is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Delta Epsilon journalism honorary and Alpha Society academic honorary. On campus, she contributed her talent and service to the Canadian Studies Directorate, the Women’s Studies Task Force, the Faculty Steering Committee and various curriculum committees. She also twice served on the Promotion and Tenure Committee and she helped to design and direct the college’s first advising and mentoring program for first-year students. Stauffer, a resident of Franklin, retired at the conclusion of the 2014-15 academic years after 32 years of service to the students of Franklin College.
Alice Heikens
Alice Heikens, Ph.D., received the Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award. The award is given to a faculty member who exhibits excellence in mastery of subject and effective communication, has respect for all students and believes that all students can learn and provides helpful feedback to other students in a number of ways. Heikens also received the award in 1999.
Heikens is a professor of biology. She earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in biology from the University of Central Arkansas and earned her doctoral degree in botany from Southern Illinois University. Heikens serves on the Council of the Indiana Academy of Science (IAS). She also serves as the chair of the Junior Grant Subcommittee. Her contributions to the Academy have earned her the highest honor, IAS Fellow. Heikens reviews manuscripts for publication by organizations such as the Natural Areas Association and the Southeastern Naturalist, as well as IAS. During her 24 years with Franklin College she has dedicated extensive time conducting individual research projects with students, exposing them to professional opportunities. Research conducted with a current student has recently been chosen for publication and print in the Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science. Heikens has also led student trips to the Smoky Mountains. Heikens is involved with the campus Green Team. One of Heikens greatest achievements at Franklin College has been the planning and cultivation of the Urban Forest at Grizzly Park. This three-acre forest, planted in 2012, hosts representatives of more than 20 different native tree species. The project has twice earned the college a Tree Campus USA recognition as well as a Gold Leaf Award. In addition, Heikens oversees the campus greenhouse. A resident of Franklin, Heikens is a past recipient of the Faculty Excellence in Scholarship award, the Clifford and Paula Dietz Award for Faculty Excellence and the Academic Adviser of the Year award.
Ben O’Neal
Ben O’Neal, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, is the recipient of the Faculty Excellence in Scholarship Award. The award recognizes a faculty member’s scholarly achievement at the college, as well as his/her work outside the college (publications, presentations, etc.).
O’Neal began teaching at Franklin College in 2010. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Anderson University. He continued his education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, earning a master’s degree in natural resources and environmental sciences and a doctoral degree in wildlife ecology. He has published six scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and, in the past year, presented at six conferences and workshops. O’Neal has received grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support avian ecology research involving Franklin College field biology students. He and his colleagues recently received a grant from the USDA to fund conservation practices on agricultural lands in the Midwest. In 2015, O’Neal and his students initiated a long-term wetland monitoring project funded by the Hants Lake Conservancy. He was also recently chosen to serve on the Science Team of the Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes Region Joint Venture (United States Department of the Interior). In this role, he helps guide and translate research for the planning and execution of regional conservation programs. O’Neal currently serves as president of the Alpha Society. His wife, Andrea, and their 3 children are residents of Franklin.
Founded in 1834, Franklin College is a residential, liberal arts institution with a scenic, wooded campus located 20 minutes south of downtown Indianapolis, spanning 207 acres, including athletic fields and a 31-acre biology woodland. The college prepares students to think independently, to lead responsibly and to serve with integrity in their professions, their communities and the world. The college offers its approximately 1,000 students Bachelor of Arts degrees in 55 majors from 25 academic disciplines, 41 minors, 11 pre-professional programs and four cooperative programs. In 1842, the college began admitting women, becoming the first coeducational institution in Indiana and the seventh in the nation. Franklin College maintains a voluntary association with the American Baptist Churches USA. For more information, visit www.FranklinCollege.edu
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