Beaver College of Health Sciences

By Amanda Mlekush

During the Beaver College of Health Sciences’ fall 2025 opening ceremony held in Levine Hall on August 14, the college announced recipients of its 2025 faculty and staff awards, introduced 21 new employees, and honored individuals who have received promotions and recently earned advanced degrees.  
(Photo shows dean with a group of associate professors who were awarded tenure; from left, Dean Marie Huff; Matthew Rogatzki, PhD - Kinesiology; Robert Kowalsky, PhD - Kinesiology; Brooke Towner, PhD - Health and Physical Education and Gregory Marler, DNP,  PhD- Nursing.)

“The opening meeting is one of my favorite moments each year for our college,” said Dean Marie Huff, PhD, of the Beaver College of Health Sciences. “Recognizing some of the outstanding work that our faculty and staff are doing with college awards is a great way to kick off the semester and serves as an inspiration to others as they listen to excerpts from the nominations. 

“This year, we had awardees representing every single health sciences department as well as from the advising office, the dean’s office and the App Well Institute–a true reflection of the incredible work being done across the college.” 

The 2025 college awards recipients are: 

Parachute Award – Jeff McPherson, Advancement 

Research and Scholarly Endeavors – Shenghui Wu, MD, PhD, Public Health

Interprofessional Champion – Joy James, PhD, Recreation Management and Physical Education 

Outstanding Professional Administrative Staff – Heidi Tait, App Well Institute; Melissa Daniel, Dean’s Office

Student Success – Amber Welborn, PhD, Nursing; Catherine Sherill, Office of Advising and Academic Support

Outstanding Service – Kevin Zwetsloot, PhD, Kinesiology

Outstanding Teaching – Byron Towner, Recreation Management and Physical Education; Robert Broce, PhD, Social Work

Outstanding Faculty – Melissa Gutschall, PhD, Nutrition and Health Care Management; N. Travis Triplett, PhD, Kinesiology

Making a Difference – Jenny Womack, PhD, Rehabilitation Sciences 

 

Four faculty earned advanced degrees over the past year: 

Jennifer Dalton (Rehabilitation Sciences) earned an MBA from App State 

Elizabeth Jasper (Rehabilitation Sciences) earned a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Boston University

Gregory Marler (Nursing), DNP, ACNP-BC, FCCP, earned a PhD from Duquesne University

Sarah Martin (Nursing) earned a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Western Carolina University 

 

Promotions were announced for the following faculty: 

Promoted to Clinical Assistant Professor; Rebecca Liljestrand - Nursing; Michele Rudisill - Nursing

Promoted to Senior Lecturer; Leanne Bledsoe - Physical Education Activity; Keane Hamilton - Kinesiology; Killian Wustrow - Kinesiology

Promoted to Associate Professor and Earned Tenure: Robert Kowalsky, PhD - Kinesiology; Gregory Marler, DNP, PhD - Nursing; Matthew Rogatzki, PhD - Kinesiology; Brooke Towner, PhD - Health and Physical Education

Promoted to Professor; Rich Christiana, PhD - Public Health; Jennifer Dalton, PhD - Rehabilitation Sciences; Caroline Smith, PhD - Kinesiology; Rachel Wright, PhD - Social Work; and Shenghui Wu, MD, PhD - Public Health

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