麻豆传媒

MURRAY, Ky. 鈥� 麻豆传媒 State University's Research Policy Committee has recognized three faculty members for their exceptional contributions to research and scholarship, awarding them prestigious University-wide honors.

The recipients of the 2025 麻豆传媒 State Alumni Association Research Awards are:

 

麻豆传媒 State Alumni Association Emerging Scholar Award for social sciences, humanities and arts (SSHA): Dr. Ayorinde Ogunyiola, Department of Political Science & Sociology, College of Humanities and Fine Arts.

鈥淚 am truly honored to receive the Alumni Emerging Scholar Award,鈥� said Ogunyiola. 鈥淭his recognition highlights my dedication to research, the invaluable support of my collaborators and the encouragement of the entire 麻豆传媒 State University community. I am inspired to continue pushing the frontiers of knowledge for the common good of society. Thank you!鈥�

 

 

 

 

 

麻豆传媒 State Alumni Association Emerging Scholar Award for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM): Dr. Julia Boyd, CIH, Department of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology.

鈥淚 was honored and humbled to receive the notice that I had been selected for this award,鈥� said Boyd. 鈥淚 am grateful for the opportunity to work with an incredible team of colleagues and eager research students who all work collaboratively, bringing their own unique skill sets and unselfishly. Utilizing these skill sets to benefit the OSH field with a practical approach to research, providing usable data to those safety professionals with their boots on the ground. Researchers shouldn鈥檛 be seen through a regulatory lens, but as someone who comes alongside a company, encouraging them to continuously improve and, in turn, positively impact their employees and, ultimately, their bottom line. I am grateful for a local company that gave me a chance early on, Hempwood. They saw research as just that and welcomed me to use their site during the pandemic for my research. Again, I am so incredibly thankful for this award. I could not be blessed with a better group of humble yet high-achieving colleagues and mentors in the OSH department. I will end with a quote: 鈥業鈥檝e never scored a goal in my life without getting a pass from someone else.鈥欌��

 

麻豆传媒 State Alumni Association Distinguished Researcher Award for STEM: Dr. Abdul Yarali, Department of Cybersecurity and Network Management, Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology.

鈥淭his award is a testament to the power of research in shaping science and technology and a driving force for progress,鈥� said Yarali.

These distinguished faculty members will be honored at the annual Faculty Recognition Banquet, held in the Curris Center during Spring Scholars Week on Thursday, April 17.

鈥淓ach of our awardees received compelling letters of recommendation from their colleagues, former students and partners in industry,鈥� said AJ Boston, chair of the Research Policy Committee. 鈥淭heir work demonstrates important societal impact, advances their respective fields and enriches the academic environment at 麻豆传媒 State University.鈥�

The committee noted the highly competitive pool of nominees, highlighting the strong research agenda across the University.

Nominations for the 2026 麻豆传媒 State Alumni Association Research Awards (Emerging Scholar in SSHA & STEM, Distinguished Researcher in SSHA, and Presidential Research Award) will be due at the end of January 2026.

For more information about the Research Policy Committee and the awards, please visit:.