The Outstanding Faculty Award (OFA) program is a means by which Virginia State University acknowledges and celebrates the distinguished achievement of faculty in the areas of teaching, research-scholarship, and service. As exemplars of excellence in these areas, faculty recipients of this prestigious awards program receive formal recognition and a monetary award from the Provost's Office, in appreciation of their extraordinary contributions to the university, their disciplines, and the community. The awards offer faculty a way to showcase their teaching excellence, distinguished achievement as academics in their field or other areas of expertise, and leadership and service both within and beyond the university.
Outstanding Faculty Awards
2025-2026
Rising Star Award: Excellence in Teaching
Dr. Seyedehkhadijeh Azimi
Assistant Professor
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Mathematics and Economics
Rising Star Award: Outstanding Research/Scholarly Achievement
Dr. Samuel West
Assistant Professor
College of Natural and Health Sciences
Department of Psychology
Rising Star Award: Outstanding University/Community Service
Ms. Cassandra Price (M.A.)
Assistant Professor
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department of Mass Communications
Rising Star Award: AI Innovation Integration Award in Teaching, Research or Service
Dr. Olumide Malomo
Associate Professor
Reginald F. Lewis College of Business
Department of Computer Information Systems
Rising Star Award: Stellar Award in Teaching, Research/Scholarship, and Service
Dr. Matthew Whalen
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
College of Natural and Health Sciences
Star Award: Stellar Award in Teaching, Research/Scholarship, and Service
Dr. Zhenhua Wu
Professor
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Dedicated Award: Star Award in Research
Dr. Chyer Kim
Professor
College of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Station
Dedicated Award: Star Award in Teaching (non-tenure eligible)
Dr. Kelisha Graves
Assistant Professor
College of Education
Department of Educational Leadership
Previous Outstanding Faculty Recipients
2021 – 2022
2022 - 2023
2023 - 2024
2024 - 2025
Contact Us
For more information, contact OFA Committee Chair Rafat A. Siddiqui, Ph.D. at rsiddiqui@vsu.edu.