Faculty Recognition / October 2023 

Faculty at Pittsburg State University are experts in their field who regularly take part in scholarship, research, and creative activity outside of their classrooms. 

The excellence they achieve is noteworthy in and of itself, but the experience they gain from pursuing this excellence is a win-win: they bring it back to their classrooms, which in turn provides an even more robust and valuable education for their students. 

Congratulations to the following faculty for these awards and recognitions: 

Creative Writing | Laura Washburn 

In the Kansas Authors Club 2023 Literary Contest, Professor Laura Washburn won the 2023 Nelson Poetry Book Award for “The Book of Stolen Images.” She also earned 1st Place for her entry, “Trout Valley, W. Va., March 31, 1886...” and an honorable mention for “Aubade: Trying to Decide the Kind of Poet She’ll Become.” A professor of English, Washburn is the director of Creative Writing and the Distinguished Visiting Writers Series, and the assistant director of Women and Gender Studies at Pitt State. 

Ceramics | Mayumi Makino Kiefer 

In one of the largest art competitions in the U.S., Assistant Instructional Professor Mayumi Makino Kiefer placed second for her work PeacePeacePeace. She also was chosen for inclusion in a national exhibit for her work Perfection in Imperfection and was chosen for inclusion in the 58th Annual Exhibit by the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts next spring. Kiefer directs the ceramics studio in the Art Department at Pitt State and is one of a handful of women ceramists who fire their work in wood-fired kilns. 

Technology & Workforce Learning | Krissy Lewis 

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi chose Assistant Instructional Professor Krissy Lewis for a 2023 Love of Learning Award. It comes with a $1,000 stipend to help fund her research as she works toward earning a doctorate degree. The award was based on her academic achievement, campus and community service, and academic and career goals. Lewis teaches in Technology & Workforce Learning at Pitt State — a program that is part of the College of Technology.

Technology & Workforce Learning | Mark Johnson 

Professor Mark Johnson was asked to officially receive HB 2292 signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly in Topeka this fall as the Secretary of the Kansas Apprenticeship Council, a position he was appointed to by Gov. Kelly. It is the first major legislation in Kansas that provides tax credits for organizations wishing to establish apprenticeship programs — a great step towards helping solve the state's workforce development shortages. Johnson teaches in Technology & Workforce Learning at Pitt State — a program that is part of the College of Technology.

Wood Product Manufacturing | Jordan Backs 

The Woodworking Network has named Associate Professor Jordan Backs to the elite 2023 Wood Industry “40 Under 40” list. Backs was recognized for taking students to trade shows and leadership seminars, connecting them with employers, and partnering with a YouTube influencer. Backs teaches in Wood Product Manufacturing at Pitt State — a program that is part of the College of Technology.