Awarded in 2026

Lifetime Achievement Award

In Fall of 2025, Karen Durany, PhD, SLP-CCC was bestowed Honors of the Association—a lifetime achievement award from the Oregon Speech Language and Hearing Association.

An excerpt from the nomination letter read, "For nearly 30 years, Durany has demonstrated unparalleled dedication to the success and well-being of students at the University of Oregon, profoundly shaping the lives and careers of future clinicians and scholars in Communication Disorders and Sciences (CDS). As an academic advisor, mentor, educator, and leader, Karen has left a legacy. Her long-standing role as Director of Undergraduate Studies in CDS since 2008 reflects her deep commitment to fostering academic excellence and inclusion."

Congratulations Karen! Thank you for your commitment to our students and community.

2026 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards

Congratulations to Professor Kent McIntosh, recipient of the Inclusive Scholarship Award, and Associate Professor Rhonda Nese, recipient of the Exemplary Leadership Award, as part of the 2026 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards. These honors recognize individuals who embody Dr. King’s values and vision. Their work inspires us all to embrace the courage to belong and advance flourishing at UO.

This year’s celebration theme, “The Courage to Belong,” reflects Dr. King’s unwavering belief in the power of community and the moral imperative to create spaces where everyone feels valued and included. Belonging requires courage—courage to lead, to transform systems, and to stand for freedom and justice for all. Nominated by their peers, these nominees exemplify that spirit through their leadership, scholarship, and advocacy.

Awarded in 2025

Congratulations to the OVPRI Career Research Faculty Professional Development Award Recipients 

Congratulations to the following faculty for receiving an OVPRI award to support professional development activities related to advancing their research skills in their area of expertise:

• Anne Marie Mauricio, Associate Research Professor, Prevention Science Institute
• Joe Neese, Research Associate Professor, Behavioral Research and Teaching
• Kyle Reardon, Research Associate, Secondary Special Education and Transition
• Maria Reina Santiago-Rosario, Research Associate, Educational and Community Supports
• Lina Shaley, Research Associate Professor, Center on Teaching and Learning 

Congratulations to the 2024-2025 Faculty Fund Award Recipients 

We are thrilled to recognize the faculty who have received the 2024-2025 Faculty Fund Awards. These awards provide vital support for professional development opportunities and innovative research and projects. Congratulations to all recipients for their dedication and impactful contributions. This year’s recipients for project proposal awards are: 

• Asha Yadav: Data-Based Decision Making in Preschools: Structures and Strategies
• Illana Umansky: Education Policy and Leadership Master of Science Program Outreach
• Jayme Sloan: Development of a Robust Training for CDS Externship Supervisors
• Kyle Reardon: Project THRIVE: Training for Hiring, Retaining, and Inclusively Valuing Employees with Disabilities
• Mavis Gallo: Institutional Betrayal and Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior Among LGBTQ Youth
• Samantha Shune: An exploration of end-of-life dysphagia practices in Thailand
• Sara Schmitt: Developing the Inclusive Skill-building Learning Approach for Preschoolers (ISLA-P)
• Sean Grant: Innovations in Living Systematic Review Methodology
• Sofia Benson-Goldberg, Jeanine Brush, and Miyoko Patricelli: AAC Storytime: Modeling Storybook Reading with Young AAC Users  

2025 College of Education Annual Faculty and Staff Awards