Recognizing ASU’s Values Everyday (RAVE) Spring 2023 Nominees
The RAVE program is part of the college’s initiative to celebrate our core values by recognizing faculty and staff who have been caught demonstrating integrity, diversity and inclusion, significance, community, or commitment.
The faculty and staff listed below have been RAVEd about.
Alyssa Allen
Core Values Observed: Significance and Community
“I have recently worked with Alyssa on a project and quickly noticed how she is passionate about outreach to exposing kids to Angelo State and all it has to offer. She was quick to identify opportunities we have on campus to engage and encourage within the field of STEM.”
Nominator: Jamie Mayer
Mario Barrientos
Core Value Observed: Commitment
“Mario took it upon himself to contact a junior college and ask if he could attend a meeting of their STEM club and give a talk. This led to him being invited for a return visit and has forged a relationship with the junior college that we did not have. Mario is a senior instructor whose primary focus is to teach mathematics. This outreach that he initiated is an extension of his dedication to teaching.”
Nominator: Dr. Karl Havlak
Dr. Loree Branham
Core Values Observed: Integrity and Community
“With the department chair facing unanticipated health issues, Loree and Cody stepped up to help maintain the ongoing functions of the Department of Agriculture. By considering the needs of the department above their own, and by acting to meet the needs of the group, they demonstrate what integrity and community are all about.”
Nominator: Dr. Paul K. Swets
Becky Bray
Core Value Observed: Community
“This morning (Feb 16) a group of ASU retirees were visiting the Cavness Science Building. As they were leaving one of these individuals momentarily lost consciousness. The team of Carla Ebeling, Laurie Fohn, and Russ Wilke from Biology with help from Becky Bray from Chemistry called 911, helped make him comfortable, grabbed the AED (Automated External Defibrillator, which fortunately wasn’t needed), and waited in the parking lot to guide the paramedics to the right place. They all jumped to the task of helping this visitor. Each of us hopes that when we have a medical emergency bystanders will be responsible and compassionate. Unfortunately, we have all heard of cases when this didn’t happen. To me, this exemplifies “Community”. We do what we can for each other.”
Nominator: Dr. Michael Dixon
Dr. Emerson Crabill
Core Values Observed: Integrity, Diversity and Inclusion, Significance, Community, and Commitment
“Dr. Crabill changed the trajectory of my life. I was fortunate enough to take all of my microbiology courses with him as well as perform research under his guidance. When I met him, I was a junior who was entirely unsure of what to do with my life and my degree. I fell in love with microbiology when taking him for general micro, so it became clear to me what I wanted my career to entail. Dr. Crabill has been nothing short of inspiring and incredible during the time I have known him. He was the catalyst that changed my life. After taking his lecture and lab, I wanted to work in research with him, and after working in research with him, I was applying to jobs as a microbiologist as he made my bench skills much more well-rounded and evolved. I landed a job as a microbiologist in Austin, which he helped me get before I even walked the stage at ASU for graduation. He assisted me with the whole application process and spoke for me as my recommendation. I’ve been working at this job for nearly a year now, and I absolutely love it. About four months into my job, I began applying to Ph.D programs in microbiology as my heart was set on pursuing my doctorate in the field. I cannot even begin to express how kind and unbelievably helpful Dr. Crabill was in my applications to my grad schools. He read over my letters of intent, my past research, and wrote recommendations for me as well. He also coached me through the application and interview process. I was accepted into both programs I applied to, and I signed to UT. The whole thing feels so surreal, and I absolutely know I wouldn’t have even been considered for candidacy at these universities if it wasn’t for his kindness, encouragement, empathy, and leadership. I truly believe in my heart that no one deserves to be recognized as much as he does. He creates a very welcoming and freeing environment with students, which is so helpful as microbiology isn’t for the faint at heart. Those who took his classes when I was still a student at ASU adored him and rightfully so. He has ensured my success and self evolution not only as my professor, but as a life-long mentor. I had no idea what I wanted from my life out of life in general until I was able to work with him. I cannot express how grateful I am for him.”
Nominator: Raeana Mayo
Carla Ebeling
Core Value Observed: Community
“This morning (Feb 16) a group of ASU retirees were visiting the Cavness Science Building. As they were leaving one of these individuals momentarily lost consciousness. The team of Carla Ebeling, Laurie Fohn, and Russ Wilke from Biology with help from Becky Bray from Chemistry called 911, helped make him comfortable, grabbed the AED (Automated External Defibrillator, which fortunately wasn’t needed), and waited in the parking lot to guide the paramedics to the right place. They all jumped to the task of helping this visitor. Each of us hopes that when we have a medical emergency bystanders will be responsible and compassionate. Unfortunately, we have all heard of cases when this didn’t happen. To me, this exemplifies “Community”. We do what we can for each other.”
Nominator: Dr. Michael Dixon
Dr. Laurel Fohn
Core Value Observed: Community
“This morning (Feb 16) a group of ASU retirees were visiting the Cavness Science Building. As they were leaving one of these individuals momentarily lost consciousness. The team of Carla Ebeling, Laurie Fohn, and Russ Wilke from Biology with help from Becky Bray from Chemistry called 911, helped make him comfortable, grabbed the AED (Automated External Defibrillator, which fortunately wasn’t needed), and waited in the parking lot to guide the paramedics to the right place. They all jumped to the task of helping this visitor. Each of us hopes that when we have a medical emergency bystanders will be responsible and compassionate. Unfortunately, we have all heard of cases when this didn’t happen. To me, this exemplifies “Community”. We do what we can for each other.”
Nominator: Dr. Michael Dixon
Autumn Hoover
Core Value Observed: Commitment
“Autumn is an asset to the math department. I witness her commitment every day in her dedication to her students. Almost every day she will have students in her office for tutoring. Sometimes there are more than one student in her office getting help. I have also been on the receiving end of Autumn’s commitment. As a former developmental mathematics coordinator, Autumn has vast knowledge of the state statutes which govern Developmental mathematics. She has always been willing to help me interpret new and old statutes to help me be successful. I appreciate the commitment she has always shown to fulfill the needs of our students.”
Nominator: Wayne Humphrey
Dr. Simon Pfeil
Core Values Observed: Community, Significance
“Dr. Pfeil has started an after school program called ASU Math Circle for 3rd - 5th graders. It took months to get the plan in place with SAISD, but the program was an instant hit. More than 150 students applied for the limited seats available, and Dr. Pfeil has students representing 12 different elementary schools participating. This outreach to provide something valuable for the community certainly reflects the value of community but also commitment and diversity and inclusion.”
“Dr. Pfeil oversees a student problem-solving group that meets biweekly. One of the goals of the group is to prepare students to take the Putman Exam, which is a national exam notorious for having a median score of 0. Dr. Pfeil had 10 students take the exam, and 4 of the 10 scored above the median. One student scored in the top 20% of the more than 3400 participants. Dr. Pfeil is to be commended for his efforts with these students and getting them to see the value in dedicating their time to a challenging endeavor.”
Nominator: Dr. Karl Havlak
Dr. Cody Scott
Core Values Observed: Integrity and Community
“With the department chair facing unanticipated health issues, Loree and Cody stepped up to help maintain the ongoing functions of the Department of Agriculture. By considering the needs of the department above their own, and by acting to meet the needs of the group, they demonstrate what integrity and community are all about.”
Nominator: Dr. Paul K. Swets
Dr. Gregory Smith
Core Value Observed: Commitment
“One of our Labflow labs was producing unsatisfactory results when conducted as written. Dr. Smith diagnosed the problem, worked out an ingenious system of buffers to make the experiment more reliable and resilient to student inaccuracy, and modified the procedure accordingly. His commitment to chemistry and student learning is exemplary.”
Nominator: Rigel Rilling
“Dr. Smith regularly takes time out of his day (or weekend) to participate in any and all Academic recruiting activities (Ram Preview Day, True Blue Fridays, and NSO’s) on behalf of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. His commitment and reliability to serve the Department in this capacity is very much appreciated.”
Nominator: Dr. Kyle Beran
Dr. Russell Wilke
Core Value Observed: Community
“This morning (Feb 16) a group of ASU retirees were visiting the Cavness Science Building. As they were leaving one of these individuals momentarily lost consciousness. The team of Carla Ebeling, Laurie Fohn, and Russ Wilke from Biology with help from Becky Bray from Chemistry called 911, helped make him comfortable, grabbed the AED (Automated External Defibrillator, which fortunately wasn’t needed), and waited in the parking lot to guide the paramedics to the right place. They all jumped to the task of helping this visitor. Each of us hopes that when we have a medical emergency bystanders will be responsible and compassionate. Unfortunately, we have all heard of cases when this didn’t happen. To me, this exemplifies “Community”. We do what we can for each other.”
Nominator: Dr. Michael Dixon
Core Values Observed: Integrity and Community
“Russell Wilke volunteered to form a faculty committee, write a position description, and lead the search effort to recommend the next Chair of the Department of Biology. He is doing so with utmost transparency (integrity) and serving others (community). Volunteering to do difficult but critical tasks is worthy of recognition.”
Nominator: Dr. Paul K. Swets