7 OSU faculty members honored with 2025 Regents Distinguished Research Award

7 OSU faculty members honored with 2025 Regents Distinguished Research Award

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Media Contact: Sydney Trainor | OSU Brand Management | 405-744-9782 | [email protected]

Oklahoma State University recognized seven faculty members with the Regents Distinguished Research Award during the University Awards Convocation ceremony Dec. 8 in the Student Union Ballroom.

The award recipients must demonstrate a distinguished record of past and continuing excellence in research and be recognized nationally and internationally.

The RDRA program includes one award per college, except the College of Arts and Sciences which has two - one in the sciences and one in the arts/humanities disciplines.

Award Recipients include:

• Dr. Shannon Spaulding - philosophy - College of Arts and Sciences
• Dr. Noha Youssef - microbiology - College of Arts and Sciences
• Dr. Weihua Sheng - electrical and computer engineering - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
• Dr. DJ McMaughan - community and health sciences - College of Education and Human Sciences
• Dr. Rudra Channappanavar - veterinary pathobiology - College of Veterinary Medicine
• Dr. Ranjith Ramanathan - animal and food sciences - Ferguson College of Agriculture
• Dr. Nikos Dimotakis - management - Spears School of Business

"At Oklahoma State University, research is central to who we are and what we contribute to the world," said Dr. Kenneth Sewell, OSU vice president for research. "The Regents Distinguished Research Award recognizes faculty whose scholarship not only advances their disciplines but also elevates the university's impact on society. This year's honorees embody the curiosity, creativity and commitment that define OSU's research community."

The 2025 awardees were chosen by a committee comprising two OSU Faculty Council members, one at-large faculty member, a department head, an associate dean for research, a graduate student and an undergraduate student, who then made recommendations to Sewell. The committee evaluated nominees based on the excellence of their research achievements and the impact of their research or creative contributions on their respective fields.