Professor of Geology Dr. Eric Peterson has received the 2023 Outstanding Service Award. Assistant Professor of Creative Technologies Dr. Sercan Şengün and Assistant Professor of Nursing Dr. Susan Watkins have received Service Initiative Awards.
University Service Awards
The Service Awards honor and recognize faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in service to Illinois State University. By honoring such individuals, the University demonstrates its commitment to recognizing service as an activity essential to its mission and governance, provides incentive for faculty members to pursue activities that enhance the quality of their service, and emphasizes the importance of outstanding service.
Outstanding University Service Award
Eric Peterson
Dr. Peterson joined the Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment in 2002 as assistant professor, becoming professor in 2012. In 2018, Peterson was named University Professor. Having served on numerous departmental, college, and university committees, Dr. Peterson views service as a way of providing direction for the University while expanding his own knowledge and understanding of the University.
Coming from a small department, Peterson emphasizes that all faculty members serve in several roles and as such he has held a position on every standing departmental committee. As an instructor and committee member, Peterson was involved in the development of the Environmental System Science and Sustainability Program. Peterson oversaw the department’s graduate program. In addition to recruiting and advising graduate students, Peterson has mentored 51 students with their theses and served on 52 other theses committees. The Hydrogeology division of the Geological Society of America recently honored him with the George Burke Maxey Distinguished Service Award.
University Service Initiative Awards
Sercan Şengün
Dr. Şengün joined the Wonsook Kim School of Art in 2019 as assistant professor of creative technologies in game design. Şengün views service as an activity that complements his research and academic presence in the field. Şengün sees teaching as a process that takes place inside and outside the classroom and strives to attend activities such as Commencements, Family Weekend activities, and graduate portfolio reviews to support students.
In his first year, Şengün became an advisor for three gaming registered student organizations (RSO), and in his second year, he added another RSO. These connections have led to industry speakers visiting campus and game showcase events. Şengün also served on the School Scholarship and Recruiting Committee, where he hopes to provide more content in the future about the game and graphic design programs.
Susan Watkins
Dr. Susan Watkins joined Illinois State University in 2018 as assistant professor in the Mennonite College of Nursing (MCN). With a goal of growing in service-related abilities, Watkins desires to serve vulnerable patient populations to provide nursing, healthcare, food access, and educational services for health promotion and wellness. Watkins is an active volunteer nurse at the Activity and Recreation Center in Normal and volunteers with the Student Nurses Association at the Midwest Food Bank each year. She has served on the advisory group for the Next Learning Management System Project and is the Accredited Provider Program director of continuing education representing MCN as an American Nurses Credentialing Center – Accredited Continuing Education Provider for nursing licensure professional development requirements.
Watkins’ professional service includes serving as a board member for the Illinois Ambulatory Nurse Practice Consortium, and a presenter at the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nurses Association and Midwest Nursing Research Society Annual Conferences. Watkins’ community service includes Activity and Recreation Center Registered Nurse, multiple food access volunteer efforts, Influenza Vaccination volunteer, and Go Red for Women Event Panel Planning Committee.
