2026 Faculty Excellence Awards presented & new Emeritus Professors honored

Several full-time and adjunct faculty members were honored at the annual Faculty Excellence Awards Celebration held April 20, 2026.

2026 House/Bruckmann Faculty Excellence Award: Milene Donlin and Julie McLaughlin

The House/Bruckmann Faculty Excellence Award was established in 1985. The award is named for Clifford R. House, the first president of Cincinnati Technical College, and Alice P. Bruckmann, a member of the College’s first Board of Trustees. 

• Tenured faculty members may be nominated by faculty and academic administrators based on demonstrated excellence related to several criteria:
• Nominations are reviewed by a Screening Subcommittee comprised of past award recipients, and up to five nominees may be recommended for recognition as finalists.

Milene Donlin is a Professor and the Department Chair for Biology in the Health & Public Safety Division

Milene joined the College as an adjunct faculty member in 2013, and has been a member of the full-time faculty since 2018.

Milene was nominated for her Collaborative Spirit, Contributions to the College, Commitment to Student Success, and Contributions to the Community. 

Achievements described in Milene’s nomination include:

• Milene became the Biology Department Chair “just in time to face flooded offices and labs” and through her “incredible organizational skills and work ethic,” she was able to make sure Biology classes continued in a rotating set of labs and classrooms. She also improved many Biology Department processes, making them more straightforward and effective.
• In her teaching and her support of other faculty, Milene helps others adopt effective practices, such as adjusting some questions in Anatomy and Physiology practical exams so they are more understandable for English Language Learners.
• Milene was an early adopter of the Brightspace learning management system who served as “an exemplary resource for fellow faculty members” as they developed their courses. She led several hands-on training sessions for faculty who launched Brightspace courses in Summer 2025.
• Milene has served twice as Faculty Senate President, working with colleagues and administrators to improve College processes and advocate for increases to adjunct pay.
• Milene also helps Cincinnati State serve as a resource for the Greater Cincinnati community, including organizing employees for clean-up projects in area parks, and co-leading Academic League weekly competitions and tournaments for area high school students.

Julie McLaughlin is a Professor and the Department Chair for First Year Experience courses and for the Leadership Certificate in Humanities & Sciences 

Julie has been a faculty member at Cincinnati State since 2003. She served as an Academic Advisor before moving to her current role, and she has been nominated 10 times previously for House/Bruckmann recognition.

Julie is a co-author of the textbook Thriving in the Community College & Beyond: Strategies for Academic Success & Personal Development and is a frequent presenter at workshops and conference sessions on best practices in First Year Experience programs and courses.

Julie’s nomination noted her Contributions to the College and Commitment to Student Success. Achievements described in her nomination include:

• Julie’s primary role at the College is devoted to “making sure students are successful both in the classroom and beyond.” She consistently leads the instructors in FYE and Leadership courses “to not only care for the students in their classes, but also to push the bounds of the existing content to make sure it is applicable and useful in paving the way for student success.” Her nomination describes FYE as “one of the most well-run departments and course series’ on campus.”
• Julie has been actively involved in numerous College committees. As a member of the Brightspace LMS FACT team, Julie “worked collaboratively with other faculty and administrators to guide the group towards a mutually beneficial agreement” on how to compensate faculty for developing and transitioning courses to Brightspace, which “was no small feat.”
• As Vice President of the Cincinnati State AAUP Chapter, Julie has been a strong advocate and leader, frequently serving as “a voice for faculty in high-stakes meetings with administration,” while conducting discussions “with a sense of respect and teamwork that ultimately allow the College to move forward.”
• As a member of several AAUP negotiation teams, Julie has demonstrated “an admirable and impressive ability to work towards compromise while also being firm in defending the rights of faculty members.”

2026 Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award: Amanda Olding and Terkerah Washington

The Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award was established in 2021.

• Any part-time employee with responsibilities that involve instruction, cooperative education coordination, clinical or practicum coordination, or academic advising is eligible for nomination. Full-time staff members at the College may be nominated only in recognition of their adjunct responsibilities.
• Nominations can be made by full-time and part-time faculty, academic administrators, staff members, and students, based on demonstrated excellence related to several criteria.
• Nominations must be endorsed by the applicable program or department chair and the applicable division administrator.
• Nominations are then reviewed by the members of the Faculty Excellence Committee, who select the award recipients. Up to five adjunct faculty members may receive the award each year.

Amanda Olding, Nursing (Health & Public Safety)

Amanda has served as an Adjunct Nursing Clinical Educator for courses in the Cincinnati State associate degree nursing (RN) program for six years, supporting clinical and laboratory instructional activities for four Nursing courses. She was nominated for Excellence in Instruction, particularly in the course NUR 201 (Nursing Concepts 4 – Medical-Surgical Nursing). 

The nomination commended Amanda’s contributions that “enrich the Nursing program, elevate the clinical learning environment, and exemplify the qualities of an outstanding nursing educator.”

• The nomination notes that Amanda demonstrates “outstanding dedication to student learning and success” and shows “commitment to supporting each nursing student’s journey in every clinical interaction.” 
• The nomination states that Amanda takes an individualized approach to teaching, thoughtfully assessing each student’s strengths and areas for improvement, and investing extra time to provide personalized guidance through targeted skill reinforcement, one-on-one coaching, or “simply offering a listening ear when students feel overwhelmed.”
• The nomination also points out that Amanda’s nurturing presence helps students feel safe asking questions, reflecting on challenges, and growing from their experiences, and describes Amanda as “patient, encouraging, and deeply intentional in helping students develop clinical judgment and professionalism.” She adapts her instruction to meet diverse needs, “ensuring that every student, regardless of their starting point, has the opportunity to succeed,” and her “unwavering dedication” routinely leads to spending “additional time and effort to ensure students understand complex concepts, feel prepared for patient care, and progress successfully through the course.”

Amanda’s passion for nursing education, combined with her compassionate, learner-centered approach, makes her an invaluable member of the Nursing clinical team.

Terkerah Washington – Communications (Humanities & Sciences)

Terkerah has served as an adjunct instructor at Cincinnati State for five years, teaching courses in Public Speaking and also representing the College as a member of the Speaker’s Bureau. She was nominated for her Collaborative Spirit, Contributions to the College, and Commitment to Student Success.

Her nomination describes Terkerah as a “collaborative colleague” who contributes to a “welcoming and supportive culture” within the Communications department, as well as an instructor who “maintains high expectations while ensuring students have the tools and encouragement they need to succeed.”

• Terkerah volunteered to revamp the Public Speaking course to better meet student needs and regularly shares course materials and resources with both new and experienced instructors. She also leads the department’s Speaking Lab initiative, which gives online Public Speaking students opportunities to present to a live audience. 
• The nomination commends Terkerah’s willingness to “invest significant time and care to ensure students understand course material, often going beyond what is required to support their learning.” She also makes herself available outside of scheduled class time, particularly before student presentations, providing guidance and reassurance when students need it most.  
• Terkerah also has made important contributions to the College through her service with the Cincinnati State Speaker’s Bureau, which was established in 2023 to provide speakers for community businesses and organizations. Her nomination notes that Terkerah was the first adjunct faculty participant for this uncompensated volunteer activity, and points out that she has “represented the College numerous times, giving her time and talent to this initiative.” 

Terkerah’s abillity to provide excellent instruction, and willingness to also engage with the community and serve as a visible ambassador for Cincinnati State, reflect a deep commitment to the College’s mission.

Other 2026 nominees for the House/Bruckmann Award: Sheena Davis, Jessica Loomis, and Dr. Carol Morman

Sheena Davis, Professor and Program Chair of Nursing (Health & Public Safety)

Sheena was nominated for her Excellence in Instruction, Collaborative Spirit, and Contributions to Student Success. Achievements described in her nomination include:

• Teaching the senior role transition course in the Associate Degree Nursing program, Sheena created case studies for every content area “to give her students the best practice at applying critical thinking,” while “enforcing policies and standards” and simultaneously “providing student nurturing and support” that “leads the students across the finish line.” 
• Under Sheena’s leadership, pass rates for students taking their first attempt at NCLEX-RN (the required credentialing exam for registered nurses) had a pass rate of 98%, significantly higher than the state average (89.5%) and the national average (91.1%).
• Sheena became the Nursing Program Chair in Fall 2025, following the retirement of the long-serving previous chair. In her new role Sheena demonstrated “the highest standards for collaboration, leadership, and dedication” to Nursing students and faculty colleagues. 
• Sheena also serves as a member of the Faculty Senate, where she collaborates with other leaders from across the College in shared governance activities.

Jessica Loomis, Professor of Biology (Health & Public Safety)

Jessi was nominated for her Commitment to Student Success and Contributions to the College. Achievements described in her nomination include:

• Jessi provided leadership for College Credit Plus (CCP) programming, course design, and faculty development at the College and “created a model program for onboarding, training, and providing ongoing professional development to CCP high school instructors.”
• Jessi also provides consultation for faculty and staff who “recognize her deep expertise” in CCP concerns. She has enrolled colleagues in her CCP learning management site, shared best practices through presentations and written resources, and served as a longstanding member of the College Credit Plus Committee, including “contributing countless hours of leadership to major committee initiatives, such as the creation and continuous improvement of documents and processes used College-wide.”
• In service roles including Scholarship Committee Chair, Tenure Class Facilitator, and Membership Chair for the Cincinnati State AAUP Chapter, Jessi has “demonstrated exceptional dedication,” and “made substantial contributions and significantly advanced the success of the College and the faculty she supports.”

Dr. Carol Morman, Professor & Program Chair, Land Surveying (Engineering & Information Technologies)

Carol was nominated for her Contributions to the College, Commitment to Student Success, and Collaborative Spirit. Achievements described in her nomination include:

• Carol led efforts over many years to establish bachelor’s degrees at Cincinnati State, starting with the “astounding time and care” that led to the bachelor’s program in Land Surveying, as well as “spending countless hours helping her peers at the College” to gain approval for bachelor’s degrees in other programs.
• In addition, she has helped colleagues with their professional accreditation processes.
• The nomination states that Carol is “passionate about helping students,” through actions such as setting up a cohort with students from the University of the Virgin Islands, and adjusting her own schedule so these students can attend Land Surveying classes that meet their needs.
• Carol also “goes out of her way to help students who are struggling” and encourages other instructors in the Land Surveying program to do the same, to “ensure that those who may not have previously been given a chance are given the best opportunity to succeed.”

2026 Emeritus Professors: Elias Feghali, Dr. Janice Lockett, and Linda Romero-Smith

Emeritus Professor status may be awarded to a retired faculty member who served for at least 15 years in a full-time faculty role.

• A nomination must be prepared by a current faculty member and forwarded to the Faculty Senate.
• The Faculty Senate then seeks support for Emeritus Professor nominations through voting by all current tenured faculty members.
• Recommendations for Emeritus Professor recognition are forwarded from the Faculty Senate to the College President.

Elias Feghali, BS, Professor of Civil Engineering Technology (Engineering & Information Technologies) for 34 years

In addition to teaching several courses in Civil Engineering Technology (CET) and Math, Elias served as the academic advisor for Architectural and Construction Management students in CET. He served on or chaired several College-wide committees, including the Sabbatical Committee and the Faculty Excellence Committee, and he was the 1995 recipient of the House/Bruckmann Faculty Excellence Award. Elias was an adjunct faculty member for six years before joining the full-time faculty. 

His nomination noted these achievements:

• Elias is an outstanding teacher, advisor, and ambassador for the College. Graduates of the Civil Engineering Technology (CET) program praise his impact as a “fantastic teacher,” and his past students “greatly appreciate his respect and dedication to educating his students”. Many who recall Elias as their math instructor say, “If not for him, I would not have passed math.”
• As an advisor, Elias didn’t just meet with students to help them set their schedule and outline a path to graduation; he also reached out to students through phone calls and after-class meetings, and provided “wise advice” to help students plan for a successful future in the profession.
• Elias is a “lifelong learner” who continuously adopted new materials and methods as the industry changed, and demonstrated “what we want our graduates to become” in the way he gained new skills and mastered new technologies that affected the Civil Engineering field.
• As a recruiter for the CET program, Elias made numerous presentations at several high schools, where he “shares a positive image and encouragement for achieving success” while speaking to prospective students.
• Elias also worked hard to assist in recruiting skilled adjunct faculty, including his children, Anthony and Mirna, who are continuing Elias’s legacy of outstanding teaching.

Janice M. Lockett, PhD, MSN, RN, Professor & Program Chair of Nursing (Health & Public Safety) for 26 years

Janice served as program chair for the Nursing associate degree for 10 years. She taught several first-year and second-year Nursing courses as well as the course in Evidence-Based Practice and Nursing Research in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. She was a member of Faculty Senate and an officer of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), and she served on numerous divisional and College-wide committees. Before joining the full-time faculty, Janice served for five years as an adjunct instructor.

Her nomination noted these achievements:

• Janice “demonstrated exceptional dedication to teaching and mentorship.” As program chair, she led continuous work to remain in compliance with national and state accreditation requirements, and helped ensure that Nursing faculty “worked together as a team to establish a rigorous and current curriculum, maintain caring and professionalism, and help students become safe and effective nurses.”
• She played a significant role in obtaining grant funding from Hamilton County that supports all of the Nursing programs at the College and she represented the College in projects and activities with The Health Collaborative and other community organizations.
• Janice’s contributions were recognized by her peers with a nomination to receive the House/Bruckmann Faculty Excellence Award.
• Even after retiring, Janice has expressed interest in continuing to mentor Nursing faculty and teach Nursing courses.
• Her nomination stated that Janice’s “extraordinary contributions to scholarship, teaching, and service” ensure that “her legacy is woven into the fabric of our institution.”

Linda Romero-Smith, BS, Professor & Cooperative Education Coordinator & Academic Advisor (Humanities & Sciences & Middletown Campus) for 26 years

Linda served for 10 years as the Co-op Coordinator for Humanities & Sciences (H&S) before moving to Academic Advisor responsibilities. She taught courses in Career Exploration and First Year Experience for H&S as well as Professional Practices courses for other academic divisions. She was nominated for the House/Bruckmann Faculty Excellence Award in 2004 and 2007 and was the award recipient in 2008. Linda was a member of Faculty Senate and she served on numerous College-wide committees, including the Tenure Committee, the Co-op Committee, and the Commencement Committee. Before joining the full-time faculty, Linda served as a part-time Co-op Coordinator and as a College Recruiter. 

Her nomination noted these achievements:

• Throughout her career, Linda was “a leader within Humanities & Sciences, supporting students in experiential learning and helping guide them to earn degrees and move on to four-year institutions.” She forged partnerships with organizations and businesses throughout the Greater Cincinnati area to promote the knowledge and skills of community college students seeking a transfer degree, and she worked to provide meaningful experiential learning experiences for “students seeking every undergraduate degree imaginable.” She “supported her students, held them accountable, and celebrated in their success.”
• When the Middletown Campus opened, Linda served as Lead Academic Advisor at the new location, where she “introduced hundreds of students to Cincinnati State and helped them select courses and connect with support services.” She assisted with academic advising, co-op placement, and communication on campus and with the Middletown business community. She also obtained grant funding to support co-op at the Middletown Campus.
• Linda is “known College-wide as a collaborator, an organizer, and a champion of service and commitment to the College,” as demonstrated through initiatives such as facilitating the International Women’s Tea, wrapping holiday gifts for the needy in our community, planning events to recognize employer partners, and assisting with Commencement, where “anyone with a question about what to do or where to be on that day just had to look to Linda who calmly, and with a smile, supported thousands of students and their families on the last step of their Cincinnati State journey.”
• Her nomination said, “Linda transformed the lives of our students through experiential learning and academic advising, and her commitment to student engagement has left an indelible mark on the College.”