Research Day inaugural awards and recognitions
Two GovState founders honored
By Sarah Shoaf, Staff Writer
Amid Research Days 2024, Governors State University (GovState) recognized outstanding contributions of two GovState founders and several faculty members for their commitment to the University and research.
President Cheryl Green began the roll of honors with the presentation of awards to two founding members and longtime family of GovState, Drs. Addison Woodward (pictured left) and Larry McClellan (pictured right).
In honor of Woodward’s academic scholarship, leadership, and community service, the GovState Faculty Lounge has been named the Dr. Addison E. Woodward Faculty Lounge.
Woodward began his career at GovState 52 years ago this coming August and was one of the founders of the GovState Faculty Union. He served in the Behavioral Studies Department, now known as the Psychology Department.
Eventually Woodward became Chair of the Psychology and Counseling program, where he served for 23 years until he retired March 1, 2002.
When presented his award, Woodward stared in awe with a smile and a quiet, “Wow.”
“This is quite an honor,” said Woodward. “There are many others who are deserving of this honor, but I will graciously accept it,” joked Woodward, who was met with laughter. “I’m really touched that there is a faculty lounge with my name on it and I hope faculty will enjoy gathering there,” said Woodward before he thanked everyone in the room.
Dr. Green took the podium again to recognize Dr. McClellan, whose research and service to GovState is being honored with the naming of the Faculty Research Excellence Award, now known as the Dr. Larry A. McClellan Award for Faculty Research Excellence.
McClellan helped create GovState in 1970, working 30 years at the University and earning the title Professor Emeritus last fall. He taught at GovState as a professor of sociology and community studies.
Since 2006, McClellan has presented four research papers on the Underground Railroad, for which he is a nationally recognized expert.
McClellan has also served on the boards of the Illinois State Historical Society and the Will County Historical Society. The former presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 for his work with Illinois History.
In similar fashion to Woodward, McClellan had one word to say at the sight of his award, “Crazy,” with a smile and slight shake of his head.
“I was kinda overwhelmed when I received word from Dr. Green that the University wanted to honor some of my research,” said McClellan, who expressed his gratitude for the happenstance that led him to the south suburbs and GovState.
“I’ve been honored by the range of friendships that I’ve had at Governors State over the years,” said McClellan. “We had this vision of how this university could be the university of the Chicago Southland and I’ve been so pleased over the years that we have had so many people say that if not for this place, they would not have finished their education.”
Wrapping up the presentation of awards, Provost Beverly Schneller presented faculty with the newly named, Dr. Larry A. McClellan Award for Faculty Research Excellence.
This award was created in 2023 by Dr. Schneller and given by the GovState Foundation to fund faculty research that demonstrates excellence in critical thinking and creativity that advances fields of knowledge, appreciation of arts, and demonstrates cultural inclusivity. The Faculty Research Excellence Award is a separate recognition from the Excellence Awards given at Convocation.
Recipients of the 2024 award include Alex Liu, Xiaoyoung Chen, Jayne Goode, and Heng Li of the College of Arts and Sciences, Chevonne Alston, Wonsuk Cha, Praggyan Mohanty and Tingting He of the College of Business, Figen Karadogan of the College of Education and Human Development, and Danielle Osmelak, Angela Riccelli and Ravi Nigam of the College of Health and Human Services.