Million Dollar Circle Award
The Million Dollar Circle Award is to recognize the accomplishments of WCU faculty and staff that have received a cumulative total of $1 million in competitive grant funding and contracts through the University, as Principal Investigator.
Created in 2016 by the Office of Research Administration, the Million Dollar Circle includes faculty and staff from a broad range of disciplines and departments, including the Forensic Science program and the School of Nursing. The award was created to acknowledge the time and effort put forth by faculty and staff members to obtain funding for their research.
Since inception, the Office of Research Administration has awarded the Million Dollar Circle Award to 26 faculty or staff members.
Million Dollar Circle Awards
| Year Awarded | Name | Title | College |
|
2025 |
Dr. Debra Burke | Professor, Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, and Business Law | College of Business |
|
2025 |
Dr. Brian Byrd | Professor, School of Health Sciences | College of Health and Human Sciences |
|
2025 |
Dr. Sloan Despeaux | Professor, Math and Computer Science | College of Arts and Sciences |
|
2025 |
Dr. Hayrettin "Bora" Karayaka | Professor, School of Engineering and Technology | College of Engineering and Techology |
|
2024 |
Dr. Heidi Von Dohlen | Associate Professor, Human Services | College of Education and Allied Professions |
|
2023 |
Dr. Cathy Grist | Professor, Human Services | College of Education and Allied Professions |
| 2023 | Dr. Paul Yanik | Associate Professor, School of Engineering and Technology | College of Engineering and Technology |
| 2023 | Dr. Brett Riggs | Sequoyah Distinguished Professor of Cherokee Studies, Anthropology and Sociology | College of Arts and Sciences |
| 2022 | Ms. Sandra Dennison | Regional Director, Small Business & Technology Development Center | College of Business |
| 2022 | Dr. Patrick Gardner | Mountaintop Distinguished Professor, School of Engineering and Technology | College of Engineering and Technology |
| 2022 | Dr. R. Turner Goins | Ambassador Jeanette W. Hyde Distinguished Professorship in Gerontological Social Work, Social Work | College of Health and Human Sciences |
| 2021 | Dr. Joseph Pechmann | Associate Professor, Biology | College of Arts & Sciences |
| 2020 | Dr. Jessica Weiler | Assistant Professor, Human Services | College of Education and Allied Professions |
| 2019 | Dr. Kae Livsey | Associate Professor, School of Nursing | College of Health and Human Sciences |
| 2017 | Dr. Tamera Pearson | Professor, School of Nursing | College of Health and Human Sciences |
| 2017 | Dr. Jayne Zanglein | Professor, School of Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, and Business Law | College of Business |
| 2016 | Ms. Wendy Cagle | Assistant Professor, School of Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Sport Management, and Hospitality and Tourism Management | College of Business |
| 2016 | Dr. Shawn Collins | Associate Professor, Interim Associate Dean, Health and Human Sciences | College of Health and Human Sciences |
| 2016 | Dr. Linda Comer | Associate Professor, Associate Director, Graduate Nursing Programs | College of Health and Human Sciences |
| 2016 | Dr. James Costa | Professor, Executive Director, Highlands Biological Station | College of Arts and Sciences |
| 2016 | Dr. Pat Morse | Professor, Department Head, Social Work | College of Health and Human Sciences |
| 2016 | Mr. Todd Murdock | Director, Talent Search Program | College of Education and Allied Professions |
| 2016 | Dr. Judy Neubrander | Professor, Director, School of Nursing | College of Health and Human Sciences |
| 2016 | Dr. Billy Ogletree | Professor, Department Head, Communication Sciences and Disorders | College of Health and Human Sciences |
| 2016 | Dr. David Westling | Adelaide Worth Daniels Distinguished Professor, School of Teaching and Learning | College of Education and Allied Professions |
| 2016 | Dr. Robert Young | Professor, Director of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines | College of Arts and Sciences |