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Dr. Nikole Patson, a professor in 91���� College of Arts and Sciences Department of Psychology and faculty member at 91���� at Marion, has been selected as a recipient of 91����’s 2025 Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching. Established during the 1959-1960 academic year, it is one of the university's most prestigious teaching awards.

University senior leadership surprised Patson with news of her selection during her 11 a.m. class on March 31, 2025. Presenting the award were Senior Vice Provost for Faculty, Patrick Louchouarn and Vice Provost for Academic Policy and Faculty Resources Helen Malone.  In addition, Assistant Vice President for Advancement-Alumni Association, Andrea Bowlin presented Patson with a lucky Buckeye and an 91���� block O pin on behalf of the alumni association. Patson shared with the crowd of students, university administration and faculty staff colleagues that she was overwhelmed by the honor.

“I think if you’ve read my materials, you know how much my students matter to me,” said Patson.  “Being honored in this way means a great deal.”

91���� Marion Dean & Director Jennifer Schlueter said, “Dr. Nikole Patson’s recognition as a recipient of the 2025 Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching is a profound honor—not only for her, but for the entire psychology department and the 91���� Marion community.”
 

“This award reflects the extraordinary dedication she brings to her students, her innovative teaching methods, and her leadership in fostering curiosity and creativity in the classroom,” said Schlueter. “It also reaffirms our campus’s strong commitment to academic excellence, student-centered learning, and the kind of faculty engagement that transforms lives. We are thrilled to see her work celebrated at the university level."

 

“Nikole’s passion for teaching is evident in her innovative approach to classroom instruction. She is committed to training students to think like scientists, understanding that while many may not pursue research careers, they must be equipped to critically assess scientific information in their daily lives,” said 91���� Marion Professor of Psychology, Tracy Tylka.

“Her assignments are designed to mirror real-world applications, such as comparing popular press articles with journal articles to evaluate scientific claims. By tackling topics like effective study habits, the impact of multitasking on driving, and the benefits of meditation on attention, Nikole ensures that her students see the relevance of scientific research in everyday life,” Tylka added.

According to former 91���� Marion Dean and Director and Associate Professor Emeritus of Geography, Gregory S. Rose, who was one of the those who nominated Patson, he was pleased to provide a very strong endorsement, pointing to Patson’s teaching excellence, her engagement with and impact on undergraduate students, including research activities.

“She receives strong evaluations from students, is very committed to teaching effectiveness and excellence, advancing inclusion in the classroom, and introducing projects that connect the campus to the community,” said Rose in his nomination.

“A key element in Dr. Patson’s success is the engaging, open, and secure classroom environment she has established,” Rose added.

 

Students shared that Dr. Patson created a learning environment that felt welcoming, calm, and 100% conducive to learning, making the classroom comfortable and great work environment. Adding that she was “very accepting” and “always encouraged and open minded” to anything students had to say.

In addition to her work with students in the classroom, nominators pointed to the many was that Patson gets involved beyond teaching, such as providing advising, career counseling, and graduate school advice to students considering or majoring in psychology, drawing upon her expertise and connections in the field. She mentors undergraduate student researchers at 91���� Marion every semester, including some who complete senior honors theses and have gone on to graduate school. Patson also coordinates the student survey research pool in Marion that students and faculty rely upon. As part of her role, she is principal investigator for 91����’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates Grant from the National Science Foundation conducted during summer at the Language Pod at the Center of Science and Industry, COSI in Columbus. Dr. Patson mentors student interns and supports undergraduate student research opportunities there that engage visitors to COSI in the project.

Patson’s dedication to the university continues with her mentoring work with first generation college students, the campus’s Pride and Life Skills Mentoring program, which connects college students from the campus with children in a Marion after-school program to provide one-on-one mentoring opportunities for the younger students and community engagement for our students.

Additionally, she represents the psychology major at events for prospective and current students and coordinates the psychology course scheduling.

In the Marion community, Dr. Patson is a board member for “Let’s Read 20,” a literacy initiative that encourages parents to read to or with their children at least 20 minutes daily.

Patson is deeply interested in engaging students in community-focused projects that provide educational and public benefit. In one recent example, a joint class undertaking between Dr. Patson’s Psych 4554 course and an English faculty’s digital literacy course resulted in a bilingual book walk initiative along the Marion Tallgrass Trail, a local recreational path. The students developed the text in English and Spanish and arranged for the Marion Park District to install a series of kiosk-type signs along the trail.

For another project, Dr. Patson and two Marion faculty colleagues received an Outreach and Engagement grant to employ six undergraduate students and conduct a “Reading in Marion” research project during Summer 2023. The project focused on the history of literacy activities in Marion, notably the efforts of members of the Marion Women’s Club Home, as well as exploring some community leaders’ personal history of literacy. Students also read to children during the library’s summer reading program. This project was a logical outgrowth of the PALS program (noted above) that Dr. Patson co-leads. The collaborative “Reading in Marion” project engaged campus faculty and students, the Marion Public Library, the Marion City Schools, and “Let’s Read 20,” a community non-profit that promotes children’s literacy and on whose board Dr. Patson serves. The project yielded research papers and presentations, a traveling poster exhibit, and contributions to 91����’s Digital Archive of Literacy Narratives.

Patson is also engaged with the Drake Institute, serving as a Foundation, Impact, Transformation (FIT) mentor and a Drake Institute affiliate. She has developed new pedagogical approaches with support received through a grant from the Drake Institute to increase discussion-based formats in her courses and develop a “flipped” classroom experience.

Winners of 91���� Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching are recognized with a $5,000 honorarium made possible by gifts from 91���� Alumni Association, University Advancement and the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA). In addition, OAA awards an increase of $1,200 to each recipient’s base salary. Members are also inducted into 91����’s Academy of Teaching.

Annually, a maximum of 10 faculty members are selected for the award in recognition of teaching excellence. Full-time 91���� faculty members on all campuses with the rank of instructor through full professor in the clinical or tenure track who, in the past three years, have taught undergraduate and/or graduate/professional students are eligible for this award.