Six Women at Colleges and Universities Honored With Notable Awards

Jill Zarestky, an assistant professor in the School of Education at Colorado State University, is the 2019 recipient of the Early Career Award from the Commission of Professors of Adult Education. She was honored for her outstanding research and service in the field of adult education.

Dr. Zarestky joined the faculty at Colorado State University in 2016. She is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Tennessee, where she majored in mathematics. Dr. Zarestky holds a master’s degree in computational and applied mathematics from the University of Texas and a Ph.D. in educational human resource development from Texas A&M University.

Valerie Barr, the Jean E. Sammet Professor of Computer Science and chair of the computer science department at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, was named a distinguished member of the Association for Computing Machinery for her outstanding educational contributions in computing.

Professor Barr is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College. She earned a master’s degree at New York University and a Ph.D. at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Carrie Pettus-Davis, an associate professor of social work and the executive director and founder of Florida State University’s Institute for Justice Research and Development, has received the 2019 Marguerite Q. Warren and Ted B. Palmer Differential Intervention Award, presented by the American Society of Criminology. The award honors a scholar who has significantly advanced differential intervention science to promote improved social and personal adjustment and long-term change among incarcerated individuals.

Dr. Pettus-Davis joined the faculty at Florida State University in 2018 after teaching at Washington University in St. Louis. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a bachelor of social work degree, and a master of social work degree from the University of Kansas. Dr. Pettus Davis earned her Ph.D. at the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

June Henton, dean emerita of Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences, was recently honored with the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ Board on Human Sciences. Dr. Henton, who retired this past summer after serving Auburn for 34 years, was recognized for her leadership, prolific research and championing initiatives that promote the study of the human sciences.

Dr. Henton earned a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska, and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.

Pamela Bracey, an associate professor in the department of instructional systems and workforce development in the College of Education at Mississippi State University, was named Collegiate Teacher of the Year by the National Business Education Association.

Dr. Bracey joined the faculty at Mississippi State in 2013. She is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, where she majored in business technology education. Dr. Bracey holds a master’s degree in higher education administration from Mississippi College and a doctorate in applied technology and performance improvement from the University of North Texas.

Senay Simsek, the Bert L. D’Appolonia Cereal Science and Technology of Wheat Endowed Professor at North Dakota State University, received the 2019 Excellence in Teaching Award from the Cereals and Grains Association, formerly known as American Association of Cereal Chemists International.

Simsek has taught cereal and food science at North Dakota State University for the past 13 years. She holds a Ph.D. in food science from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.