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Colliding Atoms: Collaboration to Advance Agendas

This site is designed to provide support resources for research & scholarly activities, and to assist faculty and staff in their research endeavors.

For questions or needs related to research & scholarly activity contact:
The Office of Research Administration
110 Cordelia Camp Building
828.227.7212

Faculty Directory

Explore our directory of faculty, search by name, college or department.

Faculty biography, research and teaching interests, and contact information are easily searchable within the profiles where data exists.

Click Here to search the directory!

WCU Research Awards

Each year Western Carolina University presents internal awards to recognize the outstanding work being done by our faculty. The university community is invited to attend the 2026 Faculty Scholarship Celebration to be held Thursday, March 26, in the University Center Grand Room.

2026 University Scholar Award

This award is designed to recognize research and creative activities. This award is given to a faculty member who has achieved a prominent position in their discipline through creative research.

Dr. Ron Laboray from the David Orr Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts received the 2026 University Scholar Award.

2026 Hunter Scholar Award

This award supports faculty research integrating Hunter Library’s resources and services. The award winner chooses release time, a graduate assistant, and other support for their proposed research. This award is a joint effort by Hunter Library, the Graduate School and Research, and the Office of the Provost.

Dr. Amber Vermeesch from the College of Health and Human Sciences received the 2026 Hunter Scholar Award.

2026 Million Dollar Circle Award

This award acknowledges the time and effort put forth by faculty and staff members to obtain funding for their research. Since its inception, the Office of Research Administration has awarded the Million Dollar Circle Award to 31 faculty or staff members. Mrs. Wesley Satterwhite joined the Million Dollar Circle in 2026, Satterwhite is the Director of office of Accessibility Resources.

2026 Million Dollar Circle Award

This award acknowledges the time and effort put forth by faculty and staff members to obtain funding for their research. Since its inception, the Office of Research Administration has awarded the Million Dollar Circle Award to 31 faculty or staff members. Dr. Sara Synder Hopkins joined the Million Dollar Circle in 2026, Hopkins is a Associate Professor, Anthropology and Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences.

2026 Million Dollar Circle Award

This award acknowledges the time and effort put forth by faculty and staff members to obtain funding for their research. Since its inception, the Office of Research Administration has awarded the Million Dollar Circle Award to 31 faculty or staff members. Dr. Martin Tanaka joined the Million Dollar Circle in 2026, Tanaka is the professor of School of Engineering & Technology.

2026 Million Dollar Circle Award

This award acknowledges the time and effort put forth by faculty and staff members to obtain funding for their research. Since its inception, the Office of Research Administration has awarded the Million Dollar Circle Award to 31 faculty or staff members. Mrs. Kristine Daiber joined the Million Dollar Circle in 2026, Daiber is a director of Office of Student Retention.

2026 Million Dollar Circle Award

This award acknowledges the time and effort put forth by faculty and staff members to obtain funding for their research. Since its inception, the Office of Research Administration has awarded the Million Dollar Circle Award to 31 faculty or staff members. Dr. Karena Cooper Duffy joined the Million Dollar Circle in 2026, Duffy is a professor in the School of School of Teaching and Learning, College of Educations and Allied Professions.

2025-2026 Provost Scholarship Development Award Recipients

Provost’s Scholarship Development Awards offer funding for research and scholarly development to help faculty and staff become more competitive in the pursuit of external grants. In the 2025-2026 academic year, 12 projects totaling $156,787 were awarded.

“Business and Belonging: The Sindhi Diaspora in Twentieth Century Ghana”

$7,050

PI: Dr. Tracy Mensah,

Assistant Professor,

History

“Characterization of DNA methylation binding proteins for controlled gene regulation”

$10,000

PI: Dr. Brandon Boone,

Assistant Professor,

Chemistry & Physics

“Digital Twins for Antenna System Manufacturing”

$12,222

PI: Dr. Josh Shehan,

Assistant Professor,

Engineering & Technology

Co-PI: Dr. Basel Alsayyed,

Assistant Professor,

Engineering & Technology

“Revealing the Hidden Roles of Viruses in Soils: An Examination of the ‘Virome’ in Soybeans”

$13,027

PI: Dr. Seán O’Connell,

Professor,

Biology

Co-PIs: Dr. André Velásquez,

Assistant Professor,

Biology

Ms. Jorryn Cooper, M.S. Student, Biology

“Interpretable Deep Neural Networks for Automotive Radar Interference Mitigation”

$15,000

PI: Dr. Islam Elgarhy,

Assistant Professor,

Engineering & Technology

Co-PIs: Dr. Abdallah S. Abdallah,

Associate Professor,

Engineering & Technology

Dr. Adam Harris,

Assistant Professor,

Engineering & Technology

“Developing Low-Cost Airborne Microplastic Samplers and Data-Driven Models for Inhalation Health Risk Assessment”

$10,500

PI: Dr. Jeonghyeon Ahn,

Assistant Professor,

School of Health Sciences

“Confederate Monuments and Civic Belonging in the American South”

$15,000

PI: Dr. Emily Wager,

Assistant Professor,

Political Science & Public Affairs

Co-PI: Dr. Lucy Britt,

Assistant Professor,

Politics, Bates College

“A Geospatial Analysis of Wrongful Conviction Claims in North Carolina”

$14,971

PI: Dr. Andy Hansen,

Associate Professor,

Criminology & Criminal Justice

Co-PI: Dr. Sarah Jackson,

Assistant Professor,

Criminology & Criminal Justice

“Understanding Human Tutoring Interactions and Help-Seeking Behaviors: A Data-Driven Pilot Study at WCU”

$14,917

PI: Dr. Zhikai Gao,

Assistant Professor,

Mathematics & Computer Science

Co-PI: Dr. Andrew Scott,

Associate Professor,

Mathematics & Computer Science

“Resilience Across Diverse Forested Watersheds: Linking Disturbance, Growth, Composition and Management to Carbon and Nutrient Dynamics”

$15,000

PI: Dr. Solomon Beyene,

Assistant Professor,

Geosciences & Natural Resources

Co-PI: Dr. Keith Gibbs,

Associate Professor,

Geosciences & Natural Resources

“Peter & I: Cast Album Development as Practice-Based Scholarship and External Funding Catalyst”

$15,000

PI: Mr. Ike Webster,

Assistant Professor,

School of Stage & Screen

Co-PIs: Mr. Matte O’Brien,

Distinguished Professor of Musical Theatre,

School of Stage & Screen

Mr. Ethan King,

Recording Engineer,

Commercial Music and Audio Production

Interdisciplinary Dementia Course and Respite (IDCR)

$11,135

PI: Dr. Caitlin Torrence

Co-PIs: Dr. Leigh Odom, Dr. Francine Sheppard, and Dr. Debbie Logan

Weaving a Rebozo: Evaluating Stakeholder Needs and Coordinating Community Resources for Rural Latine and Hispanic Families in WNC

$14,936​

PI: Dr. Claire Wofford

Co-PIs: Dr. Sarah Pedonti, Dr. Melissa Mecadon-Mann, Dr. Loidaly Rosario-Gonzalez, Dr. Erin Callahan, and Dr. Alleyne Broomell

Contact the staff of ORA

WCU Research Affiliates

Hydrological Research Station
Study of Developed Shorelines
Forensic Osteology Research
Highlands Biological Station
Phil & Connie Haire Institute for Public Policy
Center for Rapid Product Realization
Center for the Study of Free Enterprise
North Carolina Forest Stewards
Mosquito & Vector-Borne Disease
Hunter Library Digital Humanities
Vecinos Farmworker Health Study

research.wcu.edu