Lander’s College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Honors Students with Annual Awards
Graham Duncan
28 April 2026
Pictured is Elias Carls (center), standing with Dr. Ashley Woodiwiss (left), chair of the Department of Government, Criminology and Sociology; and Dr. Lucas McMillan, dean. Photo by Elias Carls
The College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Lander University celebrated the extraordinary accomplishments of the college community during its annual awards ceremony held Thursday, April 9, in the Abney Cultural Center Auditorium. The ceremony recognized the academic excellence, creativity, service and leadership demonstrated by several of the college’s students over the course of the past academic year.
“The students we celebrate today are intelligent, dedicated, courageous, resilient and inspiring,” said Dr. Lucas McMillan, dean of the college. “They know that they must challenge themselves, and they know that they must move beyond failure. They have learned much from us, but they also help to teach us and their peers with their questions, insight and research.”
Department of Art
Dr. Misty Jameson, the college’s associate dean, presented the following awards:
Art Discipline Award: Maren Penn, of Easley.
Art Education Award: Grace Childers, of Simpsonville.
Ceramics Award: Shine Kim, of Johnston.
Foundations in Art Award: Haley Meredith, of Simpsonville.
Leadership in Art Award: Nevaeh Harter, of Hodges.
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Visual Arts Award: Elaina Woodard and Faith Holmes, both of Lexington.
Painting Award: Kylie DeLeo, of Tega Cay.
Photography Award: Nevaeh Harter, of Hodges.
Sculpture Award: Cathryn Burger, of Simpsonville.
Department of Communication and Languages
Dr. Jeff Baggett, chair of the department, presented the following awards:
Audio Drama Award for Experiential Learning: Taylor Broome-Patterson, of Belton.
Creative Writing Award: Hannah Lovett, of Nichols.
Dessie Dean Pitts Award: Connor McAbee, of Laurens.
English Discipline Award: Charles “Kikker” Eppley, of Abbeville.
Margaret M. Bryant Award: Autumn McDonald, of Anderson.
The Forum Award for Experiential Learning: Siera Bouffard, of Hodges.
New Voices Art Award: Nevaeh Harter, of Hodges.
Spanish Discipline Award: Ryan Addis, of Tamassee.
Speech and Performance Award for Experiential Learning: Ben Bagwell, of Greenwood.
Department of Government, Criminology and Sociology
Dr. Ashley Woodiwiss, chair of the department, presented the following awards:
Alan Jones Award: Sumaya Winter, of Clover.
Carson Criminology Discipline Award: Rose Castillo, of Beaufort.
Display of Outstanding Sociological Imagination Award: Chloe Phillips, of Williamston.
Emergency Management Discipline Award: Shelbe Craig, of Meridian, Idaho.
International Studies Discipline Award: Chande’ Glover, of Orangeburg.
Political Science Discipline Award: Elias Carls, of Summerville.
Public Administration Award: Jonah Cooley, of Abbeville.
Sociology Discipline Award: Alaisha Colón, of Fountain Inn.
Department of History and Philosophy
Dr. Ryan Floyd, chair of the department, presented the following awards:
Art History Award: Macks Lazo, of Greenwood.
Barbara A. Jackson Award: Elias Carls, of Summerville.
History Discipline Award: Karis Gary, of Elberton, Georgia.
Philosophy Discipline Award: Clark Sinclair, of Lexington.
Department of Music
Dr. Reed Gallo, chair of the department, presented the following awards:
Music Discipline Award: Katie Varn, of Pelion.
Turner Music Award: Mary Ashlynne Lawson, of Greenwood.
Department of Psychological Science and Human Services
Dr. Mandy Cleveland, chair of the department, presented the following awards:
Departmental Service Award for Psychology and Human Services: Lanie Lawson, of Inman; and Abigail Goforth, of Pelzer.
Human Services Discipline Award: Lanie Lawson, of Inman.
Psi Chi Undergraduate Research Award: Emma Cox, of Greer.
Psychology Discipline Award: Eren Milhoan, of Simpsonville.
Department of Military Science and Leadership
Dr. Lucas McMillan, dean of the college, presented the following awards:
James A. Lander Award: Randall Willard, of Inman.
Col. Walter Roark Award: Declan Dunn, of Charleston.
Daughters of the American Revolution Gold Award: Mykenzie Hart, of Toney, Alabama.
College Awards
Dr. Lucas McMillan, dean of the college, presented the following awards:
Dean’s Awards: Elias Carls, of Summerville; Sophia Fox, of Charleston; and Autumn McDonald, of Anderson.
Part-time Faculty Members of the Year: Dr. Jenna Pirok; and Prof. Katherine McLane.
Faculty Mentors of the Year: Dr. Jonathan Bassett, professor of psychology; and Dr. Matthew Malone, associate professor of political science.
Honoring Faculty and Staff
McMillan also took time to recognize the following faculty for their hard work and dedication to the college:
Faculty earning tenure or promotion: Prof. Laura Martin, to be promoted to the rank of associate professor, with tenure; Prof. Starlyn “Dusty” McGee-Anderson, to be promoted to the rank of teaching assistant professor; Dr. Rachel Scoggins, to be promoted to the rank of associate professor, with tenure; and Prof. Zachary Wilson, to be promoted to the rank of senior lecturer.
Retiring faculty and staff: Dr. P. Marie Nix, professor of psychology; and Karen Hammond, administrative assistant.
