A byproduct of the SoCon Academic Exchange, the Southern Conference annually honors faculty and staff members who have demonstrated the common characteristics of dedicated service to their institution and contributions to both campus life and the local region their institution serves. Recipients of these All-Southern Conference awards are determined by their institution's administration.

Faculty members have demonstrated strong contributions to teaching, research and/or service. Staff members are recognized for bringing out the best in others in their collegiate community and creating conditions for student success.

All recipients receive an engraved plaque presented by the Commissioner at a home basketball game.

Faculty Award Recipients

2014-15
Ha Van Ho, Mercer, Assoc. Professor, Biomedical Engineering

2015-16
Scott Buchanan, The Citadel, Assoc. Professor, Political Science
Randy Byington, ETSU, Assoc. Professor, Allied Health Sciences
J. Aaron Simmons, Furman, Assoc. Professor, Philosophy
Adam Kiefer, Mercer, Assoc. Professor, Chemistry
Nicholas Oberlies, UNCG, Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Elizabeth Dobbins, Samford, Professor, Natural Sciences
Michael Jones, Chattanooga, Professor, Mechanical Engineering
James Turner, VMI, Professor, Biology
Hollye Moss, Western Carolina, Professor, Management
Carol Wilson, Wofford, Professor, English

2016-17
Melanie Maddox, The Citadel, Assoc. Professor, History
Andrea Clements, ETSU, Professor, Psychology
Sandy Roberson, Furman, Professor, Accounting
Laura Lackey, Mercer, Professor, Engineering
Jerry Walsh, UNCG, Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Robert Hensarling, Samford, Assoc. Professor, Kinesiology
Gretchen Potts, Chattanooga, Professor, Chemistry
Grigg Mullen, VMI, Professor, Civil and Environ. Engineering
David Claxton, Western Carolina, Professor, Health & Recreation
Nancy Williams, Wofford, Assoc. Professor, Philosophy

2017-18
Robert Riggle, The Citadel, Assoc. Professor, Marketing
Allan Forsman, ETSU, Professor, Health Sciences
Danielle Vinson, Furman, Professor, Politics & International Affairs
Geoffrey Ngene, Mercer, Assoc. Professor, Finance
Jacqueline DeBrew, UNCG, Clinical Professor, Nursing
Jonathan Davis, Samford, Professor, Human Development
Valerie Rutledge, Chattanooga, Dean, College of Health & Education
Wakeel Idewu, VMI, Assoc. Professor, Civil and Env. Engineering
Winford Gordon, Western Carolina, Professor, Psychology
Jim Neighbors, Wofford, Assoc. Professor, English

2018-19
Matthew Zommer, The Citadel, Faculty, Criminal Justice
Amy Greene, ETSU, Assoc. Professor, Sport, Exercise, Recreation, & Kinesiology
William Pierce, Furman, Professor, Health Sciences
R. Scott Nash, Mercer, Professor, Religion
Gabriela Stein, UNCG, Assoc. Professor, Clinical Psychology
Mark S. Gignilliat, Samford, Professor, Divinity
Jamie Harvey, Chattanooga, Assoc. Professor, Health and Human Performance
Tom Baur, VMI, Faculty, Biology (ret.; honored posthumously)
Yue Cai Hillon, Western Carolina, Assoc. Professor, Business
William Eddie Richardson, Wofford, Professor, Accounting and Finance

2019-20
Dr. James Bezjian, The Citadel, Asst. Professor, Entrepreneurship
Dr. Joe D. Moore, ETSU, Assoc. Professor, Music
Dr. Virginia W. Gerde, Furman, Professor, Strategic Management and Business Ethics
Dr. Sybil Keesbury, Mercer, Assoc. Professor, Special Education
Dr. Tom Martinek, UNCG, Professor, Kinesiology
Dr. Emily Hynds, Samford, Professor, Mathematics
Dr. Debbie Ingram, Chattanooga, Professor, Physical Therapy
Col. Jack B. “Jay” Johnson Jr., VMI, Professor, Physical Education
Dr. Channa De Silva, Western Carolina, Assoc. Professor of Chemistry
Dr. Dan Mathewson, Wofford, Assoc. Professor of Religion

2020-21
Dr. Chip Taylor, The Citadel, Head of Department of Psychology
Dr. Virginia Foley, ETSU, Professor, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Dr. Marian Strobel, Furman, Professor, History
Dr. Mahkin Thitsa, Mercer, Assoc. Professor, School of Engineering
Dr. Jeremy Bray, UNCG, Professor, Economics; Interim Head of Department of Economics
Dr. Celeste Hill, Samford, Assoc. Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Science
Dr. Christine Benz Smith, Chattanooga, Director, School of Nursing; Chief Health Affairs Officer
Col. Timothy Hodges, VMI, Professor; Head of Department of Physics and Astronomy
Dr. Kelly R. Kelley, Western Carolina, Assoc. Professor, Inclusive/Special Education; University Participant Program Director
Dr. Anna Catllá, Wofford, Assoc. Professor of Mathematics; Director, Center for Innovation and Learning

2021-22
Dr. Kevin Skenes, The Citadel, Asst. Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Natalie Smith, ETSU, Assoc. Professor, Department of Sport, Exercise, Recreation, and Kinesiology
Dr. Scott Murr, Furman, Assist. Professor, Health Sciences Department
Dr. Chris Grant, Mercer, Professor, Political Science
Dr. Chris Kepley, UNC Greensboro, Assoc. Professor, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering
Larry Harper, Samford, Assist. Professor, Brock School of Business
Dr. Mark Schorr, Chattanooga, UC Foundation Professor, Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science
Col. James A. Coale, VMI, Professor and Head, Department of Physical Education
Dr. Alvin Malesky, Western Carolina, Head, Psychology Department
Dr. Jameica B. Hill, Wofford, Chair, Chemistry Department

2022-23
Dr. Deirdre Ragan, The Citadel, Asst. Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Don Good, ETSU, Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Dr. John Harris, Furman, Professor, Mathematics, Director of the Cothran Center for Vocational Reflection
Dr. Caryn Seney, Mercer, Professor, Chemistry
Dr. Susan Phillips Keane, UNC Greensboro, Professor, Psychology
Laura Promer, Samford, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Communication Sciences and Disorders Department
Dr. Michael D. Thompson, Chattanooga, UC Foundation Assoc. Professor, American History, Head of History Department
Col. Tom Timmes, VMI, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Dr. Cyndy Caravelis, Western Carolina, Professor, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Dr. Cecile Nowatka, Wofford, Chair, Department of Psychology

2023-24
Dr. Alexandra Macdonald, The Citadel,  Associate Professor of Psychology
Dr. Russ Brown, ETSU, Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences in the Quillen College of Medicine
Dr. Jeff Yankow, Furman, David C. Garrett, Jr. Endowed Chair, Economics
Stephanie Morris, Mercer, Lecturer of Accounting, Stetson Hatcher School of Business
Dr. Stuart Marcovitch, UNCG, Professor, Psychology
Dr. Patrick Marsh, Samford, Assistant Professor of Sport Administration, Kinesiology 
Dr. Liz Hathaway, Chattanooga, UC Foundation Assoc. Professor, Department of Health and Human Performance
Col. Jeff Kendrick, VMI, Professor, French
Dr. Alesia Jennings, Western Carolina, Associate Instructor, Chemistry
Dr. John Lefebvre, Wofford, Professor, Department of Psychology


Staff Award Recipients

2016-17
Sally Keltner, The Citadel, Admin. Asst., Office of the Commandant
Stefanie Murphy, ETSU, Academic Counselor
Rob Carson, Furman, Asst. Dir., Office of Academic Assistance
Emily French, Mercer, Coordinator of Sports Operations
Brett Carter, UNCG, Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students
Michelle Durban, Samford, Sr. Associate Athletic Director & SWA
Lisa Tarr, Chattanooga, Academic Coordinator, Football Program
Lance Fujiwara, VMI, Head Ath. Trainer, Dir. of Sports Medicine
Christy Wyatt, Western Carolina, Counselor, Counseling & Psych. Services
Phillip Stone, Wofford, Head Archivist

2017-18
Kate Brown, The Citadel, Asst. Dir., Academic Support Center
Libby Tipton, ETSU, Interpreter Coordinator for Deaf Students
Mickey McCauley, Furman, Exercise Specialist, Furman Fitness Center
Allie Ware, Mercer, Asst. Dir., Mercer Athletic Foundation
Cherry Callahan, UNCG, Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs
Glenda Martin, Samford, Admin. Asst., Howard College of the Arts
Emily Quinn, Chattanooga, Asst. Dir., Disability Resource Center
Evan Simmons, VMI, Supervisor, Facilities & Maintenance
Beth Moore, Western Carolina, Support Associate, School of Art & Design
Brian Lemere, Wofford, Assoc. Director, Student Affairs

2018-19
Lori Hedstrom, The Citadel, Director of Executive Events
Ronda Gross, ETSU, Asst. Director, Scholarship Office
Vince Moore, Furman, Director of News and Media Relations
Jim Tessmer, Mercer, Athletics Department Event Coordinator
Melanie Carter, UNCG, Business Officer/Office Staff Manager, Psychology Department
Ginger Robertson, Samford, Admin. Asst., Brock School of Business
Melanie Ribaric, Chattanooga, College Access Advisor, Educational Opportunity Center
Vern Beitzel, VMI, Director of Admissions
Mark Haskett, Western Carolina, Director of Photography and Videography Services
Elizabeth Dashiell Wallace, Wofford, Assoc. Vice President for Student Affairs

2019-20
Stanton Adams, The Citadel, Marketing Specialist
Jay Seehorn, ETSU, Supervisor of Central Receiving
Elaine Baker, Furman, Director of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Operation/SWA
Myra Cameron, Mercer, Administrative/Eligibility Coordinator
John Chapman, UNCG, Co-founder of North Carolina Sales Institute
Theresa Kanute, Samford, One Stop Advisor
Terry Denniston, Chattanooga, Chief of Staff for the Chancellor
Col. Sarah L. Jones, VMI, Director of the Center for Cadet Counseling/Director for the Office of Disabilities Services
Dr. Lowell K. Davis, Western Carolina, Assoc. Vice Chancellor for Student Success
Curt McPhail, Wofford, Executive Director of The Space

2020-21
Henry Bouton, The Citadel, Director of Intramurals and Extramural Sports
Janet Stork, ETSU, Event and Project Coordinator for the College of Public Health
Todd Duke, Furman, Assoc. Athletics Director of Facilities and Game Operations
Matt Brownback, Mercer, Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support Services
Amy Collins Moore, UNCG, Business Officer and Executive Assistant to the Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts
Paige Mathis, Samford, Asst. Director of Athletics for Academics
Endia Butler, Chattanooga, Student Employment Coordinator, Financial Aid Office
Chief Michael Marshall, VMI, Police Chief
Courtney Gauthier, Western Carolina, Assoc. Director of Career Integrated Learning, Center for Career and Professional Development
Lisa Lefebvre, Wofford, Director, Employee Wellness and Medical Services

2021-22
Stephanie Fye, The Citadel, Asst. Director and Employee Relations Manager, Career Center
Jeff Shell, ETSU, Coach, Esports
Dr. Brad Harmon, Furman, Assist. Dean, First-Year and Second-Year Experience
Rick Cameron, Mercer, Senior Assist. Vice President for Marketing Communications
Zach Smith, UNC Greensboro, Assist. Vice Chancellor for Emergency and Risk Management
James Carlson, Samford, Assist. AD for Facilities, Game Operations and Equipment
Christopher Stokes, Chattanooga, Assist. Director of Multicultural Affairs
Dr. David Copeland, VMI, Director, VMI Infirmary
Roger Turk, Western Carolina, Grounds Superintendent, Facilities Management Department
Jeff Burney, Wofford, Director of Housekeeping and Event Services

2022-23
Kester Melville, The Citadel, Grounds Crew Leader Relations Manager, Career Center
Levi Smith, ETSU, Coach, Coordinator for Transfer Evaluation and Articulated Programs
Hunter Reid, Furman, Sports Information Director
Katie Johnson, Mercer, Director of Access and Accommodation/ADA Coordinator
Melinda Wolf, UNC Greensboro, Admin. Assistant in the Psychology Department
Doug Wilson, Samford, Assistant Vice President of Advancement
Will Watson, Chattanooga, Workforce Development Specialist in Center for Professional Education
Sergeant Major Tom Sowers, VMI, Institute and Corps Sergeant Major
Brian Boyer, Western Carolina, Residential Case Manager
Dr. James Stukes, Wofford, Assistant Dean for Student Success and College Access

2023-24
Diana Herrmann, The Citadel,  Assistant Director of Employer Recruitment and Center Operations
Brandi Huskey, ETSU, Director of Off-Campus programs
Nancy M. Cooper, Furman, Coordinator for Heller Service Corps
Delaney Ryan, Mercer, Director of Student-Athlete Support Services
Trina Porcher, UNCG, Business Officer in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department
Leslie Armstrong, Samford, Academic Advisor
Theresa Blackman, Chattanooga, College of Arts and Sciences
Michelle Murphy , VMI, Executive Assistant for Intercollegiate Athletics
Dr. April Tallant, Western Carolina, Senior Educational Developer
Tammie Burgess, Wofford, Assistant Registrar