RADFORD -- Radford University honored five outstanding faculty and staff members during its spring commencement ceremony Saturday, May 3.

Associate professor of art Richard Bay was the recipient of the Donald N. Dedmon Distinguished Teaching Professor Award. The award recognizes and rewards outstanding teaching at RU.

Bay (top right photo) joined the RU faculty in 2002. He is an energetic, engaging and inspirational teacher who is credited with the revival of RU’s art education program.  Bay regularly presents at professional conferences and exhibits his art regionally and nationally. He has a strong community presence, particularly in teaching art to special-needs children.

Professor of biology Mark Cline received the Radford University Foundation Distinguished Creative Scholar Award. The award was established to recognize significant original contributions to the body of knowledge in academe. It also rewards contributions that have had a significant impact on effective classroom teaching.

Cline (second from the top in photos at right) has been a member of the RU biology faculty since 2002. His research focuses on ways the brain regulates appetite. Cline has published 11 refereed articles in scientific journals in the past year and is committed to faculty and student collaborative research. All of his publications list at least one undergraduate student as a co-author. 

James Lollar, an associate professor and chair of the marketing department, was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, which was established to recognize faculty who have contributed substantial service to the university over a sustained period of time.

Lollar (shown in the middle photo at right) joined the RU faculty in 1992 and won the Donald N. Dedmon Distinguished Teaching Professor Award in 2005. He has served four terms as RU faculty senate president and three terms as president of the faculty senate of Virginia.

Associate professor of psychology Jeff Willner was the recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Advising Award. The honor recognizes teaching faculty who demonstrate excellence in academic advising.

Willner (pictured second from the bottom at right) came to RU in 1994. He serves as a faculty advisor to the Psychology Club and to Psi Chi, the psychology honorary. Willner developed and was the first to teach a one-credit introduction to the psychology major course, which focuses on linking curricular choices to career planning.

Loretta Estes, advising coordinator and assistant to the dean of the Waldron College of Health and Human Services, received the Distinguished Professional Advising Award.

Estes (bottom right photo) has worked at RU since 1987 and is recognized as a strong student advocate and an individual who is exceptionally helpful to faculty. Estes has developed a variety of advising materials for the college and assisted with recruitment of new students.