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DUE Epitome Award Winners

DUE Epitome Award Winners honored for dedication to students

By: Ashley Wilson

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

The DUE Epitome Award was created this year by Christina Downey, associate vice chancellor for undergraduate education and dean of University College, to honor faculty and staff who are dedicated to student success. There were 326 students who created submissions for the award, amounting to 489 total nominations across the three categories. The inaugural cohort of winners is composed of resident faculty member Kathy Marrs, adjunct faculty members Thompson Doman and Sydney Kadinger, and staff member Phyllis Washington.

Congratulating the winners, Downey said, "The level of student-participation we saw in the first year of the DUE Epitome Award is a testament to the dedication and commitment that IUPUI faculty and staff have to the success of our students. I am incredibly proud of the inaugural winners and their contributions to our campus community."

Kathy Marrs

Resident Faculty Member Award Winner

Since 1998, Marrs has served at IUPUI in a variety of roles. She began as an assistant professor but has filled multiple administrative positions, including associate dean for academic affairs and interim executive associate dean of the Honors College. Marrs currently serves as the director of the Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellowship program and as the affiliate director of Project Lead the Way biomedical sciences at IUPUI, as well as an associate professor of biology—for which she won the DUE Epitome Award.

One student wrote in their nomination for Marrs, “Dr. Marrs has made me feel like I belong and am a part of a community. She is patient, sincere, kind, and really genuinely cares about all her students. She has been my biggest cheerleader, believing in and encouraging me throughout the time that I have been here at IUPUI. I feel like she is always looking out for my best interest and genuinely cares a lot about me as a person and as a student. She makes me want to be a better student, scientist, and person. She has made a huge impact on my life and the lives of many others. I am honored to know her and wholeheartedly recommend her for the Epitome Award. Dr. Marrs is definitely the epitome of what a professor should be.”

"I am honored to have been selected for the DUE Epitome Award. Knowing that students took the time to recognize the positive impact faculty and staff have on their undergraduate experience makes it even more meaningful. Whether they were students in my classes or labs, officers or members of student organizations I advise, or campus leaders working with me as recitation leaders or teaching assistants, I am delighted to hear that I have made a positive impact on our amazing IUPUI undergraduates. Thank you for this recognition.”—Kathy Marrs

Thompson Doman

Adjunct Faculty Member Award Winner

Doman has been an adjunct faculty member and professor of bioinformatics at IUPUI since 2005. Prior to IUPUI, Doman served as a research scientist at Pfizer for 11 years and a bioinformatics research advisor at Eli Lilly for 18 years.

A student-nominator for Doman wrote, “Professor Doman genuinely cares about each and every one of his students. He never failed to make class interesting and made sure everyone was involved and felt included. He is more than just a professor. He’s also a life coach. Professor Doman always has great advice to give with every topic covered. His stories always ended with a useful lesson that can be applied to life outside of academics. Having Professor Doman as the very first college professor I had class for was a great start to my career here at IUPUI and helped me be more comfortable easing into the start of my college career. His compassion, drive, and knowledge inspire every student that is lucky enough to learn from him to optimize their potential.”

“The undergraduate experience provided the foundation for everything else that transpired in my life. It is immensely gratifying to be a mentor, coach, and cheerleader to other students who are navigating this magical but challenging chapter in life, and this award means so much because it tells me that students are benefiting.”—Thompson Doman

Sydney Kadinger

Adjunct Faculty Member Award Winner

Completing her undergraduate degree at IUPUI in 2019 and her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the IU McKinney School of Law in 2022, Kadinger has returned to IUPUI as an adjunct faculty member in the political science department and the head coach of the mock trial team. Kadinger has also served as an intern in the Marion County prosecutor’s office and now as a prosecutor herself.

A student who nominated Kadinger said, “I've been lucky enough to know Sydney since she started as a volunteer coach in her first year of law school. I was a part of the team of freshmen she was in charge of, and I've worked with her every year since. As I've grown as a student, she's grown as an educator. I consider Sydney to be a role model and mentor. This past month I finished my final season of mock trials. I would not be the type of competitor or person I am today without her leadership or guidance. I coach a local high school mock trial team and find myself constantly mimicking Sydney's coaching strategies. When I think about the type of educator I want to be, I think of Sydney.”

“As an IUPUI alum and first-year adjunct faculty member, I am beyond honored to be one of the inaugural DUE Epitome Award winners. Being nominated by students I respect and admire for their empathetic leadership, bold originality, and everlasting determination will be an endless source of inspiration.”—Sydney Kadinger

Phyllis Washington

Staff Member Award Winner

Since 2006, Washington has been the director of the 21st Century Scholars program at IUPUI. Before coming to IUPUI, Washington served as the director of minority student services at Western Kentucky University for 10 years, then as director of the center for advanced education at Martin University for five years.

“I am nominating Mrs. Phyllis because she has been such an amazing resource for me and my fellow mentors at 21st Century. She has always been such a kind spirit and is so attentive to each student she interacts with. She makes everyone feel so welcomed and appreciated. I could not think of a better person to give this award to.”

“I feel a great delight to be chosen as one of the first recipients of the Epitome Award. It is with great honor that it comes from the students that I have had the opportunity to work with.”—Phyllis Washington

The winners were honored at DUE’s monthly staff meeting on April 19 with an award ceremony. View the photo album

Downey interviewed students on campus about their nominations for the Epitome Award. Watch the video and see what they had to say.

For more information, contact the Division of Undergraduate Education Office of Communications at duecomm@iupui.edu.

DUE Epitome Award Winners honored for dedication to students

Kathy Marrs

Thompson Doman

Sydney Kadinger

Phyllis Washington

Division of Undergraduate Education social media channels