Indiana University Kokomo professor receives W. George Pinnell Award for Outstanding Service
Psychology professor Rosalyn Davis received the award during the university’s annual Celebration of Teaching and Service.
Rosalyn Davis, a psychology professor at Indiana University Kokomo, has recently been named the recipient of the W. George Pinnell Award for Outstanding Service. Davis earned the award for her commitment to the university and for all of the ambition, dedication, and initiative she shows the campus community through her work. The W. George Pinnell Award for Outstanding Service award is named for the former executive vice president of Indiana University and former president of the IU Foundation W. George Pinnell, who was known for his leadership and service to the university and the larger community.
According to an article on Indiana University Kokomo’s website, Davis was quoted as saying of receiving the award, “It’s nice to have all the work I do with some very phenomenal people recognized. A lot of what I do now is because I had people do the same thing for me. I want to make sure our students have a robust experience. The students we have here are some of the best students on the planet. They just need opportunities to know how good they can be.”
Davis is a clinical professor and the director of the mental health counseling program at Indiana University Kokomo. Her contributions to the university are numerous and far reaching, with Sarah Sarber, IU Kokomo’s senior advisor to the chancellor, noting that she couldn’t begin to list all of Davis’ accomplishments and services.
Davis was involved with the development of the Groups Scholars program, offers mentoring to students, serves as the faculty diversity liaison, leads reading groups and Safe Zone trainings, and completed two campus climate surveys. She helped establish the community clinic that provides free counseling services. Davis helped plan Juneteenth commemorations with the Carver Community Center and the Kokomo Housing Authority. She has also spoken at the university’s social justice conferences.
Sarber said, “Dr. Davis demonstrates a level of commitment of service to our campus, the community, and her profession that is impressive. She is a colleague I know will always answer the call when asked to serve.”
Davis’ award marks the third consecutive year a faculty member from Indiana University Kokomo has received the award. J.R. Pico received the award in 2023 and Sarah Heath received it in 2024.
Davis believes this is the sign of excellence within the regional campuses. She said, “The regional campuses are doing phenomenal work, that we don’t even know they are doing. There are a lot of people doing great things on campus, and we want people to know about it.”
The W. George Pinnell Award for Outstanding Service was established in 1988 and is awarded to faculty members and librarians within the Indiana University community that show their dedication to service and who have benefited the university or their field in some way.
For more information about Indiana University Kokomo, visit the school’s website.