Dr. Lucy Diala, assistant professor, Department of Accountancy, has won the 2025 Excellence in Accounting Ethics Education Award given annually by the Public Interest, Ethics and Sustainability Section of the American Accounting Association.

Diala was presented with the award at the association’s annual meeting in Chicago earlier this month. The award recognizes educators who have developed and implemented innovative techniques and methods for incorporating ethics into university accounting courses.

Dr. Veena R. Howard, professor and chair, Department of Philosophy, delivered an academic presentation, "Ahimsa as the Highest Duty: Exploring the Connection between Violence and Captivity in Jain, Hindu, and Gandhian Thought," at the 2025 Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics Summer School in Oxford, England. Howard's presentation offered insights into the ethical philosophies of Jainism and Hinduism, as well as Mahatma Gandhi's perspective on nonviolence, particularly in relation to animals and captivity issues.

The conference theme focused on “the ethics of captivity.” It brought together over 150 scholars and professionals from law, public policy, and nonprofit organizations across diverse disciplines, including philosophy, social sciences, religion, theology and literature.

Dr. Jessica McKenzie, professor, Department of Child and Family Science, along with recent graduates, traveled to Brisbane, Australia in June to present their combined research findings at the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology and International Academy for Intercultural Research Conference.

Their project, “Changing Moralities in a Changing World? Evidence from a Longitudinal, Multi-Sited Study in Thailand,” explores how young people are psychologically adapting to cultural changes.

With access increasing to high-speed internet and other globalization developments, the study measured effects on young people’s moral values and reasoning.

McKenzie also served as a discussant at the conference for a globalization-focused symposium entitled, "Women in a Society in Transition: The Case of Palestinian Citizens of Israel."

McKenzie’s research work also explores how Southeast Asian and Latino/a immigrant-origin youth in Central California navigate heritage and American cultural values, expectations and identities.

(left to right) Dr. Sonet Van Zyl, professor, Dr. Qun (Kristy) Sun, associate professor, Department of Viticulture and Enology, and former vineyard manager Leah Groves.

Dr. Sonet Van Zyl, professor, and Dr. Qun (Kristy) Sun, associate professor, in the Department of Viticulture and Enology, along with former campus vineyard manager Leah Groves, won the Best Paper Award from the MDPI research journal Climate. Their article explores innovative vineyard methods and technologies designed to enhance grapevine growth, production, and wine quality in response to short-term weather variability and long-term climate change. The award recognizes outstanding research contributions in the field of climate science and sustainable agriculture.