OSH News
Student accomplishments
Murray State OSH student receives the Murray State AIHA Student Section Scholarship
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health student, Asia Blanton, was awarded the
fall 2021 Murray State AIHA Student Section Scholarship. A Murray State AIHA Student
Section Scholarship is awarded to a deserving AIHA student section member each semester
by the Murray State AIHA faculty advisors, Dr. Bassam Atieh and Dr. Rupkatha Bardhan.
-Posted November 2021
Murray State OSH student receives a NSC Women in Safety Scholarship
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health student, Lexi Stone, was a recipient of
the National Safety Council's (NSC) Women in Safety Scholarship. This scholarship
helps support women pursuing safety as a career and promotes safety as a career path
for those women studying business or engineering. The Women in Safety Scholarship
is a cash award of $5,000, renewable for up to four years. View a list of the 2021 scholarship recipients.
-Posted October 2021
Murray State OSH student recognized for internship experience
Murray State's Blue and Gold Report recognized Occupational Safety and Health graduate
student, Kevonte Turnley, for his internship with Savannah River Remediation (SRR).
Read the story.
-Posted August 2021
Murray State ASSP Student Section places 2nd in Outstanding Student Section Award competition
The Murray State ASSP Student Section placed 2nd out of 16 schools in the 2020-2021
Outstanding Student Section of the Year Award (OSSA) competition. The Murray State
ASSP Student Section received 1st place in the 2019-2020 OSSA competition.
-Posted June 2021
Murray State OSH students receive KSHN Scholarships
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health students receive $9,000 in SAFE Awards
from the Kentucky Safety and Health Network (KSHN). SAFE Award recipients include
Ena Handzic, Paige Miller, Lily Sanchez, and Colton Schanz. Annually, KSHN provides
scholarships to eligible undergraduate and graduate college students studying occupational
safety and health, industrial hygiene, or a related field. The scholarships are referred
to as the Scholastic Achievement for Education Awards, or SAFE Awards. Since 2005,
KSHN has awarded nearly $495,000 in SAFE Awards to college students.
-Posted July 2021
Murray State OSH students and faculty receive ASSP Foundation Scholarships
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health students receive $17,500 in scholarships
from the ASSP Foundation. Scholarship recipients include OSH students - Brock Burnham,
Melina Eaker, Avery McClain, and OSH faculty - Ms. Julie Boyd, who is pursuing her
doctoral degree. See a list of all ASSP Foundation scholarship recipients.
-Posted June 2021
Murray State OSH Graduate Student receives 3M PSD Occupational Health and Safety Scholarship
Murray State OSH graduate student, Clark Adams, was a recipient of a 3M PSD Occupational Health and Safety Scholarship. Recipients of this scholarship receive $5,000 and registration to this year’s virtual American Industrial Hygiene Association Conference and Exposition (AIHce EXP) being held May 24-26, 2021. This is a great educational opportunity to learn about a wide variety of topics in the field.
The purpose of this scholarship program is to recognize graduate students for their
high level of academic achievement, contributions to the profession, and intent to
pursue careers in the discipline of Occupational Health and Safety. Scholarship recipients
are selected by a committee comprised of 3M occupational health and safety professionals.
Candidates are evaluated based on academic achievement, related work experience, and
professional goals. This program strives to recognize the brightest future talent
through this annual award.
-Posted April 2021
Murray State OSH students volunteered to assist with the first Calloway County Regional Vaccination Site Event
The Calloway County Health Department opened the first Regional Vaccination Site at the CFSB Center on the Murray State's campus Sunday, Feb. 14th. Approximately 450 vaccinations were given through the combined efforts of the nursing staff from the Calloway County Health Department, EMS and nursing staff from the Murray-Calloway County Hospital, and faculty from the Murray State School of Nursing.
The event ran smoothly largely due to the efforts of student volunteers from the Murray State Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) department and the School of Nursing. OSH students were members of various OSH courses as well as the American Society of Safety Professionals student chapter.
This event focused on serving the Murray population ages 70+. Event volunteers assisted
with on-site registration, served as patient observers and assisted individuals from
and to their vehicles. The kindness shown by these young people was extraordinary.
Their willingness to serve their community during this challenging time was appreciated
by all.
-Posted February 2021
Murray State OSH students receive 2020 BCSP Foundation scholarships
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health students, Melina Eaker and Logan Forsythe,
were recipients of a combination of $10,000 in Board of Certified Safety Professionals
(BCSP) Foundation scholarships which are provided to Graduate Safety Practitioner
(GSP) Qualified Academic Programs (QAP). View a list of all BCSP Foundation scholarship recipients..
-Posted February 2021
Alumni accomplishments
Murray State OSH alumnus and faculty publish in the Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine
Mr. Laramie Lock, Murray State Occupational Safety and Health alumnus, and Dr. Oluwabunmi
Dada, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Safety and Health, co-published
along with Mr. Jacob S. Shed, “Aerosol Transmission of Infectious Disease and the
Efficacy of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)” in the Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 63(11). View the article.
-Posted November 2021
Murray State OSH alumnus publish in Professional Safety
Mr. Ryan Cannady, Murray State Occupational Safety and Health alumnus, published “Pioneering
Ideas for A New Generation of Safety” in the September 2021 Issue of Professional
Safety.
-Posted September 2021
Murray State OSH alumna recognized in Safety+Health article
Ms. Holly Burgess, Murray State University Occupational Safety and Health alumna,
received a spotlight in the Safety+Health article, A Team of One: Despite the Challenges, Solo Safety Pros Can Make an Impact.
-Posted September 2021
Murray State OSH alumna elected to ASSP Area Director - Region VII: South
Ms. Selena D. Schmidt, CSP, Murray State University Occupational Safety and Health
alumna (BS, MS), was elected as the ASSP Area Director - Region VII: South. Ms. Schmidt
is a Senior Risk Control Consultant for Liberty Mutual Insurance, as well as the Middle
TN ASSP Chapter President and the Region VII ASSP WISE Committee Chair.
-Posted April 2021
Murray State OSH alumna recognized in the Top 22 Under 40 by the Murray State Alumni Association Young Alumni Council
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health alumna, Jayme Hobson, was recognized by Murray State's Alumni Association Young Alumni Council in the Top 22 Under 40, Class of 2021.
Jayme Hobson, CSP, STS, received the Safety and Health Recognition Award from the
Iron Workers International Union in 2018. This is the first time the award has been
presented to a nonunion safety professional and recognizes Jayme’s efforts to address
safety and health hazards, and to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. As a young
professional, Jayme has been active serving on the American Society of Safety Professionals
Foundation NextGen Board from 2013-16 and providing guidance for future professionals
through serving on the Future Safety Leaders Conference Committee in 2012. In 2017
she was recognized as a Safety Crusader by Grainger Inc. Congratulations, Jayme!
-Posted February 2021
Faculty and department accomplishments
Murray State OSH faculty earns CIH
Ms. Rasha Khalil, instructor in the Department of Occupational Safety and Health at
Murray State University, earned the Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) certification from the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH).
-Posted December 2021
Murray State OSH faculty earns Ph.D.
Dr. Julie Boyd, instructor in the Department of Occupational Safety and Health at
Murray State University, earned a Ph.D. in Occupational Safety and Health from Capitol
Technology University.
-Posted October 2021
Murray State OSH faculty named new College Head of Hart College
Dr. Traci Byrd, associate professor in the Department of Occupational Safety and Health
at Murray State University, has been announced as the new College Head of Hart College.
Dr. Byrd has an impressive resume of working successfully with students in campus
life and academic capacities according to Dr. Don Robertson, Vice President for Student
Affairs and Enrollment Management. “We are very pleased that Dr. Byrd has agreed to
serve in this very important student development position. She has been actively involved
with students for the past few years both inside and outside the classroom and is
ideally suited for this leadership position. She will be an outstanding addition to
our Residential College Program”.
-Posted July 2021
Murray State OSH faculty earns CSP
Dr. Oluwabunmi Dada, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Safety
and Health at Murray State University, earned the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP).
-Posted June 2021
Murray State OSH faculty receives a 2021 BCSP Foundation Research-Doctoral Dissertation Grant
Mrs. Julie Boyd, instructor in the Department of Occupational Safety and Health at
Murray State University, was awarded a 2021 Board of Certified Safety Professionals
(BCSP) $10,000 Research-Doctoral Dissertation Grant. The grant will provide funding
in direct support of her safety and health research in Risk Assessment of the Industrial
Hemp Processing Industry. According to BCSP, Mrs. Boyd has demonstrated excellence
in academic performance along with a commitment to advancing the field of safety as
a safety professional.
-Posted May 2021
Murray State OSH faculty receives a 2021 BCSP Foundation Research-Early Stage Grant
Dr. Rupkatha Bardhan, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Safety
and Health at Murray State University, was awarded a 2021 Board of Certified Safety
Professionals (BCSP) $19,000 Research-Early Stage Grant. This grant will focus on
Managing Stress and Fatigue Among Truck Drivers. According to BCSP, Dr. Bardhan has
demonstrated excellence in academic performance along with a commitment to advancing
the field of safety as a safety professional.
-Posted May 2021
Murray State OSH faculty receives the Murray State Alumni Association Emerging Scholar Award
Dr. Yousif Abulhassan, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Safety
and Health at Murray State University, received the Murray State Alumni Association
Emerging Scholar Award. This award recognizes superior research, scholarly, or creative
work conducted by Murray State University faculty members who are in the early phase
of their careers and who show professional promise.
-Posted April 2021
Murray State OSH faculty receives the 2021-2022 Neil Weber Award for Excellence in the Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology
Dr. Traci Byrd, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Safety and Health
at Murray State University, received the 2021-2022 Neil Weber Award for Excellence
in the Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology. The Weber Award was
established as a special tribute to Dean Neil Weber on the occasion of his retirement
from Murray State University. The endowment for this award was provided through a
generous gift by Dr. Jesse D. Jones, a JCSET alumnus who is a strong supporter of
our faculty and students and one who shares our commitment to excellence in math and
science education. Recipients are chosen by a committee, with selection based on the
nominee’s achievements in several areas including: outstanding service and contributions
to the university through academic research grants and development; classroom activities;
student recruitment; governmental relations; publications; program leadership, and/or
assistance with matters of accreditation.
-Posted April 2021
Murray State OSH faculty elected chair of the Applied and Natural Science Commission of ABET (ANSAC/ABET)
Dr. Randal Keller, professor in the Department of Occupational Safety and Health at
Murray State University, was recently elected to be chair of the Applied and Natural
Science Commission of ABET (ANSAC/ABET) beginning in July, 2021. ABET consists of
four commissions and accredits college and university programs (currently 4,307 programs
at 846 colleges and universities in 41 countries) in the STEM disciplines of applied
and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology at the associate,
bachelor’s and master’s degree levels. Dr. Keller has been an ABET volunteer for fifteen
years and has served on the Executive Committee since 2017.
-Posted April 2021
Murray State OSH faculty selected for Academic Leadership Development Institute
Dr. Oluwabunmi Dada, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Safety
and Health at Murray State University, was selected for the Academic Leadership Development
Institute cohort of 2021 by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. The Institute
is one of the Council’s premier professional development programs specifically targeted
to support underrepresented faculty and staff on Kentucky’s campuses. Read the story.
-Posted March 2021
Faculty publications
Murray State OSH faculty publish in COVID
Dr. Rupkatha Bardhan, Dr. Traci Byrd and Dr. Julie Boyd, faculty in the Department
of Occupational Safety and Health at Murray State University, co-published "Safe Return
to Work for Domestic Workers in the Time of Covid-19" in COVID, 1(3), 575-589. View the article.
-Posted November 2021
Murray State OSH alumnus and faculty publish in the Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine
Mr. Laramie Lock, Murray State Occupational Safety and Health alumnus, and Dr. Oluwabunmi
Dada, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Safety and Health, co-published
along with Mr. Jacob S. Shed, “Aerosol Transmission of Infectious Disease and the
Efficacy of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)” in the Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 63(11). View the article..
-Posted November 2021
Murray State OSH faculty publish in Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Dr. Yousif Abulhassan, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Safety
and Health at Murray State University, co-published "Establishing the Basis for a
School Bus Emergency Evacuation Time Standard" in the Volume 10, June 2021 Issue, 100389, of Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Read the article..
-Posted June 2021
Murray State OSH faculty publish in IEEE Access
Dr. Yousif Abulhassan, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Safety
and Health at Murray State University, co-published "Seat Assignments With Physical
Distancing in Single-Destination Public Transit Settings" in the March 2021 Issue
of IEEE Access. View the article.
-Posted March 2021
Murray State OSH faculty publish in Professional Safety
Dr. David Wilbanks, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Safety and
Health at Murray State University, published “Contractor Safety Prequalification:
Background, Current Practice, and New Paths” in the March 2021 Issue of Professional Safety.
-Posted March 2021
Murray State OSH faculty publish in Professional Safety
Dr. David Wilbanks and Dr. Yousif Abulhassan, assistant professors in the Department
of Occupational Safety and Health at Murray State University, along with Shurtape
Technologies Corporate Safety and Health Manager, Dr. Richard Kilpatrick, published
“Covid-19 Early Planning, Response & Lessons in OSH” in the January 2021 Issue of Professional Safety.
-Posted January 2021
Murray State OSH faculty publish in Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Dr. Yousif Abulhassan, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Safety
and Health at Murray State University, co-published “Considerations for the Transportation
of School Aged Children amid the Coronavirus Pandemic” in Volume 9, 2021, of Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives . Read the article.
-Posted January 2021