OSH News
Student accomplishments
Murray State OSH students awarded ASSP Foundation scholarships
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health students, Asia Blanton, Chelsey Council,
and Aubrey Stubblefield, were awarded scholarships from the ASSP Foundation. Since 1990, the ASSP Foundation has awarded more than $6 million in academic scholarships
and professional education grants to occupational safety and health students and professionals
working towards their educational goals. See a list of all ASSP Foundation scholarship recipients.
-Posted July 2025
Murray State OSH students awarded Chevron scholarships
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health students Emma Lloyd, Gared Rigg, Hannah
Waller, and Jakob Wellman, were awarded the Chevron scholarship established by gifts to the Murray State University Foundation, Inc. (MSU Foundation).
-Posted July 2025
Murray State OSH student awarded the Erie Insurance scholarship
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health student,Jaidah Black, was awarded the
Erie Insurance scholarship established by gifts to the Murray State University Foundation, Inc. (MSU Foundation).
-Posted June 2025
Murray State OSH student awarded Barriere Construction Company Safety scholarships
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health student, Olivia Hilliard, was awarded
the Barriere Construction Safety scholarship established by gifts to the Murray State University Foundation, Inc. (MSU Foundation).
-Posted June 2025
Murray State OSH student awarded the L. Jack Dunman Memorial scholarship
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health student, Cade Crider, was awarded the
L. Jack Dunman Memorial scholarship established by gifts to the Murray State University Foundation, Inc. (MSU Foundation)
.
-Posted June 2025
Murray State OSH students awarded the KEMI scholarship
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health students, Jesse Adams, Reece McPherson,
and Isaac Shelton, were awarded the Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance (KEMI) scholarship
established by gifts to the Murray State University Foundation, Inc. (MSU Foundation).
-Posted June 2025
Murray State ASSP Student Section placed 3rd in Outstanding Student Section Award competition
Murray State University’s ASSP Student Section has placed third in the 2024–2025 National
Outstanding Student Section of the Year Award competition, ranking among the top three
out of 10 student sections nationwide. The group will receive a certificate and a
$500 stipend in recognition of their achievement. The section’s faculty advisor, Dr.
Julie Boyd said. "I am incredibly proud of our officers and all their hard work."
-Posted May 2025
Murray State OSH Students inducted into Rho Sigma Kappa Honor Society
The Murray State Occupational Safety and Health department proudly announced its spring 2025 inductees into Rho Sigma Kappa, the honor society for OSH. The induction ceremony celebrated students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to advancing professionalism in safety and health.
A special thank you goes to Dr. Susan Miller, RSK Faculty Advisor, and RSK Officers — Hannah Waller (President), LeeAnn Richard (Vice President), Aubrey Stubblefield (Treasurer), and Tarandeep Arora (Secretary) — for organizing a memorable ceremony.
This year’s inductees include:
Undergraduates:
Chelsey Council, Thomas Eyre, Aaron Kirkpatrick, Lane Gamble, Isaac Phillips, Gared
Rigg, Briana Stephens, Jakob Wellman, and Nick Whalin
Graduates:
Abhishek Aneja, Omar Franco, David Harshman, Rachael Obeng, Jessie Ornelas, Kristen
Pacheco, Brandon Speed, Brittany Watson, and Whitney Williams
Rho Sigma Kappa recognizes OSH students who exemplify academic excellence and leadership
and seeks to foster a culture of scholarship, service, and professionalism within
the field.
-Posted April 2025
Murray State OSH students awarded AIHA Foundation scholarships
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health students, Kristen Pacheco and Ryan Potts,
were awarded scholarships from the AIHA Foundation. Kristen received the Frederick
W. Boelter Risk Science Scholarship which is dedicated to the advancement of risk
science in the practice of industrial hygiene. Ryan received the BCSP scholarship
which is funded through the generous contribution of the Board of Certified Safety
Professional (BCSP). Every year, the AIHF awards qualified students and young professionals
with scholarships of varying types to help offset costs in their pursuit of a career
in industrial hygiene.
-Posted April 2025
Murray State OSH students awarded SAFE awards from KSHN
Murray State University Occupational Safety and Health students have been awarded prestigious SAFE (Scholastic Achievement for Education) Awards from the Kentucky Safety and Health Network (KSHN).
Undergraduate recipients include Chelsey Council, Gerad Rigg, Cameron Slayden, and Briana Stephens. Graduate honorees are Ishmael Afful and Rebekka Walker.
The students will be recognized at the 2025 Kentucky Governor’s Safety and Health
Conference and Exposition, set for August 2025 in Owensboro.
-Posted April 2025
Murray State OSH graduate student honored with Sigma Xi research award
Ryan Potts, Murray State University Occupational Safety and Health graduate student and NIOSH Training Project Grant trainee, was awarded the Sigma Xi Outstanding Student Researcher Award at the university’s annual Sigma Xi Recognition Banquet held on April 14.
Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society, is one of the oldest and largest
international organizations dedicated to science and engineering. With a legacy spanning
over a century, Sigma Xi supports a global network of researchers from academia, government,
and industry. More than 200 Nobel Laureates have been among its members.
-Posted April 2025
Murray State OSH students awarded the 2025 Tennessee Safety and Health Conference Scholarships
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health students Jesse Adams and Rebekka Walker
have been awarded prestigious scholarships from the 2025 Tennessee Safety and Health
Conference (TSHC). Adams received the James G. Neely Scholarship, while Walker was
honored with the ASSP Ron Kirsch Scholarship.
-Posted April 2025
Murray State OSH students and mentors presented at Posters-at-the-Capitol
Murray State University Occupational Safety and Health students Ryan Potts and Tarandeep
Kaur Arora, along with mentors Dr. Julie Boyd and Dr. Susan Miller, proudly participated
in the 23rd Annual Posters-at-the-Capitol event. They presented their research, Reshaping
Resilience: Mental Health Challenges Post-Pandemic & Workplace Readiness, and met
with Rep. Mary Beth Imes and Sen. Jason Howell before showcasing their work in the
Capitol rotunda.
-Posted March 2025
Murray State OSH students Explore International Risk Management on Study Abroad Trip to London and Dublin
OSH students participated in a two-week Study Abroad trip, led by Dr. Julie Boyd,
to London and Dublin during winter 2024. Students explored risk management and how
it could be applied to the numerous sites visited while abroad.
In London, highlights included the DareWalk at Tottenham Stadium where students used
fall protection to reach the top, as well as visits to Parliament, Windsor Castle,
the Tower of London, and the city's transportation systems.
In Dublin, students toured sites such as the Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship, EPIC Immigration
Museum, Guinness Storehouse, the Book of Kells at Trinity College, St. Patrick's Cathedral,
visited the sea-side town of Howth, Ye Hurdy Gurdy Museum, Croke Park Stadium, Dublin
Castle and the National Museum of Ireland: Decorative Arts & History (Collins Barracks).
Throughout the trip, students compared how risk practices were applied in the London,
Ireland, and the U.S., both past and present, while proposing improvements as they
experienced new environments.
-Posted January 2025
Murray State OSH students selected as NIOSH Trainees under the Murray State TPG Grant
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health graduate students, Asia Blanton, Karley
Clark, , Ryan Potts, Aubrey Stubblefield, Sadie-Delaney Toney, Hannah Waller, and
Katie Winkenhofer, were selected as NIOSH Trainees under the Murray State Training
Project Grant (TPG). As Trainees, they receive support through funding for tuition/fees
and travel. The purpose of the grant is to strengthen the learning environment to
prepare the next generation of leaders in OSH practice. This is accomplished by preparing
graduate students who are well-trained to enter the workforce, ready to respond to
both established risks, as well as new challenges brought on by the changing nature
of work.
-Posted January 2025
Murray State OSH students awarded ASSP St. Louis Chapter scholarship
Murray State OSH students, Canon Adams, Jesse Adams, Judah Arnold, Asia Blanton, Ryan
Potts, and Adam Rapp, were awarded a scholarship from the St. Louis Chapter of ASSP.
The scholarship is awarded with the purpose of supporting full-time undergraduate
or graduate studies leading directly to a career in a safety, health, environmental
or closely related field.
-Posted December 2024
Murray State OSH students presented at TVS-AIHA Conference
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health graduate students, Christine Apio, Myat
Thiri Maw, and Karena O’Bryan, presented at the Tennessee Valley Section of American
Industrial Hygiene Association (TVS-AIHA) conference in Lenoir City, TN. Mollie presented
on Parallel Particle Impactor Sampling, and Ryan presented on Heat Stress Sampling
from an Internship Experience. Here’s a look at the presentations they shared with
industry professionals.
Christine Apio: Ergonomics Risks and Challenges Specific to Nurses
Myat Thiri Maw: Enhancing Industrial Safety through Regulatory Compliance and Best Practices – Insights
from a Multi-State EHS Internship Experience
Karena O’Bryan: Barriers to Adopting Inclusive PPE in the Workplace
-Posted November 2024
Murray State OSH students awarded 2024 BCSP Foundation scholarships
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health students, Elli McIntyre and Aubrey Stubblefield,
were awarded Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) Foundation scholarships
which are provided to Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) Qualified Academic Programs
(QAP).
-Posted November 2024
Murray State OSH students and faculty attend 25th Annual Pilot Research Project Symposium
Murray State OSH Faculty, Dr. Julie Boyd, Dr. Susan Miller, and Dr. David Wilbanks,
along with OSH students, Jesse Adams, Tarandeep Kaur Arora, and Rachel Obeng, attended
the 25th Annual Pilot Research Project Symposium which is part of the University of
Cincinnati's NIOSH Education and Research Center (ERC).
-Posted October 2024
Murray State AIHA Student Section awarded AIHA's Student Local Section of the Year
The Murray State AIHA Student Section was awarded AIHA’s Student Local Section of the Year. As the winning recipient, the student section will
receive a $1,000 monetary award to be used for student local section activities.
-Posted September 2024
Murray State OSH students awarded Krissa "Sparky" Dudley scholarship
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health students, Lauren Adkins, Tarandeep Arora,
and Rebekka Walker, were awarded scholarships from the Krissa "Sparky" Dudley scholarship.
The Krissa “Sparky” Dudley Scholarship Endowment was established by gifts to the Murray
State University Foundation, Inc. (MSU Foundation) from her parents, George and Susan
Dudley in memoriam of her can-do attitude and "fire in the belly" to make a difference
in the world. The scholarship was created to assist students at Murray State University
in obtaining an education to prepare them for a career in Occupational Safety and
Health (OSH). Learn more about Krissa's story.
-Posted August 2024
Murray State OSH students awarded ASSP Middle Tennessee Chapter scholarships
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health students, Jesse Adams and Elli McIntyre,
were awarded scholarships from the Middle Tennessee Chapter of ASSP.
-Posted August 2024
Murray State OSH student awarded NSC scholarship
Murray State Occupational Safety and Health student, Asia Blanton, was awarded the
Diversity in Safety scholarship from the National Safety Council (NSC) and has been
invited to attend the NSC's National Awards Ceremony as scholarship recipient at the
NSC Congress and Expo in Orlando, FL, in September 2024.
-Posted August 2024
Alumni accomplishments
Murray State OSH Alumnus Named Director of Corporate Safety for Global Firm
Ben Goode, a 1999 graduate of Murray State University’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) program, has been appointed Director of Corporate Safety at Haskell, a leading global architecture, engineering, construction, and consulting firm headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.
Haskell employs more than 2,400 professionals across over 25 offices worldwide, delivering
integrated solutions to clients around the globe. In his new leadership role, Goode
will be responsible for overseeing and advancing the company’s safety strategy across
all markets, helping to ensure the well-being of employees and stakeholders in every
corner of the organization.
The Murray State OSH department celebrates this milestone as a testament to the program’s
commitment to developing industry-ready professionals who are equipped to lead in
complex, high-impact roles. Goode’s achievement reflects both his personal dedication
and the strength of the university’s safety education.
-Posted May 2025
Murray State OSH Alumna serves on Murray State's Alumni Association’s Board of Governors
Pamela (Stocks) Butler, ’79, BS in Occupational Safety and Health; ’81, MS in Human
Services Counseling; and ’84, Specialist Degree in College Teaching, Human Services
Counseling, is a retired Army officer who serves on Murray State University Alumni
Association’s Board of Governors as the Black Alumni Network Representative.
-Posted October 2024
Murray State OSH alumnus named one of NSC's Rising Stars of Safety
Murray State OSH alumnus, William Langford, was named as one of National Safety Council’s
(NSC) 15th class of Rising Stars of Safety. This group consists of leaders aged 40
and younger dedicated to making workplaces safer. The 38 honorees for 2024 have promoted
continuous safety improvement within their organizations and created initiatives focused
on measurable outcomes to provide workforces safe environments. The class of 2024
honorees are featured in the September 2024 issue of Safety+Health magazine.
-Posted September 2024
Murray State OSH alumnus appointed Chair of BCSP Foundation
Murray State OSH alumnus, Travis Kruse, Ph.D., MS, CSP, has been appointed Chair of
the BCSP Foundation. Dr. Kruse is the Senior Director, Safety & Sustainability Solutions
Strategy for W.W. Grainger Incorporated. He has over 22 years of experience in consulting,
general industry, and sales leadership roles. He is a Certified Safety Professional
(CSP), Murray State University Occupational Safety and Health (ANSAC/ABET) Advisory
Council Member, Semiconductor Environmental, Safety & Health Association (SESHA) Board
Member, and an authorized instructor for the OSHA Training Institute (OTI). Dr. Kruse
has a Ph.D. in Public Health from Oregon State University and a M.S. degree in Environmental
Health and Safety from Murray State University and has published in the Journal of
Safety Research.
-Posted March 2024
Faculty and department accomplishments
Murray State OSH faculty highlighted as keynote speaker at Sigma Xi recognition banquet
Dr. Oluwabunmi Dada, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Safety and Health at Murray State University, was the invited distinguished speaker at Murray State’s Sigma Xi Recognition Banquet held on April 14. Dr. Dada delivered a keynote presentation titled "Advancing Public Health: Exploring Substance Use Risks, Longevity, and Disaster Resilience."
Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society, is one of the oldest and largest
international organizations dedicated to science and engineering. With a legacy spanning
over a century, Sigma Xi supports a global network of researchers from academia, government,
and industry. More than 200 Nobel Laureates have been among its members.
-Posted April 2025
Murray State OSH faculty awarded 2025 Alumni Association Emerging Scholar Award in STEM
Murray State University has honored Dr. Julie Boyd, assistant professor in the Department
of Occupational Safety and Health, with the 2025 Alumni Association Emerging Scholar
Award in STEM. This prestigious award recognizes early-career faculty members for
exceptional research, scholarship, or creative work, highlighting their professional
promise.
Dr. Boyd’s achievements will be permanently recognized with her name engraved on the
Emerging Scholar Award plaque at the Murray State University Alumni Center.
-Posted March 2025
Murray State OSH faculty awarded 2025 JCSET Outstanding Research Award
Dr. Julie Boyd, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Safety and Health,
has been honored with the 2025 Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering, and
Technology Outstanding Research Award. This prestigious award recognizes her exceptional
contributions to research, including publications, conference presentations, grant
achievements, and mentorship of students. This award highlights Dr. Boyd’s dedication
to advancing scientific knowledge and making a meaningful impact in the safety field.
-Posted March 2025
Murray State OSH faculty awarded Giving Back Endowment Faculty Innovation Initiative Grant
Dr. Rupkatha Bardhan, associate professor in the Department of Occupational Safety
and Health, was awarded a Giving Back Endowment Faculty Innovation Initiative grant
to support the OSH 640: Safety and Health Program Management and Training class. This
initiative aims to address the high risk of workplace accidents among teen workers
due to inexperience and inadequate safety training.
Through the grant, OSH 640 graduate students will lead fun and innovative "Safety
Matters" training sessions for high school students entering the workforce. This hands-on
approach not only helps young workers stay safe but also provides OSH 640 students
with valuable real-world experience.
This grant, a key part of the Nonprofit Leadership Program’s dedication to impactful
community engagement, supports faculty in bringing creative student-community collaborations
into their courses. A special thank you to Dr. Robert and Patricia Long for their
generous support through the Giving Back Endowment, making this impactful project
possible.
-Posted March 2025
Murray State OSH faculty receives MSYou Matter Racers Care Mini Grant
Dr. Oluwabunmi Dada, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Safety
and Health, was awarded a MSYou Matter Racers Care Mini Grant. This grant will provide
vital funding to OSHConnect, the mentoring program at OSH, which connects students
with experienced mentors who offer guidance, support, and valuable insights.
-Posted December 2024
Murray State OSH faculty present at 25th Annual Pilot Research Project Symposium
Dr. Susan Miller and Dr. Julie Boyd, assistant professors in the Department of Occupational
Safety and Health at Murray State University, presented at the 25th Annual Pilot Research
Project Symposium, part of the University of Cincinnati's NIOSH Education and Research
Center (ERC). They showcased a poster on their proposed research, which received a
$6,000 NIOSH grant. Their project is titled "Utilizing Artificial Intelligence with
Digital Human Modeling to Assess Risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders in Non-Fireground
Firefighter Activities."
-Posted October 2024
Murray State OSH faculty presents at ISOES conference
Dr. Julie Boyd, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Safety and Health
at Murray State University, was invited to present Wearable Sensor Technology: Quantifying Ergonomic Risk within the Hemp Industry at the International Society Occupational Ergonomics and Safety (ISOES) Conference
in Denver, CO, in August 2024.
-Posted August 2024
Murray State OSH faculty and alumnus presents at joint meeting of EASST and 4S in Amsterdam
Dr. Oluwabunmi Dada, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Safety
and Health at Murray State University, Dr. Ayorinde Ogunyiola in the Department of
Political Science and Sociology, and Murray State Occupational Safety and Health alumnus,
Justin Diehr, presented a paper on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Powered
GIS for Proactive Disaster Resilience in a Changing Climate, at the Quadrennial joint
meeting of the European Association for the Study of Science and Technology (EASST)
and the Society of Social Studies of Science (4S) in Amsterdam, Netherlands in July
2024.
-Posted July 2024
Murray State OSH faculty receives grant funding to utilize AI with digital human modeling to assess risk of MSDs in non-fireground firefighter activities
Dr. Susan Miller, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Safety and
Health at Murray State University, was awarded a $6,000 grant from a University of
Cincinnati Pilot Research Project Proposal, Utilizing AI with Digital Human Modeling
to Assess Risk of MSDs in Non-fireground Firefighter Activities.
-Posted July 2024
Murray State OSH faculty serves as SME on BCSP's CSP Exam Writing Panel
Dr. David Wilbanks, associate professor in the Department of Occupational Safety and
Health at Murray State University, served as a subject matter expert (SME) on the
Board of Certified Safety Professional’s (BCSP) Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
Exam Writing Panel. SMEs from various locations worldwide contributed to BCSP's five-year
revision cycle for its certification exams. This collective effort resulted in the
approval of an impressive 170 items to update the CSP11 exam. Over the course of four
days, they collaborated to craft and assess exam questions submitted by participants.
These questions undergo rigorous scrutiny to ensure reliability and validity before
being further reviewed by subsequent panels for inclusion in the certification exams.
Their efforts are integral to keeping BCSP as the gold standard in safety certification.
The CSP certification is the most recognized and sought general professional certification
in North America.
-Posted June 2024
Murray State OSH faculty receives grant funding to address the growing concern of flash floods in the United States
Dr. Oluwabunmi Dada, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Safety
and Health at Murray State University, and Dr. Ayorinde Ogunyiola in the Department
of Political Science and Sociology were approved for $10,000 in grant funding.
Titled “Strengthening Disaster Preparedness: Assessing Risk Perception and Early Warning
Systems for Flash Flooding,” the project will address the growing concern of flash
floods in the United States (with Kentucky as a case study) by drawing insights from
sociology and disaster management. The proposed research will investigate how people
in Mayfield, Kentucky, perceived and prepared for the devastating July 2023 flood.
Using a mixed-method approach, the research will explore risk perception, early warning,
and disaster preparedness. Findings from this study will have national significance,
be useful in improving flash flood preparedness, and reduce negative impacts on vulnerable
communities.
-Posted March 2024