IU Kokomo Psychology professor earns W. George Pinnell Award for exceptional service
Rosalyn Davis has never forgotten those who helped her along the way as she earned her Ph.D. in psychology and joined Indiana University Kokomo’s faculty.
Now a clinical professor and director of the mental health counseling program, she pays it forward in service to others, dedicated to ensuring all have access to opportunities.
“It’s nice to have all the work I do with some very phenomenal people recognized,” Davis said. “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’s service to the campus, university, community, and profession was recognized in her receipt of the W. George Pinnell Award for Outstanding Service. She received the award during IU’s annual Celebration of Teaching and Service.
This marks the third consecutive year an IU Kokomo faculty member has received the W. George Pinnell Award. J.R. Pico, teaching professor of Spanish and humanities, earned it in 2023, followed by Sarah Heath, professor of history, in 2024.
Among her extensive list of service, Davis was recognized for her service mentoring students, collaborating in the development of the Groups Scholars program, serving as faculty diversity liaison, leading Safe Zone trainings and reading groups on campus, and completing two campus climate surveys. As director of the master’s program in mental health counseling, she helped establish a community clinic, overseeing students as they provide free counseling for community members. In addition, Davis was commended for being elected to IU’s graduate faculty council and speaking at the university’s social justice conferences.
In the community, she has participated as a “book” in the Kokomo Howard County Public Library’s Human Library and collaborated on planning Juneteenth commemorations with the Carver Community Center and the Kokomo Housing Authority.
Sarah Sarber, IU Kokomo senior advisor to the chancellor, said she could not possibly capture all of Davis’s service in one list.
“Dr. Davis demonstrates a level of commitment of service to our campus, the community, and her profession that is impressive,” Sarber said. “She is a colleague I know will always answer the call when asked to serve.”
Davis said her reward is seeing students succeed. Many of her former students have gone on to graduate school and become licensed counselors, lawyers, or professionals in other fields.
“Me being part of their success, seeing them in law school, medical school, pursuing Ph.Ds., I’m glad they can achieve that with a little help from me,” she said. “I’m glad I could give them confidence, the opportunity to travel, and just be there to say, ‘Try this.’ Watching them as adults is fascinating.”
She’s also proud to be the third IU Kokomo faculty member in a row to earn the recognition, drawing attention to the work being accomplished by regional campus faculty.
“The regional campuses are doing phenomenal work, that we don’t even know they are doing,” Davis said. “There are a lot of people doing great things on campus, and we want people to know about it.”
Established in 1988, the award is named after W. George Pinnell, former executive vice president of Indiana University and former president of the IU Foundation, who was known for his stewardship, leadership, initiative, and service to state and national government.
This award honors faculty members and librarians who have proven to be deeply committed to serving the university, their profession, or the public. Their work has created greater capacity at the university, impacted their field in a significant way, or benefited a community at local, state, national, or international levels.
Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.