Meet the Staff
All members of the the Honors College Faculty and Staff have completed Safe Zone training, Fostering and Promoting a Culture of Diversity & Inclusion at OSU training, CLERY Act CSA & Incident Report training, and Title VII & Title IX training.
Keith Garbutt is Dean of the Honors College and a professor of Plant Biology, Ecology, and Evolution at Oklahoma State University.
Garbutt received both his B.Sc. [Hons.] and Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Wales, UK. In 1980 he came to the U.S. and did postdoctoral work at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and at Harvard University before moving to West Virginia University in 1987 as an assistant professor. Shortly after receiving tenure in 1993 he became Chair of the Department of Biology, a position he held until 2000. In 2000 Garbutt's work in innovation in undergraduate education led to his being named the Eberly Family Distinguished Professor for Outstanding Teaching. As a botanist Garbutt's work focuses in the main on population biology, eco-physiology and genetics of plants; his research has been supported by awards from NSF, USDA, EPA, and other external sources.
In 2000 Garbutt was appointed Director of the Honors Program at WVU. A short six years later, the WVU Board of Governors approved the creation of the Honors College and Garbutt was named Dean. At WVU each residence hall has a faculty member, known as the Resident Faculty Leader, who lives either in an apartment in the hall or in a house adjacent to it. Garbutt and his wife elected to be the resident faculty for Honors Hall and served as Resident Faculty from 2009-2014. In this position they offered academic and cultural programs to the students and provided (in the secular sense) pastoral support to the students.
Since becoming a full-time administrator his scholarly concerns have moved to issues of education and Honors administration. He has written and presented on issues such as the impact of merit aid on socioeconomic diversity, support for first-generation students and student leadership. His most recent publication is, "Living in Hogwarts" in 2015 co-authored with C. Garbutt, in the NCHC monograph "Housing Honors" eds. Frost, Kay and Poe. Garbutt serves as the Chair of the National Collegiate Honors Council Science and Mathematics Committee and also serves on the Finance Committee and is a member of the Board of Directors.
Richard Frohock is the Associate Dean of the Honors College and a Professor of English at Oklahoma State University.
Dr. Frohock recieved his BA from the Colorado College, graduating with Phi Beta Kappa honors, before going on to complete his MA and PhD in Literature at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His educational background also includes a year of high school and a year of college studying abroad in Germany. After receiving his Ph.D. from UCSB, Dr. Frohock started at OSU in 1996 as an Assistant Professor of English. During his time at OSU, he has held various administrative positions, including Director of First-Year Composition (2006-2012) and Head of the English Department (2013-2017).
As a literary scholar, Dr. Frohock researches colonial American and early Caribbean history and literature, and his publications include the books Heroes of Empire: The British Imperial Protagonist in America, 1596-1764 (University of Delaware Press, 2004) and Buccaneers and Privateers: The Story of the English Sea Rover, 1675-1725 (Delaware, 2012). He he is currently writing a book on English pirate stories of the early eighteenth century. As an instructor, he has taught a wide array of undergraduate and graduate courses in early American literature, eighteenth-century British literature, and Atlantic World history. Additionally, he has led OSU study-abroad courses to Trinidad and Tobago, and to Cambridge, UK.
Dr. Frohock joined the Honors College in the summer of 2017. In his new position, he will work to develop programs that provide academic support and non-traditional programing for students in the Honors College, including study away courses, community engagement opportunities, student leadership, and peer mentoring programs.
Stephanie Miller is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Honors College. Her home department is English. She completed her BA in the Honors Program at Denison University (Granville, Ohio) and her PhD at the University of York (York, U.K.). Dr. Miller’s scholarly work focuses on modern and contemporary American literature and culture. She has taught Introduction to Literature, American Literature (1865-Present), British Literature (1910-Present), Literatures in English (1910-Present), The Short Story, Composition I and II, Critical Analysis and Writing I and II, The Story of Lizzie Borden: Axe Murder in American Culture, and Flash Fiction. Her role in the Honors College entails teaching, advising, and administrative responsibilities, such as assisting with the implementation and evaluation of experiential honors credit.
Ebonie joined the Honors College in January 2010. She attended OSU as an undergraduate where she earned an Honors College Degree in Public Relations. After graduation, she served as an admissions counselor in Undergraduate Admissions at OSU. Ebonie is excited to be a part of the Honors College and is dedicated to helping students achieve academic success.
John Andrews joined the Honors College in 2018 as an Academic Counselor. He earned his BA in Writing at the University of Central Arkansas, his MFA in Creative Writing at Texas State University, and his PhD in English at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Andrews’ scholarly and artistic work focuses on both LGBTQIA experience and the creative process within the genres of contemporary poetry and nonfiction. His first book of poetry, Colin Is Changing His Name, was a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award. He is currently working on his second book of poetry that examines queer constructions of marriage and kinship ties. He has taught Introduction to Creative Writing and Composition I&II.
As a K-12 educator and mentor, Dr. Andrews has worked with K-12 students at Arkansas Governor's School, Odyssey of the Mind, Upward Bound, and Austin Bat Cave. Dr. Andrews is passionate about connecting honors with K-12 students to not only help scholars realize their full potential, but also inspire the next generation of thinkers, innovators, and artists in Oklahoma.
Amanda joined the Honors College Staff in August of 2015. She attended OSU as an undergraduate and earned an Honors Degree in History, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art. She completed her MA in History from OSU in 2017.
As an undergraduate, Amanda lived in the Honors College residence hall for four years - an experience that helps her to serve as the Faculty Associate for the Honors College Living Learning Community in West Bennett Hall. Teaming up with Dr. Frohock, she helps plan co-curricular, cultural, and academic activities for Honors residents to further enrich their college experience. Amanda is enthusiastic about helping Honors students achieve academic success while making the most of their undergraduate years.
Baylee joined the Honors College Staff in October 2017. She attended OSU and earned an Honors Degree in Political Science, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Liberal Studies. She completed her MA in Political Science from OSU in 2016.
Having lived in Stillwater since 2010, Baylee is proud to consider herself an official "townie." She is excited to share her love for the university and help students tap into all of the resources and opportunities OSU has to offer.
Samuel joined the Honors College staff in June 2019. They attended OSU and earned an Honors College Degree in Political Science. Following that, Samuel completed their Masters in Educational Leadership Studies (College Student Development) at OSU in May of 2019. During their undergraduate years at OSU, Samuel served as a Leadership Mentor in Stout Hall, supporting Honors students living on campus. This support continued during Samuel’s graduate work, as they served as the Assistant Residential Community Educator for the Honors Living Learning Program in Stout Hall for three years. Samuel is excited to continue their goal of advocating for and assisting Honors students at OSU, paying forward the great experience with the Honors College.
jfreyes@ostatemail.okstate.edu
Josh joined the Honors College staff in May 2021. During his time at OSU, he earned an Honors College Degree in Physiology, graduating with Phi Kappa Phi honors in 2019. His honors thesis focused on research of the physiology of anxiety in humans. An active OSU cowboy throughout undergrad, Josh worked with Camp Cowboy for three years as a counselor and Expansion Director, as well as working with Honors to help students find their honors niche. Josh thinks of Old Central as his home away from home and is incredibly excited to be back and helping students find the same comfort he did. He loves OSU and is a passionate advocate for students and their needs. Josh wants all honors students to know that college is their movie, and he cannot wait to cheer them on until the credits roll.
Shelley joined the Honors College Staff in August of 2015. She is from St. Paul, MN and graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cites. She very much enjoys working in the Honors College and being surrounded by the honors students and their excitement for learning.
Huxley is a mastiff mix with a lot of love to share. He adores people and loves to be the center of attention. His tail is always wagging to the constant danger of ornaments on low tables.
He was found at the dog shelter the day before Thanksgiving, dirty, emaciated, timid and very weak - yet his tail was still wagging. He went home that night with his new Mum and Dad, Christine and Keith Garbutt. He soon regained his health and began enjoying his new life.
When his Mum and Dad moved into a University residence hall as Resident Faculty Leaders, so did Huxley. He was in his element, so many new friends to see each day! He loved to join in their activities or hang out in the lobby to provide a bit of stress relief and he missed them during the vacations. Now his Mum and Dad have moved to Stillwater and he is looking forward to lots more new student friends here at OSU. When he is not with his new friends he likes to bask in the sun or update his Facebook page - friend him on Facebook - Huxley Garbutt.
Huxley has received his Canine Good Citizen and is officially registered with Alliance of Therapy Dogs.
Darwin is a gentle and friendly small yellow Labrador, who loves being with people and being petted. He has an outgoing personality and will poke you VERY gently with his nose if he feels you are not petting him enough. He was found October 2015 running free on a farm east of Stillwater. The farmer tried to find the owner of the dog but had no success. While we initially intended just to pick him up and take him to the Humane Society, it did not take us long to realize that this beat-up looking animal was a gentle, friendly dog who, when introduced to Huxley our other therapy dog, very quickly bonded with him. Initially he would not come into the house; however, with a little coaxing he came into the kitchen and ultimately discovered the joys of soft beds and warm fires and has adapted quickly to his new environment.
Now Darwin lives happily as part of the family. It has been interesting to watch him learn from Huxley, and adopt a friendly and, for a young dog, reasonably laid-back approach to life. He loves Posse events and thinks the Student Union is the best place in the world - he tries to wag his whole body when he realizes we are going there.
Darwin will be working with his Dad in Old Central on the “Honors beat” along with his big brother Huxley who works with his Mum in Stout Hall.