ASSE Honors Outstanding Safety Educator
Acknowledging his contributions to safety education and research in preventing on-the-job injuries, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently announced Wayne D. Jones, Ed.D, of Durant, OK, as this year’s recipient of the Dr. William E. Tarrants ASSE Outstanding Safety Educator award. Jones received the award this during ASSE’s Safety 2009, which took place in San Antonio last week.
The ASSE Outstanding Safety Educator award was established in 2002 in honor of Dr. William E. Tarrants, P.E., CSP, of Crownsville, MD; a past ASSE president and safety educator who helped establish the Academic Accreditation Council and the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP). Nominated by their peers, recipients of this award are recognized for their work with education in the occupational safety, health and environmental field, the society, and the safety profession.
Jones currently serves as chairman/associate professor, Department of Occupational Safety and Health at Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SOSU). Previously he served as assistant professor and adjunct instructor at SOSU. In addition, Jones has advised more than 150 students in occupational safety and health each semester. He received a joint Ed.D in Curriculum, Research & Instruction from Texas A&M University - Commerce. He also holds a Master of Arts in Religious Education from South West Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Master of Science in Aviation Safety from Central Missouri State University. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Safety Education from SOSU and is also a graduate of the Oklahoma State Municipal Police Academy (CLEET).
"Over the past 12 years, I have come to know Dr. Jones as an outstanding leader, educator, and mentor,” said James "Skipper" Kendrick, CSP, ASSE Past President and current Director, EHS Training, Textron Inc. and the person who nominated Jones. "Under his leadership, a Masters Degree program in Occupational Safety and health has been implemented at SOSU and in the years that I have been visiting the SOSU campus, the enrollment in the Occupational Safety and Health program has grown from around 100 students to more than 400.”
An active ASSE professional member for more than 10 years, he serves as the current administrator of the ASSE Academic Practice Specialty and is a member of the ASSE Southwest Chapter. He also serves on the ASSE Board of Delegates and is a member of the ASSE Council on Practices and Standards (COPS). Jones is also part of the ASSE Future Safety Leaders Conference Committee and the ASSE Educational Standards Committee. He also served as ASSE Student Activities Task Force chair for three years.
In addition to volunteering with ASSE, he serves as president of the Faculty Senate at SOSU. The SOSU Faculty Senate honored Jones both with the Excellence in Teaching and the Excellence in Service Awards. In 2002 he also received the "Who's Who among America's Teachers" Award.