Recipients named for 2018 Walk the Talk Awards

The Office of the Vice President for Ethics and Compliance has announced the recipients of the 2018 Walk the Talk Award.

The annual award is intended to recognize faculty, staff and students for their outstanding dedication to the University's Statement of Integrity and Code of Conduct. Individuals receiving this award exemplify strong ethical character in their dealings with others, champion ethical practices or programs, or apply personal values in a manner that demonstrates integrity and high standards of excellence.

A committee of representatives from the Office of the Vice President for Ethics and Compliance and the Office of the Dean of Students reviewed and screened nominations, and the awardees were selected by Alysa Christmas Rollock, vice president for ethics and compliance.

The 2018 recipients:

Stephen J. Elliott and Alysa Christmas Rollock. (Photo provided) Download image

* Stephen J. Elliott, professor of computer and information technology.

Elliott was recognized with the Walk the Talk Award for going above and beyond in his responsibilities as chair of the biomedical IRB. Elliott helps Purdue investigators to design and conduct their research in ways that maximize the rights and safety of research participants. In addition to chairing monthly, multi-hour IRB committee meetings to review human subjects research conducted on all Purdue campuses, Elliott actively assists investigators in improving their proposed research.

Nomination materials also noted Elliott's work with students who have sought him for advice and counsel. Elliott is known for not only suggesting a course of action but also accompanying the student to meetings to make certain the student’s concerns are heard.

Alysa Christmas Rollock and Seema Mattoo Download image

* Seema Mattoo, assistant professor of biological sciences.

Mattoo received the Walk the Talk Award for developing the ethics course BIOLOGY 66200/69600 Career Development/BioEthics & Responsible Conduct in Research while keeping her regular teaching duties. The course certifies students for Responsible Conduct of Research training required by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Defense and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Mattoo's passion in this area has driven her to help train the next generation of scientists and to provide them with concrete examples of appropriate behavior and ethics in academia and in research environments.

Mattoo also serves as a mentor to undergraduate and graduate students, with appropriate and ethical behavior being a major component of her mentoring activities. She models ethical behavior for the graduate students in her lab and expects the highest ethical standards in research.

Alysa Christmas Rollock and Richard J. Aleong Download image

* Richard J. Aleong, third-year PhD student in the School of Engineering Education.

Aleong was honored with the Walk the Talk Award for serving as an advocate for graduate students on the School of Engineering Education's graduate committee. Nomination materials noted Aleong's ability to bring sensitive issues to the forum while maintaining confidentiality and privacy. Aleong's work helped to bring about needed process and policy improvements.

Aleong also was recognized for his integrity and for working to create a scholarly culture in which authorship discussions could be both honest and fair.

The Purdue community is encouraged to nominate a member of the Purdue faculty, staff or student body who demonstrates a commitment to ethics, integrity and compliance for the Walk the Talk Award. Nominations are accepted year-round and may be submitted by completing the nomination form on the webpage of the Office of the Vice President for Ethics and Compliance.