Pair of Distinguished Professors Recognized at WSU
Radiologic sciences professor Diane M. Kawamura and economics professor John Mukum Mbaku were selected by WSU’s Board of Trustees for this prestigious award. They will formally receive their awards at the university’s spring commencement exercises April 20.
Funding for the annual recognition program was made possible by a generous gift from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous. The program was established in 2006 as a way to recognize outstanding WSU faculty members who demonstrate the highest quality of teaching, scholarship, research and community service.
Provost Michael Vaughan said, “This year’s honorees are respected, pioneering members in their professional discipline, who take the time to make their students’ educations a priority. We are very grateful to this donor for recognizing the important role faculty play in the lives of our students and the vitality of the campus.”
Radiologic sciences professor Diane M. Kawamura first joined the faculty in the Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions in 1978, following a successful career as an X-ray technologist and clinical instructor at St. Benedict’s Hospital in Ogden. A native of Aberdeen, S.D., Kawamura developed one of the first programs in diagnostic medical sonography, with options in medical, cardiac and vascular imaging.
During her 35-year tenure at Weber State, she has been instrumental in the development, implementation and growth of the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in the Department of Radiologic Sciences.
In addition to presenting more than 120 national and international lectures, Kawamura is the author of “Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Abdomen and Superficial Structures,” one of the foremost textbooks in medical sonography.
The recipient of numerous professional awards, Kawamura has been honored with the Joan Baker Pioneer Award for leadership in medical sonography and the Distinguished Sonographer Award by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. She is a fellow at the American Institute on Ultrasound in Medicine and with the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Renowned as a superb teacher, Mbaku has earned praise from his students because the depth and breadth of his personal experiences significantly enrich their classroom learning. He also serves as a mentor to many international students and generously donates his time to supporting minority groups within the WSU community.
Mbaku’s public-service experience has included consulting with the government of Kenya, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the Parliament of Uganda, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the African Economic Research Consortium and the European Union.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
- Contact:
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Michael Vaughan, provost801-626-6006 • mvaughan@weber.edu
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John Kowalewski, director of Media Relations
801-626-7212 • jkowalewski@weber.edu
Brady Presidential Distinguished Professors
2006
Craig Oberg
Gene Sessions
Sam Zeveloff
2007
Eric Amsel
Yasmen Simonian
Michael Wutz
2008
Bradley W. Carroll
Brian Davis
2009
Jim Christian
Brenda Marsteller Kowalewski
Susan Matt
Adolph Yonkee
2010
John Cavitt
Lauren Fowler
Ed Walker
2011
Brooke Arkush
Judy Elsley
Yu-Jang Yang
2012
Diane Kawamura
John Mukum Mbaku
2013
Hal Crimmel
Adam T. Johnston
Shane J. Schvaneveldt
2014
Jennifer Turley
Kirk D. Hagen