MSU Faculty Receives Prestigious International Honor
Dr. Jen O’Keefe, interim chair of the Department of Engineering Sciences and professor of geology and science education at Morehead State University, has been awarded the 2025 John Castaño Honorary Membership Award, the highest honor given by The Society for Organic Petrology.
The award recognizes individuals distinguished in a significant scientific discipline, honoring contributions to research, service to the Society, and education. Honorary Membership status is reserved for those who demonstrate sustained professional excellence in advancing the field of organic petrology.
O’Keefe was formally recognized during TSOP’s annual meeting, held Sept. 7–14 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
She is the youngest scholar to receive the award. Her recognition is based on groundbreaking work in several areas, including the interplay of fungal decay and maceral development, dispersed organic matter in resource rocks, and her dedication to educating the next generation of geoscientists.
She has also contributed to TSOP through hosting student-focused events in 2005 and co-hosting the Society’s 2016 annual meeting.
At Morehead State, O’Keefe leads the Organic Petrology and Applied Laboratory while maintaining active collaborations with researchers across the globe. She has worked closely in Kentucky with fellow Castaño awardees Jim Hower, scientist emeritus at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research, and Cortland Eble of the Kentucky Geological Survey. She also serves as a senior investigator and MSU lead on the National Science Foundation’s EPSCoR CLIMBS project, which focuses on improving regional resiliency to natural disasters.
"I've had the pleasure to mentor many talented undergraduates, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers. Providing the opportunity for young scientists to grow into their best selves and to showcase their accomplishments on the global stage has been one of my greatest joys and privileges. I'm dedicating this award to my students, collaborators, and mentors, without whom my accomplishments would have been impossible."
To learn more about the Department of Engineering Sciences, you can email O'Keefe at j.okeefe@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2381.
