MnSCU Board of Trustees Presents 2015 Awards for Excellence

Shahzad Ahmad, Director for Multicultural Student Services, St. Cloud State University.

Shahzad Ahmad’s name has become synonymous with the Multicultural Student Services (MSS) center that he has directed at St. Cloud State University for over 20 years. Under Ahmad’s leadership, MSS has provided a wealth of services ranging from leadership development and tutoring to collaboration with campus and community leaders that fosters successful academic and social experiences for students of color and underrepresented students. His colleagues, students, and president praise Ahmad for consistently stretching the reach of MSS and the university as a whole. St. Cloud State is, they say, a much more diverse and inclusive place because of the accomplishments of Shahzad Ahmad. Ahmad received his bachelor of arts in biomedical science and a master of science in international economics from St. Cloud State University.

Victoria Hutson, Instructor of Art, Lake Superior College

Few of Victoria Hutson’s students plan to make art their career choice. However, nearly all leave her classes with greater skills, knowledge, and awareness of their own creative potential. While providing the setting for students to learn, apply, and integrate the knowledge and skills necessary for practicing art, her courses also address the social and personal needs of the students, including learning about themselves and others, developing new emotions, interests, and values, and becoming self-directed learners. Hutson has a bachelor of arts from the College of Saint Benedict with majors in both art and biology and a master of arts in visual arts with a specialization in art education from the University of Wisconsin.

Elizabeth Longley, Instructor of Chemistry, Normandale Community College

Betsy Longley is truly committed to knowing and supporting her students. On the first day of class, she takes a photo of each student, asking them to write their name underneath, along with something about themselves they would like to share. After 15 years of teaching at Normandale Community College, Longley’s student “photo album” has thousands of photos in it, and she treasures it. Personal connections areat the core of her exceptional teaching methods. She believes that as they are learning, students want to be seen and feel a sense of belonging to their courses, to the college, and to the community. Longley earned a B.A. in chemistry from Hamline University and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh.

Shana Petermann, Instructor of Biology, Minnesota State Community and Technical College

Shana Petermann says that being an educator means communicating to students that “there is no place I’d rather be, or nothing I’d rather do, than serve as their tour guide into the amazing world of microbiology.” Her guiding principle is that her courses aren’t hers, but her students. “In this educational environment, students can take courses anywhere. When they choose a course I teach, it is a privilege,” she says. Petermann holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in microbiology from North Dakota State University, and worked there as a research scientist in the department of veterinary and microbiological

Lisa Smith, Instructor of Chemistry, North Hennepin Community College

Lisa Smith began teaching at North Hennepin Community College in 2008, and she and her students have been on an upwards trajectory of learning ever since. Smith demonstrates expertise not only in her subject matter but in bringing theories of learning to practice in effective teaching. She keeps up to date with developments in her field and provides a wide range of services to her profession, but what makes her truly exceptional is the way she uses assessment to inform her teaching at every stage of the courses she teaches, and the ways in which she individualizes learning for her students. She uses qualitative and quantitative methods to collect and analyze data about her students’ learning and adapts her teaching