Board of Trustees Awards
The Board of Trustees Awards for Excellence acknowledge and provide systemwide recognition for consistently superior commitment to student learning and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence at the colleges and universities of Minnesota State.
2024 Board of Trustees Awards
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2024 Board of Trustees Awards for Excellence. This year's Board of Trustees Awards will be celebrated at an in-person luncheon on April 17, 2024.
2024 Educator of the Year
Hope Doerner
Minneapolis College
Early Childhood Education
A tireless advocate for students, faculty leader, and industry expert, Doerner continues to innovate and inspire her students.
2024 Educator of the Year
Mónica García-Pérez
St. Cloud State University
Economics
Dr. García-Pérez actively promotes community building and group belonging in all her courses and helps students appreciate the relevance of economic theory in their lives.
2024 Educator of the Year
Kendra-Ann Seenandan-Sookdeo
Minneapolis College
Nursing
Fostering a growth mindset in her students, Seenandan-Sookdeo looks for ways to both build lasting relationships and personalize learning for greater impact.
2024 Service Faculty of the Year
William Baldus
Metro State University
Director of the Career Center
With his highly collaborative approach, Baldus has expanded the Career Center’s reach, contributing to student success by partnering to build internship, apprenticeship, and employment opportunities for students.
Allen Bellas
Metro State University
Economics and Finance
Dr. Bellas’ contributions number many, from developing engaging activities, from a fishing simulation game that helps students understand markets to developing new opportunities, including a dedicated MBA for a financial services organization.
Sharon Bergen
Dakota County Technical College
Early Childhood and Youth Development
Students in Dr. Bergen’s classes benefit from her extensive experience in childhood education, her guidance as faculty advisor, her commitment to students, and her many contributions to the field, including updating curriculum.
Dale Buske
St. Cloud State University
Mathematics and Statistics
Dr. Buske makes math fun and accessible for students, whether as the math tutor coordinator, through interactive activities, or by his commitment to reducing or eliminating textbook costs through open educational resources.
Garrett Byrne
Saint Paul College
CNC Toolmaking
As a teacher, Byrne combines lectures and labs, helping students maximize their learning with machines, and as department chair, he leads changes to improve the program and stay current with industry trends.
Kristie Campana
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Psychology
In her classes, Dr. Campana focuses on team-based learning, incorporates current events, and asks students to prepare in advance and come ready to participate – tools that help guide students to successful outcomes.
Matthew Craig
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Physics and Astronomy
By unifying research – including a NASA project to search for planets outside of our solar system – teaching, community service, and professional contributions, Dr. Craig helps his students reach for the stars.
Cathy Crea
Century College
Reading, Student Success, and English
In one class, a student may focus on learning outcome assignments while another writes a cover letter, demonstrating how Crea uses innovative teaching and ungrading strategies to fit diverse student needs.
Don Drummond
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
Mathematics
Passionate about teaching, Drummond creates a safe, inclusive, and collaborative environment for students in his classes, works to make math engaging and fun, and goes the extra mile to help students learn.
Anna Francisco
Minnesota North College
Education
As the Class Act/Pre-Education program leader, Francisco reinforces the importance of educating the whole child and emphasizes active learning, building service learning and field experiences into nearly every one of her classes.
Amy Gonyea
Saint Paul College
Biology
In her classes, Gonyea fosters a sense of belonging for her students through innovative teaching assignments and assessment strategies and through an investment in open educational resources that reduce costs for students.
Jane Greathouse
South Central College
Psychology
Greathouse works to meet students where they are and to help them succeed through innovative teaching, multiple delivery methods, and real-world components, and helps the college advance by contributing to numerous committees.
Luke Green
St. Cloud Technical and Community College
Communication Studies
Dr. Green’s students develop learning portfolios that involve them in learning outcomes and assessments, and they also benefit from his work to reduce high textbook costs which resulted in an award-winning electronic textbook.
Marcia Hagen
Metro State University
Management
Hagen brings her experience as a well-published scholar to the classroom, asking students in all her classes to research and write at least one major paper and coaching them to higher performance levels.
Nick Heisserer
Central Lakes College
Business Management
Whether through small groups that tackle projects, practical learning experiences such as a Shark Tank activity, or open educational resources that reduce costs for students, Dr. Heisserer inspires and supports his students.
Jody Hibma
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
Biology
A strong student advocate, Hibma strives to make course content relevant to students and includes group and project-based learning to foster teamwork and inclusivity, helping students succeed inside and outside the classroom.
Theresa Hill
Rochester Community and Technical College
Chemistry
For students, Dr. Hill creates interactive tutorials of chemistry problems that they often struggle to solve, as well as provides materials in multiple formats and offers Diversity in Chemistry conversations.
Paul Howlett
Hennepin Technical College
Graphic Design
An experienced graphic designer, Howlett integrates emerging design technologies in his classes with practical application through client-based design projects and manages a student club that offers commercial experience.
Beth Husman
Ridgewater College
Veterinary Technology
Husman supports vet students’ entry into the college and advises them while at the college, works to enhance the curriculum, and coordinates student-community events, such as the ‘Chip ‘n’ Dip’ dog-washing fundraiser.
Neil Johnston
Century College
Art
A champion of the arts, Johnston believes in connecting with students and brings his experience as an artist and coordinator of many college and community exhibits to enhance his students’ learning journey.
Susan Kasahara
Normandale Community College
Physics
Predicting how far a projectile will travel and then seeing what happens is one example of Dr. Kasahara’s many demonstrations and activities that show students how physics connects to real-world applications.
Vicki Kintop
Riverland Community College
Radiography
An accomplished radiography technologist, Kintop designs game-like activities that involve students in their own learning and discovery, continuously works to strengthen the curriculum, and has secured funds for equipment for student use.
Ralf Mehnert-Meland
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Business
Continuously innovating, Mehnert-Meland demonstrates the theoretical through practical assignments where students may visit a courtroom to witness legal proceedings, operate a four-week pop-up business on campus, or write a short agreement.
Elizabeth Micheel
Minnesota State College Southeast
Biology
Micheel fosters a welcoming environment, encourages conversations and student interactions, and secured a grant for the innovative development of 48 lab kit rentals, as well as founding and advising the Equestrian Club.
Ryan Miller
Minnesota North College
Natural Resources
Leveraging his experiences with the USDA Forest Service and the Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources, Miller prepares students for employment through relevant field activities and partnerships with local organizations.
John Mirth
St. Cloud State University
Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
An experienced graphic designer, Howlett integrates emerging design technologies in his classes with practical application through client-based design projects and manages a student club that offers commercial experience.
Siau Yean Montgomery
Northwest Technical College
Dental Assisting
A highly qualified dental professional with years of industry experience, Montgomery strives to make learning exploring different teaching methods and fostering an inclusive environment.
Carrie Naughton
Inver Hills Community College
Mathematics
An online trailblazer, Dr. Naughton was the college’s first math instructor to offer online pathways from Introductory Algebra through College Algebra II and is instrumental in developing corequisites to prepare students for college courses.
Paige Riehl
Anoka-Ramsey Community College
English
A widely published poet and author, Riehl helps ensure students learn skills for navigating college successfully, inspiring discussion and critical thinking through many activities, including peer critiques, field trips, and guest speakers.
Ailesha Ringer
Metro State University
Professional Communication
Continually adapting teaching to support transformative education, Dr. Ringer co-creates learning with students to interrupt dominant narratives and maximize intercultural communication skill development.
Carol Roth
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Nursing and Healthcare Leadership
An experienced nurse educator and registered nurse, Dr. Roth helps prepare the next generation of nurses and expand nursing education offerings, including helping establish the university’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Jacqueline Semaan
Lake Superior College
Nursing
Semaan’s many contributions include her creative classroom practices, such as an activity where students analyze medical information to present a client case, and her work to incorporate simulation in all nursing programs.
Molly Skjei
Normandale Community College
Art
Described as a great storyteller, Skjei turns her lectures into dynamic, relatable presentations, develops reflective assignments, involves students in course policy decisions, and assigns online materials that reduce the cost for students.
Heidi Tarus
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Biology
During the international science competition, Plant the Moon Challenge, Tarus’ on-campus biology students experimented to find the best way to grow nutrient rich plants in lunar soil, highlighting her creative teaching practices.
Mike Tieleman
Anoka Technical College
Mathematics
Recognized for his work in curriculum development and course redesign and as a champion of diverse teaching methods, Tieleman takes a personalized approach to teaching, supporting the learning journey of each student.
Margaret Vaughan
Metro State University
Ethnic, Gender, Historical, and Philosophical Studies
A culturally responsive teacher, Dr. Vaughan uses innovative technology and creative learning strategies – including an assignment where students plan an Indigenous film festival – to deepen her students’ understanding and critical thinking skills.
Ruth Wollersheim
Century College
Humanities, Gender Studies, English, and Film Studies
One of the first faculty members to pilot courses at the college, Wollersheim believes in exploring technologies and taking her teaching to the next level by energizing and involving students.
Brian Jones
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Director of Admissions
Dr. Jones has led the development of an innovative recruitment system, successfully worked to diversify the student body, and analyzed data to identify enrollment barriers, resulting in record enrollments for the university.
Christine Lepkowski
St. Cloud State University
Executive Director of Undergraduate Programs
With students at the heart of all she does, Dr. Lepkowski directs the diverse activities of Herberger Business School’s undergraduate program and guides the complex process of accreditation for the university.
Ron Strege
Winona State University
Director of the Warrior Success Center
Strege demonstrates an unwavering commitment to students. He works to improve tutoring, advising, access, and career services, leading the development of student success metrics and spearheading retention efforts.
Jon Wepking
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Associate Athletics Director for External Relations
As the founder of the award-winning GO TEAM, Wepking creates hands-on experiences for students as they tell the story of Dragon Athletics through a broadcast network and marketing and promotion opportunities.
Contact
Catherine Ford
651-583-5901
BOTawards@MinnState.edu