36 Faculty Recognized at the 2023 Board of Trustees Awards for Excellence

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The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities recognized 36 faculty with Awards for Excellence at an awards ceremony on April 19. These awards are conferred annually to college and university teaching faculty and university administrative service faculty to acknowledge and provide system-wide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence.

SERVICE FACULTY OF THE YEAR

This award is bestowed upon university service faculty to acknowledge and reward exceptional individual professional accomplishment, and to encourage ongoing excellence in the key roles that service faculty fulfill at our system’s universities, including  advising and counseling students; recruitment, retention, and placement of students; residential life programming; facilitation of student groups and student leadership; and other involvement in university and community activities. 

This year, the Service Faculty of the Year is:

Randy Ludeman

Director of Housing and Residential Life
Interim Dean of Students

Bemidji State University

“Dr. Ludeman is a highly experienced and deeply respected leader, not only on the BSU campus but throughout the Minnesota State system and, indeed, throughout the higher education community,” said John Hoffman, president of Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College. “Simply put, he has dedicated his life to our students, and he takes great pride in continually bettering himself so, in turn, he may continue to provide them with the tools they need to succeed.”

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EDUCATORS OF THE YEAR

These awards are bestowed upon faculty to acknowledge and reward exceptional professional accomplishment, and to encourage ongoing excellence in teaching. The award proclaims, on behalf of the entire Minnesota State system, the Board of Trustees’ pride in the dedication and accomplishment of its faculty who provide instruction that prepares Minnesota State college and university students for their professional, scholarly, and civic lives.

This year, the Educators of the Year are:

Derrick Crim

Human Services

Metro State University

“Dr. Crim’s focus on equity, inclusion, and social justice permeates all of his work and community activities and promotes opportunity and hope for all,” said Virginia Arthur, president of Metropolitan State University. “He truly embodies our campus values and Minnesota State’s commitment to excellent teaching and community engagement that promotes educational equity for our students.”

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Shannon Gibney

English, Global Studies

Minneapolis College

“Shannon is well-regarded on campus and beyond for her contributions as an instructor and as an award-winning author who has leveraged her experience and success to benefit students by connecting them with the Minnesota and national literary community,” said Sharon Pierce, president of Minneapolis College. “She continually works to create a curriculum that reflects the diversity of the College’s student body, and to create learning environments that allow students to make connections with their lived experience.”

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Amy Zsohar

Communication

Inver Hills Community College

“Dr. Zsohar is a highly respected faculty member with a passion for her students and for equity and inclusion,” said Michael Berndt, president of Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills Community College. “She is a valued member of the IHCC community, and is dedicated to her students and colleagues, equity and inclusion efforts, and innovative community-based learning.”

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Outstanding Service Faculty

Five were also recognized as Outstanding Service Faculty.

Hailey	Olson	St. Cloud State University
Sara	Schultz	Minnesota State University Moorhead
Amy	Staloch	Minnesota State University, Mankato
Tyler	Treptow-Bowman	Winona State University
Ping	Wang	Metropolitan State University

Outstanding Educators

Twenty-seven were recognized as Outstanding Educators

Jim	Bainer	Minnesota State Community and Technical College
Cathy	Bishop	Anoka Technical College
Shane	Bowyer	Minnesota State University, Mankato
Greg	Cady	Minnesota State College Southeast
Ruth	Casper	Rochester Community and Technical College
Kent	Dahlman	Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Jennifer	Evens	St. Cloud Technical and Community College
Betsy	Goetz	Riverland Community College
Brenda	Henriksen	Northwest Technical College
Matt	Holmes	Hennepin Technical College
Craig	Jasperse	Minnesota State University Moorhead
Sara	Johannes	Saint Paul College
Tracey	Kloeckl-Jiménez	Central Lakes College
Timothy	Loney	Minnesota North College
Wade	McDonald	Ridgewater College
Melanie	Melendrez-Vallard	Anoka-Ramsey Community College
Kelly	Meyer	Anoka-Ramsey Community College
Francois	Nguyen	Saint Paul College
Byron	Pike	Minnesota State University, Mankato
Gemma	Punti	Metropolitan State University
Khaled	Rabieh	Metropolitan State University
Mary Kay	Riendeau	Minnesota North College
Kate	Ries	Metropolitan State University
Laurel	Smith	Century College
Jay	Stencel	South Central College
Patricia	Wisenden	Minnesota State University Moorhead
Adrienne	Zarn	Dakota County Technical College

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Learn more at www.MinnState.edu/BOTawards.

2024 Board of Trustees Awards for Excellence Nominations

The 2024 Board of Trustees Awards for Excellence Nomination Guidelines are available now. Review the guidelines and rubrics on the BOT Awards page of ASA Connect. The deadline for nominations is 5:00 p.m. on November 1, 2023.

Questions?

Catherine Ford, EdD
Program Director for Educational Development
BOTawards@MinnState.edu (preferred)
651-583-5901

Learn more at www.MinnState.edu/BOTawards.