Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the Board of Trustees Awards for Excellence. They will be formally honored at a luncheon on April 22, 2026.
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.
Minnesota State Board of Trustees Award for Excellence in Service
2026 Service Faculty of the Year
Jean Clarke – Minnesota State University, Mankato
| 2026 Outstanding Service Faculty | School |
|---|---|
| Bev Hodgson | Bemidji State University |
| Julie Jaszkowiak | Metro State University |
| Michael Kurowski | Southwest Minnesota State University |
| Elizabeth Schwanke | Winona State University |
| Matt Trombley | St. Cloud State University |
Minnesota State Board of Trustees Award for Excellence in Teaching
2026 Educators of the Year
Jason Cussler – Minneapolis College
Anita Gaul – Minnesota West Community & Technical College
Cheng Thao – Metro State University
| 2026 Outstanding Educators | School |
|---|---|
| Ania Antus | Central Lakes College |
| Scott Blankenbaker | Riverland Community College |
| Albert Brown | Century College |
| Kami Burgess | St. Cloud Technical & Community College |
| Jason Burrows | Hennepin Technical College |
| John Campfield-Huth | Minnesota State College Southeast |
| Lisa Cline | Dakota County Technical College |
| Kirstin Cronn-Mills | South Central College |
| Crystal Fashant | Metro State University |
| Thomas Hillstead | Saint Paul College |
| Mara Iesalnieks | Minnesota State Community and Technical College |
| Raquel Jarabek | Minneapolis College |
| Joel Jensen | North Hennepin Community College |
| Kathryn Klopfleisch | Inver Hills Community College |
| Marcus Lacher | Minnesota State Community and Technical College |
| Josh Marell | Anoka-Ramsey Community College |
| Maxwell Minor Smith | Lake Superior College |
| Corinne Morrow | Anoka-Ramsey Community College |
| Mike Mutschelknaus | Rochester Community and Technical College |
| Deann Ober | Ridgewater College |
| Gwen Oster | Northwest Technical College |
| Jennifer Robey | Century College |
| Monica Roth Day | Metro State University |
| Jody Sandberg | Anoka Technical College |
| Emil Towner | St. Cloud State University |
| Mindy Travers | Saint Paul College |
| Ron Ulseth | Minnesota North College |
Learn More
These recipients will be honored at a spring luncheon with the Board of Trustees in April. Look for more details this spring as we continue to celebrate these exemplary teaching and service faculty.
Visit the BOT Awards Page in ASA Connect for FAQs, nomination guidelines, rubrics, portfolio examples, and more. Nomination guidelines for the 2027 BOT Awards will be available March 1, 2026.
Contact
Catherine Ford
651-583-5901
BOTawards@MinnState.edu
