Faculty honored at Academic Affairs Awards and Recognition Ceremony

Faculty and staff members from the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, and Saint John's University, Collegeville, were honored at the Academic Affairs Awards and Recognition Ceremony May 4 at Gorecki Dining and Conference Center, CSB.

In addition to recognition for years of service, promotions, contributions as department chairs and leaders, the following awards were presented:

S. Mary Grell Teacher of Distinction Award - Elisabeth Wengler, associate professor of history. S. Mary, a noted biologist, served students at CSB and SJU for more than 35 years with intelligence, dedication and affection. The difference S. Mary made in her lifetime of teaching at CSB is celebrated through the recognition each year of a faculty member who represents the best teaching and learning at CSB and SJU. S. Mary served as president of CSB from 1963-68. This award has been presented yearly since 1995.

Wengler has taught at CSB and SJU since 2000. She received her bachelor's degree from Trinity College, and a master's degree and doctorate from Boston College. 

Robert L. Spaeth Teacher of Distinction Award - Bruce Campbell, associate professor of Hispanic Studies. This award is named in honor of Spaeth, who served as dean at SJU for nine years in addition to service as a professor of liberal studies from 1979 until his death in 1994. Each year, Spaeth's commitment to excellent teaching is remembered by honoring a faculty member who brings a special passion and mastery to the classroom and the learning community. This award has been presented yearly since 1995.

Campbell has taught at CSB and SJU since 1999. He received his bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary, a master's degree from Middlebury College, and a master's degree and doctorate from the University of Minnesota.

Linda Mealey Teacher-Scholar Award - Amy Olson, professor of nutrition. The Linda Mealey Teacher-Scholar Award is given annually to a faculty member who exemplifies demonstrated excellence in scholarship as well as teaching, conducts student/faculty collaborative research or creative work and excels in the mentoring of students. In recognition of the late Linda Mealey's contributions to the CSB and SJU community, this award is named in honor of Mealey, who received the award in 2002. The award, which was established as the Teacher-Scholar Award in 2000, was renamed for Mealey in 2004.

Olson has taught at CSB and SJU since 1982. She received her bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees from The Ohio State University.

S. Linda Kulzer Gender Educator Award - Anna Mercedes, assistant professor of theology. This award recognizes a member of the CSB and SJU faculty whose work has been especially important to gender education development. S. Linda, CSB's Vice President for Academic Affairs from 1977-85 and a professor emerita of education, was a pioneer in the colleges' earliest efforts to integrate gender into the curriculum.

Mercedes has taught at CSB and SJU since 2007. She received her bachelor's degree from James Madison University, a master's and S.T.M. from Lutheran Theological Seminary, and a doctorate degree from Drew University.

Tom Creed Award for Effective Electronic Pedagogy - Warren Bostrom, assistant professor of accounting and finance, and Mary Jepperson, associate professor of accounting and finance.  This award is given for effective electronic pedagogy and is named in honor of Tom Creed, the late professor of psychology at CSB and SJU and founder and first director of the Learning Enhancement Service.

Bostrom has taught at CSB and SJU since 2004. He received his bachelor's degree from SJU and an M.B.T. from the University of Minnesota in 2004. He became a certified public accountant (CPA) in 1997. Jepperson has taught at CSB and SJU since 2001. She received her bachelor's degree from CSB. She became a CPA in 1980.

Recognition was given as follows:

Academic advising awards:  Stephen Stelzner, professor of psychology; Parker Wheatley, assistant professor of economics.

Tenure and promotion to associate professor: Christina Hennessey, Hispanic Studies; Mary Jepperson, accounting and finance.

Tenure and promotion to professor: Matthew Lindstrom, political science.

Promotion to professor: J. Andrew Holey, computer science; Meg Lewis, economics; Paul Marsnik, management; Gregory Schroeder, history.

Professor emerita: Jane Kathman, management.

Professor emeritus: Eugene Garver, philosophy; Clayton Gearhart, physics; Frank Rioux, chemistry.

Michael Blecker Professor of Humanities: Martha Tomhave Blauvelt, history.

Outgoing department chairs: Lt. Col. James Fischer, professor of military science; Lisa Ohm, professor of modern and classical languages; John Olson, professor of economics.

Service as acting department chair: Leigh Dillard, adjunct assistant professor of theater.

Outgoing Joint Faculty Senate Chair: David Arnott, associate professor of music.

10 years of service: Kathleen Cahalan, associate professor of theology; Karyl Daughters, associate professor of communication; Leigh Dillard, adjunct assistant professor of theater; S. Mary Forman, OSB, associate professor of theology; Quentin Gerber, visiting professor of accounting and finance; Nicholas Hayes, professor of history and University Chair of Critical Thinking; Ronald Hemmesch, adjunct instructor, nursing; Pamela Immelman, adjunct instructor, first-year seminar; S. Patricia Kennedy, OSB, adjunct instructor, theology; Brian Larkin, associate professor of history; Rodger Narloch, associate professor of psychology; Susan Riley, adjunct assistant professor, first-year seminar; Christina Shouse Tourino, associate professor of English; Elisabeth Wengler, associate professor of history.

15 years of service: Br. Dennis Beach, OSB, associate professor of philosophy; Cynthia Curran, associate professor of history; Rev. Michael Patella, OSB, professor of theology; James Schnepf, associate professor of computer science; Andrea Shaker, professor of art; Gladys White, associate professor of Hispanic Studies.

 20 years of service: David Hartz, associate professor of mathematics; Ellen Jensen, assistant professor of biology; S. Jeanne Lust, OSB, associate professor of biology; Cynthia Malone, professor of English; Marina Martin, associate professor of Hispanic Studies; Lynn Ziegler, professor of computer science.

25 years of service: Philip Byrne, professor of mathematics; Eugene Garver, Regents professor of philosophy; Kaarin Johnston, professor of theater; Michael Livingston, professor of psychology; John Olson, professor of economics; Diane Veale-Jones, professor of environmental studies.

30 years of service: Annette Atkins, professor of history; Ernest Diedrich, professor of economics; David Huber, assistant professor of chemistry; Jane Kathman, professor of management; Michael Ross, associate professor of chemistry.

35 years of service: Richard Albares, associate professor of sociology; Nathaniel Dubin, professor of modern and classical languages; Paul Pladson, professor of accounting and finance; S. Carleen Schomer, OSB, associate professor of chemistry.

45 years of service: Donald Hoodecheck, associate professor of education.

Retirement: Lt. Col. James Fischer, professor of military science; Jane Kathman, professor of management; Clayton Gearhart, professor of physics; Eugene Garver, Regents professor of philosophy; Frank Rioux, professor of chemistry.