Faculty Thunderbird Awards
This award recognizes an individual, full-time faculty who demonstrates outstanding teaching effectiveness; scholarly activity; peer respect from fellow colleagues; sincere interest in students; and professional commitment and service to others and the University overall.
Please address the following valuation criteria in your nomination: how well the faculty member does the following:
- uses experiential education,
- fosters student success,
- maintains positive relationships with students,
- explores teaching methods and integrates those that work,
- reflects on teaching practices, and
- engages in professional development related to teaching.
This award recognizes three (3) individual, full-time faculty for distinguished teaching effectiveness; professional commitment; demonstrated interest in students; and service to others and the University overall.
Please address the following valuation criteria in your nomination: how well the faculty member does the following:
- uses experiential education,
- fosters student success,
- maintains positive relationships with students,
- explores teaching methods and integrates those that work,
- excels in a specific instructional focus, such as general, graduate, or online education
- reflects on teaching practices, and/or
- engages in professional development related to teaching.
Appropriate scholarly and creative work for submission includes (but is not limited to) textbooks, academic books, book chapters, journal articles, poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, juried dance pieces, juried art pieces, published music, set designs, curated online repositories and multimedia materials, and video productions. Those nominated or self-nominated for the Distinguished Scholarly/Creative Activity Awards are required to submit a cover letter that lists and briefly, summarizes pertinent, scholarly document(s) or project(s). The letter must provide evidence that the nominated work was produced or published within the last academic year and that it constitutes scholarly “juried” work evaluated by peers. In addition, it should include mention of other participants (if applicable) and state if the work has been nationally or internationally recognized through previous awards (with documentation of the award(s) or recognition). The cover letter should, if possible, also include the acceptance rates of papers to a journal or acceptance rates of a project to a showing or exhibition. Moreover, the submission should provide evidence of the impact of the work, e.g. an analysis of the bearing and scope of the paper or project within the field of study. The quantity of work published in prominent journals or the prestige of a venue (i.e. gallery, competition) will also be taken into consideration.
This award is to recognize an individual, full-time faculty for demonstration of distinguished service to the University and the greater community; a pattern of quality service; a variety of service efforts; efforts having increased the quality of some aspect of the University's mission; and a genuine interest in serving students, colleagues, and the University.
In recognition of the many contributions the faculty make to our campus and to the professional community they are involved with:
- Any professional faculty under contract with the university.
- Minimum of three years contracted employment at SUU.
- Recipients of this award are not eligible to receive it again for three years.
- Current members of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee are not eligible to receive the award during their term of service.
- Has contributed significantly to their profession through scholarly activities or exceptional service to professional associations.
- Has taken advantage of available educational or training opportunities.
- Has given service to their profession and/or the university above and beyond the scope of their position.
This award is intended to formally recognize the outstanding achievements of faculty and staff at SUU with a particular emphasis in teaching, scholarship, administration, innovation, and public service. The recipient is honored by a Certificate of Excellence presented by the Board of Trustees at a designated event in late spring, along with a cash award.
The award criteria for faculty will be quality teaching and learning, student mentoring and engagement, innovative practices, and other service to the university or the community.
The President's office may follow up with the nominator and nominee to gather additional information in order to provide the Trustees with sufficient material to make their decision. The nominator and/or nominee may submit information beyond what is specifically requested, but it is not expected.
A $2,500 award will be provided to each of the winners in the faculty and staff categories. We hope you will consider nominating candidates who have excelled in serving our students and the university.
The award criteria for staff members will be quality service according to the staff member’s responsibilities, innovative practices, and other service to the university or the community.
Faculty Honors: Past Recipients
| Dates | Staff | Faculty |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Matt Nickerson - Library | Ty Redd - Chemistry |
| 2024 | Shauna Mendini - Interim Provost | Brandon Wiggins - Physics |
| 2023 | Donna Law - Community & Government Relations | Matt Barton - Communications |
| 2022 | Stephen Lisonbee - Regional Services | Rheana Gardner-Reeves - Photography |
| 2021 | Heather Ogden - Dean of Students | William Heyborne - Biology |
| 2020 | Scotty Bauman - Women's Gymnastics | Tyler F. Stillman - Marketing |
| 2019 | Christine Proctor -Admissions Processing | Grant Corser - Hum & Soc Sciences |
| 2018 | Jayci Bash - Honors Program | Jacqualine Grant - Biology |
| 2017 | Reece Summers - SUMA | Matthew Nickerson - Library |
| 2016 | Eric Kirby - Student Services | Emily Dean - Anthropology |
| 2015 | Andrea Stiefvater - ESL | Todd Petersen - EDGE |
| 2014 | Paula Alger - Business | Xun Sun - Music |
| 2013 | Eric Houle - Track & Field | David Berri - Economics |
| 2012 | Peter Sham - Theatre Arts | |
| 2011 | James Aton - English |
- 2024-25: Jamie Hamblin, Laureen Graves, Corey Twitchell
- 2023-24: Marcus Lawrence, Melinda Ford, Paige Gardiner
- 2022-23: Brock Landrum, Crystal Koenig, Nicole Dib
- 2021-22: Iliana Portaro, Bryan Koenig, and Jeb Branin
- 2020-21: Carrie Jo Bucklin, Stephen Engst, Adam E. Lambert
- 2019-20: Rachel T. Bolus, Laura J. Davis, Hala K. Swearingen
- 2018-19: Jason F. Kaiser, Kris G. Phillips, Lynn H. White
- 2017-18: Steve Evans, Dave Lunt, Dezhi Wu
- 2016-17: John Belk, Kevan Jacobson, Janice Scarinci
- 2015-16: Tyler Stillman, Jana Lunt, Nathan Werner
- 2014-15: Todd Mack, Andrew Marvick, Amanda Wilford
- 2013-14: Kay Andersen, Elise Leahy, Jean Lopour
- 2012-13: John T. Ault, John R. Taylor, Ellen Treanor
- 2011-12: Betsey Bancroft, Randle Hart, Lee Wood
- 2010-11: Desmond Penny, Rachel Smetanka, Virginia Stitt
- 2009-10: Kyle Bishop, Wynne Summers, Wayne Williams
- 2008-09: Richard Eissinger, Mark Miller, Mackay Steffensen
- 2007-08: Robin Calland, Laura Cotts, Kirk Fitzpatrick
- 2006-07: Kevin Stein, Todd Petersen, Les Jones
- 2005-06: Steve Barney, Rea Gubler, Larry Ping
- 2004-05: Carl Franklin, Deb Hill, Linda Marriott
- 2003-04: Jean Adams, Merlene Ellington, Brian Heuett
- 2002-03: Helen Chuang, Marty Larkin, Matthew Schmidt
- 2001-02: Arlene Braithwaite, Gregory Powell, Steve Barney
- 2000-01: Shauna Mendini, Richard Kimball, Brian Hoover
- 1999-00: Michael Donovan, Desmond Penny, Terry Schwaner
- 1998-99: Brent Sorensen, Jory Ty Redd, Gregory Powell
- 1997-98: Artis Grady, Stan Hatfield, James Vlasich
- 2024-25: Hayden Coombs, William Davis, Matt Barton
- 2023-24: Braden Bagley, Rheana Reeves, Rosalyn Eves
- 2022-23: Brianne Kramer, John Belk, Sijun Liu
- 2020-21: Mark D. Miller, Todd Robert Petersen, Elaine B. Vickers
- 2019-20: Andrew Misseldine, Kevin Stein, Corey L. Twitchell
- 2018-19: James M. Aton, Sangho Bok, Matthew Eddy
- 2017-18: Kyle Bishop, Bruce Haslem, Scott Lanning
- 2016-17: Mark DeBeliso, Ravi Roy, Dezhi Wu
- 2015-16: Danielle Dubrasky, Shobha Gurung, Jon Smith
- 2024-25: Shalini Kesar
- 2023-24: Jennifer McKenzie
- 2022-23: Jacqualine Grant
- 2020-21: Richard Cozzens
- 2019-20: Earl F. Mulderink, III
- 2018-19: Paula Mitchell
- 2017-18: Briget Eastep
- 2016-17: Johnny MacLean
- 2024: Grant Corser
- 2023: Shalini Kesar
- 2024-25: Matt Mckenzie
- 2023-24: Cynthia Hawk, Landry Igiraneza
- 2022-23: Julie McCown, Christin Stephens
- 2020-21: Kholoud Al-Quabbaj, Department of Theatre, Dance & Arts Administration
- 2019-20: Angela E. Pool-Funai, Junice Acosta
- 2018-19: Silvia Kozlovska, A.P.E.X. Events
- 2017-18: History, Sociology, & Anthropology Department, Steve Barney
- 2016-17: Michelle Orihel, Scott Knowles
- 2024-25: Matthew Newsom
- 2023-24: Robin Boneck
- 2022-23: Gretchen Ellefson
- 2021-22: Peggy Wittwer
- 2020-21: Lisa Maxwell Arter
- 2019-20: Scott Munro
- 2018-19: Jeffrey Orton
- 2017-18: Nathan Werner
- 2016-17: Brandon Wiggins
- 2015-16: Joshua Price
- 2014-15: Brian Swanson
- 2013-14: Betsy A. Bancroft
- 2012-13: Mary Pearson
- 2011-12: Joe Baker
- 2010-11: Emily Dean
- 2009-10: Earl Mulderink
- 2008-09: Lisa Assante
- 2007-08: Greg Powell
- 2006-07: Matthew Schmidt
- 2005-06: Eric Brown
- 2004-05: Matthew Barton
- 2003-04: David Rees
- 2002-03: Derek Snow
- 2001-02: Richard Tebbs
- 2000-01: Joe Baker
- 1999-00: Susan Harris
- 1998-99: Gary Giles
- 1997-98: Robert Behunin
- 1996-97: John Ault
- 1995-96: Robert Eves
- 1994-95: Stephen Adams
- 1993-94: Joann Bowns
- 1992-93: James Bowns
- 1991-92: Michael Donovan
- 1990-91: Leslie Jones
- 1989-90: David Lee
- 1988-89: James Harrison
- 1987-88: Brent Sorenson
- 2014-15: Mark DeBeliso
- 2013-14: Dezhi Wu
- 2012-13: Peter Sham
- 2011-12: David Berry
- 2010-11: Shalini Kesar
- 2009-10: Jim Aton
- 2008-09: Gerald Calvasina
- 2007-08: Todd Petersen
- 2006-07: Larry Ping
- 2005-06: James Vlasich
- 2004-05: S. S. Moorty
- 2003-04: Gerald Calvasina
- 2002-03: David Christensen
- 2001-02: Jon Smith, Helen Chuang
- 2000-01: Jim Bowns
- 2020:Brandon Wiggins
- 2019: Peggy Wittwer
- 2018: Jacqualine Grant
- 2017: Deborah Snider
- 2016: Steve Barney
- 2015: John Maclean
- 2014: William H. Heyborne
- 2013: Jon Smith
- 2012: Peter Sham
- 2011: Genell Harris
- 2010: John R. Taylor
- 2009: Shobha Gurung
- 2008: Lisa Marie Assante
- 2007: Rick Lambson
- 2006: Steve Barney
- 2005: Seth Armstrong
- 2004: Stephen Roberds
- 2003: Helen Boswell
- 2002: Hussein Samha
- 2001: Kay Anderson & Robert Behunin
- 2000: William D. Lee & E. Lyman Munford
- 1998: Robert Behunin & Richard Dotson
- 1997: Tina Fredrick
- 1996: Kay Cook
- 1995: David Lee
- 1994: Michael P. Donovan
- 1993: Richard Dotson
- 1992: John Ault
- 1991: Nancy Glomb
- 1990: James Harrison
- 1987: L. Kim Jones
- 1986: James Vlasich
- 1985: Hal Campbell
- 1982: Dale Sampson
- 2020: Douglas Bennett
- 2019: Stephen Allen & Jamie Orton
- 2018: Hayden Coombs
- 2017: Parker Grimes & Ethan Kleinman
- 2016: Jason Ramirez
- 2015: Scott L. Wyatt
- 2014: Richard E. Kendell
- 2013: Steven D. Harrop
- 2012: Jared Wilcken
- 2011: Stuart Jones
- 2010: David Tanner
- 2009: Neuman Duncan
- 2008: Dean O'Driscoll
- 2007: Annette Murray
- 2006: Mindy Benson
- 2005: Dr. Neal Cox
- 2004: Rick Brown
- 2003: Dr. Abe Harraf
- 2002: Sterling R. Church
- 2001: Tom Douple
- 2000: Dr. Gregory L. Stauffer
- 1999: Michael D. Richards
- 1998: Craig Foreman
- 1997: Harold Hiskey
- 1996: Neuman Duncan
- 1995: Doris Williamson
- 1994: Stuart Jones
- 1993: Charlie Cooley
- 1992: Betty Kingsford
- 1991: Sterling R. Church
- 1990: Rep. Haze Hunter & Sen. Dixie Leavitt
- 1989: Douglas Baker & Michael Donovan
- 1988: D. Mark Barton
- 1987: William B. Bennett
- 1986: Ron Aden
- 1985: Larry Baker
- 1984: Dale Hatch
- 1983: Richard Dotson & Al Tait
- 1982: Dave Taylor