Faculty Awards

Outstanding Educator Award

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.

Distinguished Educators

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.

Distinguished Scholarly/Creative Activity

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.

Outstanding Educator for Diversity & Inclusion

This award celebrates outstanding individuals or groups that, engaging with other stakeholders and partners on campus, are working to increase and sustain diversity, inclusion, and equity at SUU.

Distinguished Faculty Service

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 staff make to our campus and to the professional community they are involved with, the university has established two new awards for staff:

Classified Staff Distinguished Service Award	Professional Staff Distinguished Service Award
Eligibility: Any classified staff 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 Staff Association Executive Board are not eligible to receive the award during their term of service. Criteria: Has taken advantage of available educational or training opportunities. Has made extraordinary contributions to the work and learning environment at SUU. Has given service to the university above and beyond the scope of their position.	Eligibility: Any professional staff 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 Staff Association Executive Board are not eligible to receive the award during their term of service. Criteria: 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.

Classified Staff Distinguished Service Award

Professional Staff Distinguished Service Award

Eligibility:

Any classified staff 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 Staff Association Executive Board are not eligible to receive the award during their term of service.

Criteria:

Has taken advantage of available educational or training opportunities.
Has made extraordinary contributions to the work and learning environment at SUU.
Has given service to the university above and beyond the scope of their position.

Eligibility:

Any professional staff 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 Staff Association Executive Board are not eligible to receive the award during their term of service.

Criteria:

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.

The recipients of these awards will be recognized at commencement, along with the Outstanding Staff Employees, and receive a cash award.

Distinguished Faculty for Global Engagement

This award recognizes one full-time faculty member for actively promoting cultural and global understanding; fostering empathy among people with different life experiences; and creating opportunities for students’ personal, academic, and professional enrichment in international contexts. The committee welcomes nominations from all SUU faculty, staff, and students.

Distinguished Faculty for Diversity and Inclusion

This individual supports the DEI Strategic Plan by creating and/or implementing curricula and research that address the contributions and impact of diverse voices and perspectives that are often overlooked in dominate culture focused classrooms, &(particularly underrepresented marginalized groups, women, disabled persons, and LGBTQ+).

University Department Award

The University Department Award is presented to one department, unit, or office on campus recognizing their outstanding contributions to the university and a commitment to the students of SUU.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The lifetime achievement award is given to a faculty or staff member who has excelled academically or professionally as well as demonstrated outstanding leadership ability and service to the institution during their career at SUU.

Board of Trustees Award of Excellence

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

Advisor of the Year

2020:Pam Branin
2019: Emily Forshee
2018: Brandon Street
2017: Donna Law
2016: Pam Branin
2015: Bill Heyborne
2014: Christopher Ralphs
2013: Eric Kirby
2012: Rita Osborn
2011: Brad Bishop
2010: Carl R Templin
2009: Rita Osborn
2008: Mark Baker
2007: Rita Osborn
2006: Matt Nickerson
2005: Pam Branin
2004: Helen Boswell
2003: Bonnie Mitchell Green
2002: Carmen Aldredge
2001: Greg Powell
2000: Noemi Moses
1999: Jean Reeve
1998: Cal Rollins
1997: Richard Wittwer
1996: Michael Donovan
1995: Judith Southworth
1994: David Nyman
1993: Nancy Glomb
1992: Monica Moe
1991: David Nyman/Doris Williamson
1990: Doris Williamson
1989: Robert Lauritzen
1988: Lynne Finton

Board of Trustees Award of Excellence

Dates	Staff	Faculty
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