Faculty Recognition

CAFE Oh Wow (COW) Awards
The CAFE Oh Wow (COW) Awards honor faculty who show excellence in teaching, research/creative activity, mentorship, supporting faculty, and more.
Excellence in Teaching
This award category recognizes faculty that are not just exceptional in their field, but in their teaching practices and supporting students. These faculty excel in mentoring students, advising, developing curriculum or learning resources, and are innovative in their teaching methods.
Read about the awardees below!
- 2025-26
- Ginger Blackmon - Innovation

Ginger Blackmon
Excellence in Teaching - Innovation: Recognizes the use of innovative techniques to enhance student outcomes and emphasizes sharing with colleagues to foster collaborative learning and improvement.
Dr. Blackmon is nominated for her pioneering integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within graduate-level educator preparation. Moving beyond the superficial use of this emerging technology, Dr. Blackmon has established a principled instructional and assessment framework that leverages AI to provide students with individualized, rubric-scored feedback. This workflow ensures that graduate candidates receive the specific, timely, and standards-aligned responses necessary for professional growth - a level of detailed mentorship that is traditionally difficult to sustain at scale.
What truly distinguishes Dr. Blackmon’s innovation is her sophisticated use of aggregated AI data to drive a "continuous improvement loop." By analyzing class-wide patterns of strengths and gaps identified by AI tools, she provides high-level cohort feedback and facilitates substantive revisions to course rubrics and assignment designs. This data-informed approach has led to a measurable tightening of alignment with National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) standards and institutional Course Curriculum Guides (CCGs). Through this model, Dr. Blackmon has successfully transformed AI-assisted assessment into a powerful engine for both individual student development and the ongoing refinement of the graduate program itself.
- Jennifer McKay - Student Engagement

Jennifer McKay
Excellence in Teaching - Student Engagement: Acknowledges exceptional efforts in engaging with students beyond the classroom to enhance their overall experience and contribute to the ĢƵ community
Professor McKay is nominated for her significant impact on student engagement through her partnership with the School of Nursing faculty, where she provides specialized support to both undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in informatics, research, and evidence-based practice course work. Professor McKay is recognized for her "student-first" philosophy, consistently carving out dedicated time for one-on-one consultations to guide students through the complexities of authentic research projects. This personalized investment ensures that students feel both supported and challenged as they navigate the intersection of data and healthcare.
Professor McKay’s influence extends far beyond the local classroom; she is an active leader in co-creating student-centered curricula alongside the School of Nursing faculty and has shared her innovative educational frameworks at international conferences. Furthermore, she serves as a vital guardian of information integrity. Her fierce advocacy for health information accessibility - particularly her swift action in identifying and providing alternative access to critical data removed from government websites—demonstrates a commitment to transparency and evidence-based practices. Students consistently describe her as an approachable expert, fostering an environment where curiosity is met with deep professional expertise. Her dedication to information stewardship and individualized student success makes her an invaluable asset to the University's teaching mission.
- Joy Chavez Mapaye - Community Engagement

Joy Chavez Mapaye
Excellence in Teaching - Community Engagement: Recognizes the meaningful inclusion and mentorship of students in community-engaged activities through curricular, co-curricular, or extracurricular initiatives. Community engagement fosters collaboration between higher education institutions and their broader communities, promoting the reciprocal exchange of knowledge and resources for mutual benefit.
Professor Joy Chavez Mapaye is nominated for her work that integrates community engagement into her teaching by connecting students with media organizations, public health experts, and community groups to address issues that matter to Alaskans. Through partnerships with organizations such as Alaska Public Media, she has helped create hands-on broadcast and storytelling opportunities where students gain real-world media experience while contributing to the state’s public information landscape.
Her teaching also demonstrates how journalism education can serve the broader public good. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she engaged students in efforts to counter misinformation by collaborating with public health experts and responding to questions circulating publicly online. She has also partnered with community organizations to help bring a Filipino American history curriculum into Anchorage schools, creating opportunities for students to engage with community history and cultural knowledge through applied learning.
- Shane Castle - Accessibility

Shane Castle
Excellence in Teaching - Accessibility: Recognizes a sustained and thoughtful commitment to accessibility in teaching. Through intentional course design and proactive use of accessible materials, this faculty member ensures that all students can fully engage, participate, and succeed in their courses.
Associate Professor Shane Castle is nominated for his transformative approach to accessibility, which he treats not as a compliance requirement, but as a "pedagogical imperative." He has redefined the boundaries of the classroom, most notably by establishing a ĢƵ writing program within the McLaughlin Youth Center. Despite significant institutional hurdles, he persisted in bringing university-level instruction to incarcerated youth, resulting in at least three students enrolling at ĢƵ post-release. His innovative "accessibility in action" includes the "We Are Who We Are" project, a hybrid art and poetry initiative, and the facilitation of a student-led publication where participants "sold" their rights for a pizza delivery, a feat of coordination within a high-security environment.
Beyond the correctional facility, Associate Professor Castle has led structural shifts in accessibility at ĢƵ by pioneering labor-based grading contracts. By removing the "hidden curriculum" of traditional grading and focusing on iterative growth and student effort, he has significantly lowered barriers for Alaska Native and other historically marginalized students. His classroom is a space of high engagement, utilizing gamification strategies like "Zombie" role-playing and "Universal Paperclips" simulations to spark investment. From delivering a truckload of books to the Anvil Mountain Correctional Facility library to chairing the Writing Department’s Antiracism Committee, Associate Professor Castle’s career is a masterclass in expanding who has access to higher education and ensuring they have the support to thrive once they arrive.
- Mark Fitch - Innovative Student Assessment

Mark Fitch
Excellence in Teaching - Innovative Student Assessment: Recognizes exemplary faculty who advance student learning through innovative assessment practices that move beyond traditional examinations. This teaching emphasizes intentional design and implementation of outcome-aligned assessments that authentically measure student learning while promoting deep engagement, timely and meaningful feedback, and supportive learning environments.
Professor Mark Fitch is receiving this award for his sustained efforts in advancing student learning through the intentional design and implementation of Standards-Based Grading (SBG). Moving beyond traditional, high-stakes examinations, Professor Fitch has reimagined assessment as a continuous dialogue between instructor and student. His model explicitly labels every lesson and assessment with specific competencies, such as "identify properties of a poset" or "calculate derivatives," providing students with a transparent roadmap of expected outcomes. This granular approach replaces vague letter grades with detailed, actionable feedback, clearly communicating what a student has mastered and precisely where further growth is required.
Central to Professor Fitch’s innovation is the move away from "one-and-done" testing in favor of sustained mastery. By providing at least three distinct opportunities for students to demonstrate proficiency in each standard, he incentivizes persistence and deep engagement with difficult material. This "students-first" methodology has yielded transformative results: 100% of his students now engage in re-attempting material on later assessments, with many successfully demonstrating understanding upon those re-attempts. Notably, this flexible, evidence-based assessment model provides an outsized benefit to students with disabilities, dismantling the barriers of traditional timed testing and creating a truly supportive learning environment where the ultimate goal is the mastery of the content.
- Ginger Blackmon - Innovation
- 2024-25
- Stasia Straley - Innovation

Stasia Straley
Excellence in Teaching - Innovation: Recognizes the use of innovative techniques to enhance student outcomes and emphasizes sharing with colleagues to foster collaborative learning and improvement.
Stasia Straley is a Professor of Accounting and Finance. Her approach to instruction is deeply rooted in student-centered learning, collaboration, and accessibility - qualities that all make her a truly innovative instructor at ĢƵ. She includes hands-on projects in each course she teaches, whether they are introductory or upper level courses, and uses choice-based learning so students can choose projects based on their interests.
She consistently seeks student feedback to adapt and refine her courses, ensuring they remain relevant, engaging, and effective. This has significantly increased student motivation and learning outcomes. She even reaches out to all online students personally via phone calls at the start of the semester and before exams to make sure they are supported.
Stasia embodies the spirit of teaching innovation through her unwavering commitment to student engagement, collaboration, and success. She is a pioneer in her department, her college, and ĢƵ who fosters a sense of community, motivation, and real-world application of accounting principles.
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Steve Godfrey - Student Engagement

Steve Godfrey
Excellence in Teaching - Student Engagement: Acknowledges exceptional efforts in engaging with students beyond the classroom to enhance their overall experience and contribute to the ĢƵ community.
Steve Godfrey is a Professor of Art who has been teaching at ĢƵ for over 25 years. He has inspired countless students to pursue Ceramic Art. He provides professional development to his students through the Claybody Club - giving them an outlet to participate in pottery sales and exhibitions that teach them how they can make a living creating their art. These pottery sales also have fostered community building through raising funds for multiple Alaskan organizations. His relationship-building with professional ceramics studios has even created a scholarship for ĢƵ students to visit these studios in the Lower 48. The Claybody Club also hosts visiting artist workshops that help his students learn from successful artists in the community and build relationships with them.
Steve’s dedication to his students moves much beyond the classroom, and the number of success stories from his students is a testament to his excellence in student engagement.
- Nathan Berry - Community Engagement

Nathan Berry
Excellence in Teaching - Community Engagement: Recognizes the meaningful inclusion and mentorship of students in community-engaged activities through curricular, co-curricular, or extracurricular initiatives. Community engagement fosters collaboration between higher education institutions and their broader communities, promoting the reciprocal exchange of knowledge and resources for mutual benefit.
Nathan Berry is an Assistant Professor of Diesel Power Technology. His networking and community engagement efforts resulted in scholarships and donations that greatly help the student learning experience, including a $25,000 scholarship from Lynden Transportation Corporation. He’s also worked with community partners to secure equipment donations to the department, providing students with hands-on training opportunities that are critical to their success in the field.
He organized and grew the ĢƵ Automotive and Diesel Technology Expo into a cornerstone for industry engagement, student success, and community collaboration. His ability to inspire and motivate those around him has created a renewed sense of purpose within the industry, bringing together students, educators, and professionals to celebrate and advance the field of transportation technology.
His collaboration with community partners has strengthened the industry's trust and investment in ĢƵ, and is a great embodiment of incorporating community engagement into teaching.
- Raghu Srinivasan - Research and Creative Scholarship

Raghu Srinivasan
Excellence in Teaching - Research and Creative Scholarship: Recognizes the mentorship and inclusion of students in academic inquiry, including research and creative scholarship. Undergraduate and graduate research, along with creative scholarship, are high-impact learning experiences that deepen students' engagement with inquiry, creativity, experimentation, analysis, persistence, dissemination, and discourse across all disciplines.
Dr. Raghu Srinivasan is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering (ME) who frequently involves students in research and is a particularly talented coach and mentor. One of his Spring 2018 capstone design teams won the 2018 ĢƵ Senior Design INNOVATE Award and the NACE 2019 Materials Performance (MP) Corrosion Innovation of the Year Award. He also employs students as researchers through NASA EPSCoR, Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Alaska Space Grant Program, and also industry projects through Rivian Automobile Inc., and Harvest Alaska. One of his advisees won the Alaska Space Grant Graduate Fellowship and the poster award in Graduate Student category for the ĢƵ 2021 Student Research & Creative Scholarship Showcase.
His involvement in fostering student research and the success of his students showcases his excellence and dedication to student research and involving students in research projects.
- Sharon Lind - Global and Multicultural Studies

Sharon Lind
Global and Multicultural Studies: Recognizes the mentorship and inclusion of students in global and multicultural studies through curricular, co-curricular, or extracurricular activities. Teaching in this area encourages students to reflect on and engage with global interdependencies between themselves, others, and their communities.
Dr. Sharon Lind is an Assistant Professor of Management, Marketing, Logistics, and Business Analytics, and she has shown exceptional leadership in integrating Alaska Native perspectives into business education, creating meaningful learning opportunities for students, and fostering connections between academia and industry.
She was essential to creating Alaska Native curriculum in the College of Business and Public Policy (CBPP) – leading to creating the Occupational Endorsement Certificate (OEC) in Alaska Native Business Management. In her courses, she brings industry leaders to the classroom to learn from them directly and open doors for internships and jobs. She also organizes annual Alaska Native business events at CBPP, further strengthening the ties between industry and ĢƵ.
Her education to all students about Alaska Native businesses and perspectives, both inside and outside of her classes, shows her commitment to global and multicultural studies.
- Kimberly Pace - Leadership
Excellence in Teaching - Leadership: Recognizes the mentorship and inclusion of students in leadership development through curricular, co-curricular, or extracurricular activities. Teaching leadership involves fostering vision, collaboration, and teamwork to achieve shared goals.Kimberly Pace is an Assistant Professor of Political Science who has served as a faculty model for including leadership in the classroom, championing curriculum at ĢƵ essential for students to be represented, and leading co-curriculum opportunities which help students develop leadership skills. Kimberly served as the Chair of Women’s and Gender Studies from 2005-2024 and is the Internship Coordinator for both Political Science and Women's and Gender Studies. She has served on the Faculty Senate since 2018 and on the Honors Academic Board (Leadership) since 2021. Incredibly, Kimberly has been the Faculty Director for Model United Nations since 2003 which included a pivot to online during COVID-19.
- Stasia Straley - Innovation
- 2023-24
- Herminia Din

Herminia Din
Excellence in Teaching: This award was introduced in 2024 to recognize faculty that are not just exceptional in their field, but in their teaching practices and in supporting students. These faculty excel in mentoring students, advising, developing curriculum or learning resources, and are innovative in their teaching methods.
is a Professor of Art and Art Education and has proven her teaching excellence to her peers for the past 21 years, 15 of them as the chair of the Bachelor of Fine Arts program. Her teaching gives students hands-on experiences that address diversity and global significance. She's used online exhibitions to create opportunities for students to approach themes of and . She initiated the that would become Winterfest at ĢƵ, for which she received the ĢƵ Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Sustainability in 2013 and 2019. She also partners with the community on fine arts curriculum and held professional development courses for Anchorage School District art teachers. Notably, all of Dr. Din's undergraduate teaching research projects have centered around critical issues such as and the innovative initiatives that are rooted in community participation. She has an unwavering commitment to supporting both her students and colleagues. Her incorporation of high-impact practices, community engagement, research/creative activity, and innovative solutions to arising challenges are just a few of the reasons why she is receiving this much-earned reward.
- Grace Leu-Burke

Grace Leu-Burke
Excellence in Teaching: This award was introduced in 2024 to recognize faculty that are not just exceptional in their field, but in their teaching practices and in supporting students. These faculty excel in mentoring students, advising, developing curriculum or learning resources, and are innovative in their teaching methods.
Grace Leu-Burke is an Associate Professor in the School of Allied Health and Program Director of the Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Department. Grace has embedded student research into the MLT/MLS program, allowing all students to gain vital real world research experience that has been recognized nationally and internationally. Leu-Burke and her students have presented at the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science Annual meeting and the American Society for Microbiology. She also uses in her course by using existing resources and also creating her own, showcasing her relentless dedication to students. Grace's tireless efforts in support of the MLT/MLS program and her student's learning make her a worthy candidate for this award.
- Alexa Filanowicz

Alexa Filanowicz
Excellence in Teaching: This award was introduced in 2024 to recognize faculty that are not just exceptional in their field, but in their teaching practices and in supporting students. These faculty excel in mentoring students, advising, developing curriculum or learning resources, and are innovative in their teaching methods.
Alexa Filanowicz is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work. She is a leader in creatively integrating simulation into the social work curriculum, creating an engaging online Zoom simulation for the entirely-remote Masters of Social Work program. She has partnered with the ĢƵ Interprofessional Health Sciences Simulation Center to develop standardized patients for social work simulations. She is very committed to interprofessional education through simulation, and she has helped organize several interprofessional simulations, including a Peer-Centered Crisis Response Simulation. Her creative responses to arising challenges in her department and in online learning show her to be deserving of this award.
- Herminia Din
Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarship
This award category recognize faculty doing research and creative scholarship in innovative ways, raise public awareness of research and creative scholarship, and involve community members in mutually beneficial collaborative research projects.
Read about the awardees below!
- 2025-26
- Brandon Briggs - Impact

Brandon Briggs
Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarship - Impact: Acknowledges a faculty member's exceptional impact in their field, discipline, or community through outstanding contributions to academic inquiry, research, and creative scholarship.
Dr. Briggs is nominated for his distinguished contributions to environmental microbiology and his leadership in understanding microbial life within extreme Arctic and subarctic systems. By expertly integrating microbial ecology, molecular biology, and biogeochemistry, Dr. Briggs’ research provides critical insights into environmental remediation, biotechnological applications, and climate-driven ecosystem shifts. His work is characterized by a "northern-focused" lens, addressing ecological questions that are directly relevant to Alaska’s rapidly changing landscapes. This research not only advances the global scientific community’s understanding of extreme environments but also significantly elevates the international visibility of the ĢƵ through high-level collaborative networks.
Beyond his technical achievements, Dr. Briggs’ impact is felt through his profound commitment to student development. He transcends traditional instruction by integrating students directly into active scientific investigations, providing them with the hands-on research experiences necessary for professional independence. By fostering an environment of scientific rigor and personal growth, he ensures that the next generation of researchers is equipped to address the complex environmental challenges facing the North. Dr. Briggs’ career represents a synergy of cutting-edge academic inquiry and a steadfast dedication to the regional and educational mission of the University.
- Brett Watson - Making Research and Creative Scholarship Visible

Brett Watson
Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarship - Making Research and Creative Scholarship Visible: Recognizes a faculty member who has not only been productive in research and creative scholarship but has also actively shared their work with broader communities.
Dr. Brett Watson is nominated for his exceptional leadership in bridging the gap between high-level economic analysis and state-level policy. This year, in direct response to a critical inquiry from the Alaska State Government, Dr. Watson led a team of economists from the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of various state tax policies. His role was not merely analytical; it was deeply communicative.
Dr. Watson demonstrated a rare ability to make complex research accessible and actionable by meeting directly with Governor Dunleavy to discuss the findings and delivering a highly successful presentation to the Alaska State Legislature. By translating rigorous data into a format that informs the state’s fiscal future, Dr. Watson has elevated the University’s reputation as a vital resource for public service. His work exemplifies the core mission of this award: ensuring that academic scholarship does not remain siloed, but instead serves as a transparent and visible catalyst for informed governance in Alaska.
- Deborah Boege-Tobin - Community Engagement

Deborah Boege-Tobin
Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarship - Community Engagement: This recognizes exceptional research and creative scholarship which exhibits collaboration between faculty and their broader communities, facilitating the reciprocal exchange of knowledge and resources for mutual benefit.
Professor Deborah Boege Tobin is nominated for her community-engaged research that brings together students, scientists, and local partners to better understand human impacts on marine ecosystems in coastal Alaska. Through collaborations with organizations such as the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, NOAA Fisheries, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, her research examines marine mammal behavior and habitat use in places like the Kenai River and Kachemak Bay.
Her work integrates community concerns, agency expertise, and student-led field research to generate data that can inform conservation and coastal development decisions. Students participate in wildlife monitoring, environmental DNA sampling, drone-based habitat mapping, and behavioral observations while working directly with community partners. By collaborating with numerous stakeholders to conduct rigorous research, Dr. Tobin’s work strengthens local stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems, all the while preparing students to contribute to applied environmental science and conservation efforts.
- Brandon Briggs - Impact
- 2024-25
- Lance Howe - Impact

Lance Howe
Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarship - Impact: Acknowledges a faculty member's exceptional impact in their field, discipline, or community through outstanding contributions to academic inquiry, research, and creative scholarship.
Dr. Lance Howe is a Professor of Economics whose work has significantly advanced academic inquiry and community engagement that informs public policy and supports community resilience in Alaska. His journal articles and book chapters explored crucial topics such as climate-driven migration, legal barriers for Alaska Native tribes facing climate impacts, and risk assessment in commercial fisheries during the COVID-19 pandemic. He facilitates knowledge-sharing between researchers and local stakeholders through the Salmon Harvests in Arctic Communities: Local Institutions, Risk, and Resilience. He also contributed to securing a 3 million dollar research grant through the National Science Foundation for POLARIS: Pursuing Opportunities for Long-term Arctic Resilience for Infrastructure and Society in Alaska.
Howe’s expertise in economic behavior, migration patterns, and community resilience informs decision-making at various governmental and organizational levels. The impact his research has made to the Alaska community is undeniable.
- Amy Bishop - Making Research and Creative Scholarship Visible

Amy Bishop
Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarship - Making Research and Creative Scholarship Visible: Recognizes a faculty member who has not only been productive in research and creative scholarship but has also actively shared their work with broader communities.
Amy Bishop, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, has made ĢƵ research and creative scholarship visible in our community through public talks, media appearances, and community outreach efforts.
Her research in marine ecology, conservation biology, and environmental toxicology has been funded by over one million dollars in grants. This research informs policy discussions through her role on the Scientific and Statistical Committee for the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council. She communicates research through National Park Service sessions, educational videos on YouTube, the 60N science blog, and speaking engagements. She fosters the next generation of scientists too; her graduate and undergraduate students have presented at international conferences. This has made her ĢƵ research visible and impactful throughout Alaska and beyond.
- Amana Mbise - Community Engagement

Amana Mbise
Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarship - Community Engagement: This recognizes exceptional research and creative scholarship which exhibits collaboration between faculty and their broader communities, facilitating the reciprocal exchange of knowledge and resources for mutual benefit.
Dr. Amana Mbise, Assistant Professor of Social Work, has incorporated community engagement into his research that amplifies the voices of Black people in Alaska. Through his role as chair of the health committee for the Alaska Black Caucus (ABC), he has been able to collaborate with ABC to identify the health needs of Black Alaskans and address health disparities. He has published his work in research journals and includes community stakeholders as co-authors, embodying the spirit of community engagement in research and creative scholarship.
- Lance Howe - Impact
Promoting Success of Fellow Faculty Award
The Promoting Success of Fellow Faculty award category was introduced in 2024 to recognize faculty who go above and beyond in supporting other faculty at ĢƵ through mentorship, promoting faculty career development, assisting with promotion and tenure (P&T), and supporting faculty wellness and faculty experience.
Read about the awardees below!
- 2025-26
- Marisa Bune - Mentorship

Marisa Bune
Excellence in Promoting the Success of Faculty - Mentorship: Recognizing faculty who work closely with other faculty in a mutually beneficial relationship which helps each develop their careers, improve, and build a sense of community. This can be either structured or informal in nature.
Dr. Marisa Bune is nominated for her exceptional impact on the professional development and communal health of the School of Nursing. Since joining ĢƵ in 2023, Dr. Bune has utilized her extensive leadership experience in both academia and clinical practice to bring vital stability to the Baccalaureate program. As Program Chair, she has moved beyond administrative oversight to become a cornerstone of faculty mentorship, creating a "safe and supportive environment" where colleagues can seek honest counsel. She is renowned for the hours she spends getting to know individual faculty members, recognizing their unique expertise, and leading the formal mentorship program for new faculty to ensure their long-term success.
Dr. Bune’s mentorship is defined by visible modeling and "scholarly perseverance." While maintaining her leadership load and mentoring Alaska’s future nurse leaders in the student leadership course, she completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in 2025 with grace and fortitude. Her leadership is deeply respected by the Alaska nursing community; she has seamlessly translated her reputation for advocating for nurses in the clinical field into a fierce advocacy for her colleagues at ĢƵ. Despite possessing a skill set that commands a much higher premium in the private sector, Dr. Bune’s choice to invest her talents in ĢƵ has fostered an empowered environment where faculty feel seen, valued, and prepared to grow.
- Susan Meskis - Building Community

Susan Meskis
Excellence in Promoting the Success of Faculty - Building Community: This recognizes faculty who actively champion and take initiative in building and strengthening the faculty community at ĢƵ.
Dr. Susan Meskis is nominated for her exceptional leadership and proactive commitment to strengthening the faculty community at ĢƵ. As the Chair of the Honors Academic Board (HAB), Dr. Meskis has distinguished herself as a "community builder" who fosters an environment of mutual support and professional growth. In her inaugural year as Chair, she has modeled a democratic leadership style characterized by grace and inclusivity, ensuring that every board member feels their voice is valued. Her presence is described as consistently positive and energizing, transforming administrative functions into opportunities for meaningful connection.
Central to Dr. Meskis’s impact is her dedicated mentorship of new faculty board members. She goes beyond the technical requirements of the role, taking the time to provide peer-to-peer guidance, "time-saving tips," and strategic advice on how to authentically engage with the Honors student body. While her work with students as a faculty mentor is exemplary, guiding undeclared students toward their academic tracks, it is her intentional investment in her colleagues that sets her apart. By navigating transitions with transparency and providing a welcoming space for both veteran and incoming faculty, Dr. Meskis has become a vital champion for a cohesive and empowered academic community.
- Kathleen Nevis - Leadership and Advocacy

Kathleen Nevis
Excellence in Promoting the Success of Faculty - Leadership and Advocacy: This recognizes faculty who demonstrate leadership, whether formally or informally, to drive change or advocate for important causes.
Dr. Kathleen Nevis is nominated for her tireless advocacy and sustained leadership at Mat-Su College. Dr. Nevis serves as a critical pillar of the institution, consistently stepping into essential roles, including her long-standing, dedicated service as Chair of the Faculty Forum. In this capacity, she has been a fierce advocate for ensuring faculty voices are integrated into college-level decision-making, fostering a culture of transparency and mutual respect.
Dr. Nevis’s advocacy extends into specialized program support and mentorship. She was instrumental in the successful launch of the Veterinary Technology program, providing the systemic knowledge and administrative "heavy lifting" necessary to get the program off the ground. Beyond logistics, she is a dedicated mentor to junior and adjunct faculty, generously sharing resources and creating strategic pathways for professional growth. By consistently volunteering for leadership roles that others might overlook, Dr. Nevis has significantly bolstered faculty morale and development. Her work ensures a closely knit, collegial environment that directly supports the university’s mission: providing a supported, engaged faculty that is better equipped to mentor and teach our students.
- Marisa Bune - Mentorship
- 2024-25
- Sharyl Toscano - Mentorship

Sharyl Toscano
Excellence in Promoting the Success of Fellow Faculty - Mentorship: Recognizing faculty who work closely with other faculty in a mutually beneficial relationship which helps each develop their careers, improve, and build a sense of community. This can be either structured or informal in nature.
Dr. Sharyl Toscano, Professor of Nursing, is an extraordinary mentor to faculty in the School of Nursing whose contributions have helped many of her colleagues succeed. She helps junior faculty navigate and understand their new roles as faculty, offering advice with grading, rubrics, evidence-based teaching methods, research, and the promotion and tenure process. She also encourages her mentees to seek leadership positions and grow as faculty at ĢƵ.
As a member of Faculty Senate, colleagues regularly seek her guidance because she offers thought-provoking insights that facilitate important conversations. Her contributions have influenced policies and programs that benefit faculty from all disciplines. Her mentorship through her various roles at ĢƵ has built a community in nursing that fosters well-being with her fellow nursing faculty and the ĢƵ faculty community at large.
- Jacqueline Cason - Building Community

Jacqueline Cason
Excellence in Promoting the Success of Fellow Faculty - Building Community: This recognizes faculty who actively champion and take initiative in building and strengthening the faculty community at ĢƵ.Dr. Jackie Cason is a Professor of Writing who has demonstrated leadership, mentorship, and a commitment to strengthening the faculty community at ĢƵ through her roles as Faculty Senate President, the former Chair of Writing, and as a faculty member. Dr. Cason has consistently worked to build a strong sense of community among faculty. She has encouraged term faculty to embrace leadership roles, such as chairing committees, and has been instrumental in helping many to discover and lean into their unique strengths. Her advocacy has resulted in a more dynamic, engaged, and resilient University where every voice is heard and every contribution is valued.
- Stephanie Bauer - Leadership and Advocacy

Stephanie Bauer
Excellence in Promoting the Success of Fellow Faculty -Leadership and Advocacy: This recognizes faculty who demonstrate leadership, whether formally or informally, to drive change or advocate for important causes.
Dr. Stephanie Bauer is an Associate Professor of Philosophy who has shown leadership in her department for faculty and students alike. As Chairperson of the Philosophy Department, Stephanie has led with distinction in bringing about high value programmatic and curricula changes. She constantly reaches out to other units across ĢƵ, including Nursing, Engineering and Applied Health, to find novel ways to advance student success, quality, relevant instruction. She has done impactful work to enhance the visibility of the Philosophy Department and the Ethics Center by emphasizing the significance of a liberal arts education and interdisciplinarity and conscientious deliberation at ĢƵ, as part of its mission as a “Public Square” for the wider community. Her capacity to harness positive intent in students and faculty and her infectious commitment to elevating the best in others demonstrates the qualities of leadership and advocacy.
- Sharyl Toscano - Mentorship
- 2023-24
- Douglass Bourne

Douglass Bourne
Promoting Success of Fellow Faculty Award: Recognizes faculty who go above and beyond in supporting other faculty at ĢƵ through mentorship, promoting faculty career development, assisting with promotion and tenure (P&T), and supporting faculty wellness and faculty experience.
Douglass Bourne is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Writing who plays a critical role in promoting P&T with fellow faculty and continues to work toward improving processes around P&T that will have a lasting impact on faculty success at ĢƵ.
- Debra Crawford

Debra Crawford
Promoting Success of Fellow Faculty Award: Recognizes faculty who go above and beyond in supporting other faculty at ĢƵ through mentorship, promoting faculty career development, assisting with promotion and tenure (P&T), and supporting faculty wellness and faculty experience.
Debra Crawford is a Math Instructor in the Department of Quantitative Studies who proactively helps her fellow faculty understand course technologies, offers advice and resources, talks with faculty about pedagogy, finds solutions to difficult situations, and regularly mentors faculty. Despite being term faculty, she has been around for a long time and is the go-to adjunct coordinator in her department. People gravitate to her for help because she will go out of her way to help colleagues come up with solutions together.
- Melissa Chlupach

Melissa Chlupach
Promoting Success of Fellow Faculty Award: Recognizes faculty who go above and beyond in supporting other faculty at ĢƵ through mentorship, promoting faculty career development, assisting with promotion and tenure (P&T), and supporting faculty wellness and faculty experience.
Melissa Chlupach is an Assistant Professor with the Dietetics and Nutrition Program. She voluntarily steps up in welcoming new faculty and regularly checks in on them, helping them succeed in their new role at the university. She goes above and beyond to provide a welcoming and supportive environment, and that extra support for new and junior faculty is essential for their longevity at ĢƵ, and it shows her dedication to the success of ĢƵ faculty and students.
- Douglass Bourne
Faculty Development
These faculty made outstanding contributions to faculty development at ĢƵ!
- 2024-25
These faculty received a COW award for their outstanding efforts in facilitating either a Community of Practice or Faculty Interest Group:
- Andrew Harnish, Assistant Professor of Writing, fellow at the 2024-2025 AAC&U Institute of AI, Pedagogy and the Curriculum for leading the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Community of Practice
- Jennifer McClung, Instructor of Writing, for leading Contemplative Practices Community of Practice
- Stasia Straley, Professor of Accounting and Finance, for leading the faculty interest group: CAFE Power Hour
- Corrie Whitmore, Associate Professor of Health Sciences, for leading the faculty interest group: Designing your New Work Life
- 2021-22
These faculty received a COW Award for Outstanding Efforts to Faculty Development:
Jill Flanders-Crosby, Jen McClung, Vanessa Meade, Katie Walker
These faculty received a Faculty Development Learning Award for contributions to faculty learning communities:
Ginger Blackmon, Sara Buckingham, Sara Caldwell-Kan, Sandra Ehrlich Mathiesen, Mary Jo Finney, Ian Hartman, Jen McClung, Brad Myrstol, Travis Rector, Stasia Straley, Chris Stuive
- 2020-21
These faculty received a COW Award for Outstanding Efforts to Faculty Development:
Amber Christensen Fullmer, Britteny Howell, Corrie Whitmore
These faculty received a Faculty Development Learning Award for contributions to faculty learning communities:
Sharon Chamard, Sandra Ehrlich Mathiesen, Micah Hahn, Ian Hartman, Jen McClung, Vanessa Meade, LuAnn Piccard, Travis Rector, Stasia Straley
- 2019-20
These faculty and units received a COW Award for Outstanding Efforts to Faculty Development:
Agatha John-Shields ,The Dean of Students Office, Nancy Nix, Travis Rector
- 2018-19
These faculty received a COW Award for Outstanding Efforts to Faculty Development:
Andre Thorn, Devin Feighan, Chancellor Sandeen, Dr. Corrie Whitmore, Stasia Straley, Paul Wasko, Marian Bruce, Shamai Thacker, Frances Basketfield, Eric Baldwin, Kat Milligan-Myrhe, Jennifer Stone
- 2017-18
These faculty and units received a COW Award for Outstanding Efforts to Faculty Development:
ĢƵ/APU Consortium Library team, Open Education Resources early adopters (Vara Allen-Jones, Erin Hicks, Nate Hicks, Nelta Edwards, Veronica Howard, Joy Mapaye, Katelyn Leary, Jampes Pantaleone, Doug Parry, Katherine Rawlins, Travis Rector, Edward Remick, Janelle Sikorsi, Marcia Stratton, Riva Symko), Debbi Canavan, Kendra Sticka
- 2016-17
These faculty received a COW Award for Outstanding Efforts to Faculty Development:
Ray Ball, Veronica Howard, Kathy Kelsey
- 2015-16
These faculty received a COW Award for Outstanding Efforts to Faculty Development:
Sandra Ehrlich-Mathiesen, Bruno Kappes, Eric Baldwin
- 2014-15
These faculty and units received a COW Award for Outstanding Efforts to Faculty Development:
The Center for Community Engagement and Learning (CCEL), Lora Volden and the Office of the Registrar, Jennifer Stone
- 2013-14
These faculty received a COW Award for Outstanding Efforts to Faculty Development:
Patty Linton, Steve Johnson Katie Walker
- 2012-13
These faculty received a COW Award for Outstanding Efforts to Faculty Development:
John Dede, Shawnalee Whitney, Deborah Periman, Heather Caldwell, Heather Nash
- 2011-12
These faculty received a COW Award for Outstanding Efforts to Faculty Development:
Lee Henrikson, Luke Weld, Trish Jenkins, Jackie Cason
- 2010-11
These faculty and groups received a COW Award for Outstanding Efforts to Faculty Development:
Trish Grega, Mike Driscoll, Math 105 Student Success Initiative
CAFE Engaged Faculty
CAFE Engaged Faculty are faculty who are regular participants in CAFE programs throughout the year, attending 10 or more programs. Thank you for attending and developing your teaching practice through our events!
- 2024-25
These faculty received a COW Award for attending 10 or more CAFE programs:
DeAnne Ruiz, Sayed Ali Reza Ahmadi, Laura Leonard, Sarah Beam, Jess McLaughlin, Nicolas Harrichhausen, Ariel Taivalkoski, Jennifer Colton-Jones, Christopher Song, Mallory Anctil, Jennie Weber, Pierce Bateman, Becky Brown-Watson, Ariane Skaw, Anastasiia Iun, Donna Langley, Page Brannon, Nataliia Gusak, Alisa Konishi-Therkildsen, Katherine Sinclair, Chelsea Sohm, Danielle Keller, Gregory Hartley, Jodi Jacques, Michelle Mishaan, Brock Tucker, Ce Ce Brenner, Jennifer Bernard, Lukas Doherty, Zachary Redman, Alicia Holmgren, Angela Gover, Claudia Cannatelli, Katie Shull, Douglass Bourne, Sarah Kirk
- 2023-24
These faculty received a COW Award for attending 10 or more CAFE programs:
Kristin Riall, Luke Doherty, Michelle Mishaan, Gerad Smith, Jodi Jacques, Megan Bennett, Katja Perat, Pradeeban Kathiravelu, Taylor Keister, Larissa Todd, Buffie Cubit, Danny Elmore, Kimberly Pace, James Peniston, Skyler Kern, Jenna Baldiviez, Michelle Moar, Emily Faerber, Shane Schaar, Sharyl Toscano, Joseph Warren, Stacy Gordon, Ryan Harrod, Becky Butler, Steffi Kim, Eric Croft, Holly Coffey, Keri Baker, Yeqing Yuan, Jennifer Bernard, Jenny Campbell, Laura Stoddard, Page Brannon, Christina Pearson, Paola Banchero, Amy Turnbull, Samantha Merritt, Morgan Erisman, Martin Case, Matthew Prnka, Dacia Davis, Kaori Shimizu, Andreas Veh, Zhi Tao, Amy Bishop, Morgan Brissette, Carri Shamburger, Sarah Kirk
- 2022-23
These faculty received a COW Award for attending 10 or more CAFE programs:
Jennifer Peeks, Cameron Young, Mikki Easely, Christina Paxman, Amy Bishop, Nina Ketelsen, Amy Doogan, Page Brannon, Jen Schmidt, Cammie Hsu, Corrie Whitmore, Toby Widdicombe
- 2021-22
These faculty received a COW Award for attending 10 or more CAFE programs:
Claudia Cannatelli, Matthew Cuellar, Michelle Drucker-Williams, Hannah Ekstrom, Ruby Fried, Seta Kabranian-Melkonian, Jacelyn Keys, Christopher Lake, Eric Oba, Sharyl Toscano, Corrie Whitmore, Jennifer Bernard, Andrew Harnish, Florence Kassly, Grace Leu Burke, Judith Montalbano, Julie Morrell, Vicky Tao
- 2020-21
These faculty received a COW Award for attending 10 or more CAFE programs:
Page Brannon, DeAnne Ruiz, Paola Banchero, David Brock, Michele Burdette-Taylor, Lucy Daniels, Carolyn Fautanu, Rachael Hannah, Ashley Mattson, Susan Meskis, Terry Nelson, Sassa Peterson, Laura Schroder, Carri Shamburger, Donita Slawson, Kristin Stoepler, Michael Swalling, Sharyl Toscano, Corrie Whitmore, Toby Widdicombe
CAFE presenters
Thank you to all the presenters who shared their insight and experience to other ĢƵ faculty! If you have an idea for a future program or a presenter who should lead a session, email uaa_cafe@alaska.edu.
- 2024-25Arlene Schmuland, Aaron Dotson, Alex Holland, Andrew Harnish, Amy Bishop, Anne Lazenby, Andria Cross, Brandon Briggs, Ben Morton, Colin McGill, Christine Couturier, Corrie Whitmore, Douglass Bourne, Debbie Craig, Dan Norton, Denise Runge, Libby Roderick, Eric Murphy, Gwen Higgins, Helena Wisniewski, Jenny Poon, Julie Ann Wrigley, Jenna Creech, Jackie Cason, Jen McClung, Jennifer Booz, Jeff Meyers, Jessica Knight, Kim Frost, Kathryn Schild, Kate Larson, Kenrick Mock, Kimberly Pace, Kristin Stoepler, Katie Walker, Lisa Schwarzburg, Lindsey Chadwell, Mary Dallas Allen, Matthew Calhoun, Matthew Cuellar, Mary Jo Finney, Marian Bruce, Michael Votava, Michele Yatchmeneff, Natasa Masanovic Courtney, Page Brannon, Ray Ball, Ryan Harrod, Ray Garcelon, Rodger Lewerenz, Ruby Fried, Rei Shimizu, Ruth Terry, Ray Weber, Sara Buckingham, Stasia Straley, Steve Rollins, Sara Caldwell-Kan, Susan Kalina, Tonia Dousay, Tracey Burke, Valerie Krozel, Zachary Redman
- 2023-24Ray Ball, Paola Banchero, Anna Bjartmarsdottir, Jennifer Booz, Douglass Bourne, Page Brannon, Jennifer Brock, Tracey Burke, Shane Castle, Lindsey Chadwell, Sara Childress, Andria Cross, Matthew Cuellar, Liz Dennison, Aaron Dotson, Sandra Ehrlich, Mary Jo Finney, Kim Frost, Ray Garcelon, Trevor Gillespie, Rachel Graham, Andrew Harnish, Britteny Howell, Melanie Hulbert, Jodi Jacques, Carrie King, Nick Kramer, Anne Lazenby, Jen McClung, Vanessa Meade, Ben Morton, Eric Murphy, Cameron Nay, Kristen Ogilvie, Megan Ossiander-Gobeille, Kimberly Pace, Tara Palmer, LuAnn Piccard, Travis Rector, Libby Roderick, Stephen Rollins, Kathryn Schild, Simone Staley, Benjamin Stevens, Stasia Straley, Michael Votava, Katie Walker, Paul Wasko, Shawnalee Whitney, Deanne Woodard, Michele Yatchmeneff, Angelia Trujillo, Sunny Mall, Brandon Briggs, Cindy Trussell, Colin McGill, Deborah Mole, Provost Denise Runge, Erik Carlson, Jennifer McKay, Julie Wrigley, Jenna Amber, Joseph Bruner, Jackie Cason, Mark Fitch, Nina Ketelsen, Pradeeban Kathiravelu, Steven Johnson, Tonia Dousay, Taylor Keister, Yasuhiro Ozuru
University of Alaska President’s Adjunct Faculty Award
This award recognizes adjunct faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in teaching. The University, at its sole discretion, may confer upon a bargaining unit member the title of University of Alaska President’s Adjunct Faculty. Upon conferral of the title, the bargaining unit member will receive a lump-sum of $1,500.
Eligibility
All ĢƵ adjunct faculty members are eligible as long as they have taught a minimum of one credit in the semester they will receive the award. Adjunct faculty members who have received the award within the previous three years are ineligible.
Nominations
An adjunct faculty may be nominated by any University faculty member, adjunct faculty, staff, or student. Nominations should include a letter of nomination and a bio/CV of the adjunct faculty. Additionally, it may include the following:
- Letters of support from the dean, department chair, program lead, faculty, students, alumni and/or other stakeholders.
- Supporting materials which may include a personal statement on teaching, sample course syllabi, student evaluations, other feedback from students.
- All nomination documents will be submitted as a single PDF attachment in the nomination submission form
If you have any questions, email uaa_cafe@alaska.edu.
Nominations for this award go out in Spring semester. Subscribe to the Faculty Success newsletter to find out when nominations open.
Adjunct Merit Bonus
The University may, at its sole discretion, award nonrecurring bonus payments to bargaining unit members for extraordinary performance, not to exceed $500 per bargaining unit member per fiscal year.
The dean, director, or designee shall document the extraordinary performance in a written memorandum to include the name of the bargaining unit member, a description of the extraordinary performance and the amount of the merit bonus to be awarded.
Recommendations and determinations of merit bonuses by the dean/director for exemplary performance shall consider pertinent factors regarding bargaining unit member effort, such as the following:
- Formal or informal evaluations conducted by department heads/chairs
- Quality of student evaluations
- Quality of research and/or grant awards
- Creativity in artistic works
- High level of instructional effectiveness
- Quality of service to the university community or to the profession
- Quality of outreach efforts through distance education
- Strong and mutually beneficial linkages with business, government, or community partners
- Other instructional activity performed at an exemplary level
Faculty Success
Library 213 • 907-786-4496 • uaa_facultysuccess@alaska.edu •&Բ;ѴDzԻ岹&Բ;– Friday, 8 a.m. –&Բ;5 p.m.






