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On May 9, ��ɫӰ�� faculty and staff gathered once again in Our Lady of Victory Chapel to celebrate the accomplishments of friends and colleagues. The 2024–25 awards ceremony honored excellence in teaching, mentorship, and scholarship, as well as commitment to St. Kate’s mission and all-around service to the University.

“St. Kate’s success is a direct result of the hard work and contributions of each and every one of you gathered here this afternoon,” President Marcheta P. Evans, PhD, told the community. “I hope you feel proud of what you’ve accomplished over the past year, because I am immensely proud and humbled when I reflect on the great work you have all done.” 

Please join us in congratulating the faculty and staff below.

The Staff Excellence Awards honor staff members who have been nominated by their colleagues for their exceptional work and dedication to the University. The winners are chosen from a wide pool of accomplished staff who demonstrate commitment to excellence in all arenas.

Awardees

Colin Bjorklund

Grant Management Specialist, SPREE 

Irene Green

Director, The O’Shaughnessy

D’Ann Urbaniak Lesch

Assistant Vice President for Engaged Learning, Office of Scholarly Engagement 

Honorees

Teresa Butel

Career Education Supervisor, Career Development

Bobby Wise

Assistant Director of Admissions, College for Adults/Grad Admissions

The Faculty Teaching and Advising Awards honor faculty members who demonstrate the highest quality of teaching and dedication to effective mentoring and academic advising. Chosen from a field of impressive faculty committed to academic excellence, these honorees, nominated by the St. Kate’s community, go above and beyond in their roles as teachers and mentors.

Paul Greene, PhD

Associate Professor, Theology

Nicole Lamb, MPH, MPAS

Assistant Professor, Master of Physician Assistant Studies

Margret McCue-Enser, PhD

Professor, Communication Studies and Electronic Media Studies

The Bonnie Jean Kelly and Joan Kelly Award for Faculty Excellence honors outstanding accomplishments in teaching and scholarship that bring external visibility to the University, regionally and nationally. The award was established by Joan Kelly, a 1946 graduate and lifelong supporter of St. Kate’s, to honor the memory of her sister, Bonnie Jean.

Jane Lamm Carroll, PhD

Professor, History

The Patricia O’Connor Myser Award for Faculty Excellence was established in 2015 to honor ��ɫӰ�� faculty who are exceptional mentors to undergraduate students engaged in research and scholarly work.

Paula Furey, PhD

Associate Professor, Biology

The Denny Prize for Distinction in Writing was established by the Denny family in 1994 in honor of their mother, Eleanor McCahill Denny, to fund an annual series of prizes for distinguished faculty and staff writing. Denny Prize winners are chosen by an external panel of judges, made up of prominent writers, scholars, and thinkers from the Twin Cities region.

Bethsabé Huamán Andía, PhD

Assistant Professor, Spanish

Neela Nandyal, PhD

Director, Global Studies

The Carol Easley Denny Award recognizes excellence in teaching, research, and community service. It is named for the late Carol Easley Denny, wife of the late Charles M. Denny, Jr., trustee emeritus and former chair of ��ɫӰ��’s Board of Trustees. The Denny Award is considered one of ��ɫӰ��'s most prestigious faculty development awards. The award amount is up to $20,000. One to two awards may be given annually; the minimum award is $5,000.

Erin Schumacher, DPT, EdD

Assistant Professor, Doctor of Physical Therapy

The Sister Amata Miller Catholic Mission in Action Award is presented each year to a member of faculty and staff who have demonstrated commitment to St. Kate’s Catholic mission. The award is named in honor of Sister Amata Miller, who carried out that mission as the Endowed Mission Chair for Catholic Identity and director of the Myser Initiative for Catholic Identity from 2006–2016.

Curtis Buckhanan

Lead Custodian, Custodial Services

Mari Ann Graham, PhD

Associate Professor, Social Work 

A special thank you to these dedicated faculty and staff members who are celebrating anniversaries of 25 years or more with the University.