Faculty Recognition

CAFE Oh Wow (COW) Awards
The CAFE Oh Wow (COW) Awards honor faculty who show excellence in teaching, research/creative activity, and supporting faculty.
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. Ginger Blackmon, Professor of Educational Leadership in the School of Education, received the Excellence in Teaching - Innovation COW Award for her pioneering integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in graduate-level education. Blackmon has established a principled instructional and assessment framework that uses 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 difficult to sustain at scale.
What truly distinguishes Blackmon鈥檚 innovation is her use of AI data to drive continuous improvement. Using AI tools to analyze class-wide patterns of strengths and gaps, she provides high-level cohort feedback and facilitates substantive revisions to course rubrics and assignment designs.
This data-informed approach has led to increased alignment with National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) standards and institutional Course Curriculum Guides (CCGs). Through this model, 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 UAA community
Jennifer McKay, Professor of Library Science in the , received the Excellence in Teaching - Student Engagement COW Award for her impact on student support and collaboration with the School of Nursing faculty. McKay has a "student-first" philosophy, consistently carving out dedicated time for one-on-one consultations to guide students through the complexities of authentic research projects. Students describe her as an approachable expert, fostering an environment where curiosity is met with professional expertise and respect.
McKay鈥檚 influence extends beyond the classroom. She is an active leader in co-creating student-centered curricula alongside the School of Nursing faculty and shared her educational frameworks at international conferences. Her fierce advocacy for health information accessibility, particularly her swift action in identifying and providing access to critical data removed from government websites, demonstrates a commitment to transparency. Her dedication to information stewardship and student success makes her a great example of what this award represents.
- 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.
Dr. Joy Chavez Mapaye, Professor of Journalism & Public Communications, received our Excellence in Teaching - Community Engagement COW Award for connecting students with media organizations, public health experts, and community groups to address issues that matter to people in 麻豆无码版. Partnering with in her journalism courses has helped students gain real-world experience in broadcasting, reporting, and storytelling.
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 Filipino American history curriculum into Anchorage schools. This created opportunities for her 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.
Shane Castle, Associate Professor of Writing, received our Excellence in Teaching - Accessibility COW Award for his transformative approach to accessibility, which he treats as a "pedagogical imperative." He has redefined the boundaries of the classroom by establishing a UAA writing program within the McLaughlin Youth Center. Despite significant hurdles, he persisted in bringing university-level instruction to incarcerated youth, resulting in at least three students enrolling at UAA 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.
Castle also led structural shifts in accessibility at UAA 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 麻豆无码版 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鈥檚 Antiracism Committee, Castle鈥檚 career has expanded access to higher education and ensured 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.
Dr. Mark Fitch, Professor of Mathematics, is receiving the Excellence in Teaching - Innovative Student Assessment COW Award for using Standards-Based Grading (SBG) in his courses. 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, providing students with a transparent roadmap to succeed. This approach replaces vague letter grades with detailed, actionable feedback, helping students understand what they鈥檝e mastered and where to improve.
Fitch provides at least three distinct opportunities for students to demonstrate proficiency in each standard. This has incentivized persistence and deep engagement with difficult material. This "students-first" methodology has yielded transformative results. 100% of his students engage in re-attempting material on later assessments, with many successfully tackling this material on re-attempts. This alternative assessment model provides a tremendous 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 UAA. 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 UAA 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 UAA community.
Steve Godfrey is a Professor of Art who has been teaching at UAA 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 麻豆无码版n organizations. His relationship-building with professional ceramics studios has even created a scholarship for UAA 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 UAA 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 UAA, 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 UAA 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, 麻豆无码版 Space Grant Program, and also industry projects through Rivian Automobile Inc., and Harvest 麻豆无码版. One of his advisees won the 麻豆无码版 Space Grant Graduate Fellowship and the poster award in Graduate Student category for the UAA 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 麻豆无码版 Native perspectives into business education, creating meaningful learning opportunities for students, and fostering connections between academia and industry.
She was essential to creating 麻豆无码版 Native curriculum in the College of Business and Public Policy (CBPP) 鈥 leading to creating the Occupational Endorsement Certificate (OEC) in 麻豆无码版 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 麻豆无码版 Native business events at CBPP, further strengthening the ties between industry and UAA.
Her education to all students about 麻豆无码版 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 UAA essential for students to be represented, and leading co-curriculum opportunities which help students develop leadership skills. Kimberly served as the Chair of Women鈥檚 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 UAA, for which she received the UAA 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 UAA 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. Brandon Briggs, Professor of Biological Sciences, received our Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarship - Impact COW Award for his leadership in understanding microbial life in the Arctic and subarctic. His research has provided critical insight into environmental remediation, biotechnological applications, and climate-driven ecosystem shifts. His work addresses ecological questions relevant to 麻豆无码版鈥檚 rapidly changing landscapes. This research advances the global scientific community鈥檚 understanding of extreme environments and elevates the visibility of UAA on an international scale.
Briggs also involves students in his research, giving them experience with hands-on research experiences. By fostering an environment of scientific rigor and growth, he ensures that the next generation of researchers is equipped to address the complex environmental challenges facing the Arctic. Briggs鈥 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, Assistant Professor of Economics in the , received our Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarship - Making Research and Creative Scholarship Visible COW Award for bridging the gap between economic analysis and state-level policy. This year, in response to a request from the State of 麻豆无码版, Watson led a team of economists in ISER to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of various state tax policies. This research was then and the governor.
By translating rigorous data into a format that informs the state鈥檚 fiscal future, Watson has elevated the University鈥檚 reputation as a vital resource for public service. His work exemplifies the core mission of this award - ensuring that academic scholarship serves as a transparent and visible catalyst for informed governance in 麻豆无码版.
- 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.
Dr. Deborah Boege Tobin, Professor of Biological Sciences, received our Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarship - Community Engagement COW Award for her community-engaged research examining the human impacts on marine ecosystems in coastal 麻豆无码版. Through collaborations with organizations such as the 麻豆无码版 Wildlife Alliance, NOAA Fisheries, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, her research examines marine mammal behavior and habitat use in 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鈥檚 work strengthens local stewardship of 麻豆无码版鈥檚 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 麻豆无码版. His journal articles and book chapters explored crucial topics such as climate-driven migration, legal barriers for 麻豆无码版 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 麻豆无码版.
Howe鈥檚 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 麻豆无码版 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 UAA 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 UAA research visible and impactful throughout 麻豆无码版 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 麻豆无码版. Through his role as chair of the health committee for the 麻豆无码版 Black Caucus (ABC), he has been able to collaborate with ABC to identify the health needs of Black 麻豆无码版ns 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 UAA 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, Undergraduate Program Co-Chair and Assistant Professor of Nursing, received our Excellence in Promoting the Success of Faculty - Mentorship COW Award for her exceptional impact on the professional development and communal health in the School of Nursing. As Program Chair, she is a cornerstone of faculty mentorship, creating a safe and supportive environment to seek honest advice. She spends hours getting to know faculty members and recognizes their unique expertise. And while maintaining her leadership load, she also completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in 2025.
Her leadership is deeply respected by the 麻豆无码版 nursing community. She has seamlessly translated her reputation for advocating for nurses in the clinical field into a fierce advocacy for her colleagues at UAA. Despite possessing a skill set that commands a much higher premium in the private sector, Bune鈥檚 choice to invest her talents in UAA 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 UAA.
Dr. Susan Meskis, Associate Professor of Nursing, received our Excellence in Promoting the Success of Faculty - Building Community COW Award. As the Chair of the Honors Academic Board, she distinguished herself as a community builder who fosters an environment of mutual support and professional growth. She has modeled a democratic leadership style characterized by grace and inclusivity, ensuring that every board member feels their voice is valued.
Central to Meskis鈥檚 impact is her dedicated mentorship of new faculty board members. She takes time to provide guidance, time-saving tips, and strategic advice on authentically engaging with Honors students. While her work with students as a faculty mentor is exemplary, 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, Meskis is a champion for an 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, Term Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, received our Excellence in Promoting the Success of Faculty - Leadership and Advocacy COW Award for her advocacy and leadership at Mat-Su College. Nevis serves as a critical pillar of the institution, serving as Chair of the Faculty Forum. In this role, 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.
Nevis was instrumental in the successful launch of the Veterinary Technology program, providing the systemic knowledge and administrative heavy lifting needed to get the program started. She is also a dedicated mentor to junior and adjunct faculty, generously sharing resources and creating strategic pathways for professional growth. By consistently volunteering for leadership roles, Nevis has boosted faculty morale and development. Her work ensures a closely knit, collegial environment that helps all faculty succeed.
- 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 UAA.
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 UAA has built a community in nursing that fosters well-being with her fellow nursing faculty and the UAA 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 UAA.Dr. Jackie Cason is a Professor of Writing who has demonstrated leadership, mentorship, and a commitment to strengthening the faculty community at UAA 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 UAA, 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 UAA, as part of its mission as a 鈥淧ublic Square鈥 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 UAA 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 UAA.
- Debra Crawford

Debra Crawford
Promoting Success of Fellow Faculty Award: Recognizes faculty who go above and beyond in supporting other faculty at UAA 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 UAA 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 UAA, and it shows her dedication to the success of UAA faculty and students.
- Douglass Bourne
Faculty Development
These faculty made outstanding contributions to faculty development at UAA!
- 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:
UAA/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 UAA 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 麻豆无码版 President鈥檚 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 麻豆无码版 President鈥檚 Adjunct Faculty. Upon conferral of the title, the bargaining unit member will receive a lump-sum of $1,500.
Eligibility
All UAA 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 鈥 907-786-4496 鈥 uaa_facultysuccess@alaska.edu 鈥&苍产蝉辫;惭辞苍诲补测&苍产蝉辫;鈥 Friday, 8 a.m. 鈥&苍产蝉辫;5 p.m.






