The College of Education & Human Development Annual Awards Banquet recognizes the achievements of faculty, staff, students, and alumni who have made outstanding contributions to the College. Make a nomination in the categories listed below. Nominations are due November 1st.
55th Annual College of Education & Human Development Awards
View Award RecipientsAlumni Awards
Alumni award nominations may be submitted online or via mail using the nomination form starting July 1st. Nominations are due October 15th. Click here for more information and to submit a nomination.
Faculty and Staff Awards
Outstanding Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Awards recognize how faculty and staff go above and beyond to embody the College of Education & Human Development values of diversity, cultural competence, equity and inclusion. Click here for more information and to submit a nomination.
Outstanding Staff Award was established to recognize, celebrate, and reward exceptional individual achievements of staff within the University of Missouri College of Education & Human Development. This award is a prestigious honor and recognizes leadership and service excellence that enables the College of Education & Human Development to fulfill its mission and achieve its goals. Click here for more information and to submit a nomination.
Outstanding Teaching Faculty Awards recognize and celebrate College of Education & Human Development faculty members whose teaching practice represents our college’s core values and overriding goal to advance teaching, learning, and the field of education. Click here for more information and to submit a nomination.
- Outstanding Teaching: Faculty with six or more years of teaching experience at the college level as a non-tenure or tenure-track faculty member in the College of Education & Human Development.
- Outstanding Early Career Teaching: Faculty with fewer than six years of teaching experience at the college level as a non-tenure or tenure-track faculty member in the College of Education & Human Development.
The Faculty Outstanding Research and Scholarship Award recognizes individuals whose research or other scholarly activity has significantly affected practice, policy, theory, or the research of others. One award is presented in each of two categories per year. Click here for more information and to submit a nomination.
- Outstanding Research and Scholarship Award – Early Career – Full-time faculty or staff within the College of Education & Human Development who has less than ten (10) years of research experience since completion of their terminal degree. The individual must be engaged in research as part of their responsibilities.
- Outstanding Research and Scholarship Award – Full-time faculty or staff within the College of Education & Human Development who has eleven (11) or more years research experience since completion of their terminal degree. The individual must be engaged in research as part of their responsibilities.
Graduate Advisor/Mentor of the Year is awarded to an individual who has made positive contributions to the experience of graduate students in the MU College of Education & Human Development through service as an advisor and mentor. ***Current College of Education & Human Development graduate students are the only individuals able to submit a nomination. Click here for more information and to submit a nomination.
The Outstanding Engagement and Outreach Awards honor a person, group, program, or organization for outstanding contributions enhancing the lives and learning of children, families and communities through engagement and outreach. There are two award categories, Internal and External. One award will be presented to an individual within the College of Education & Human Development and the other to an person, group, program or organization outside the University. Click here for more information and to submit a nomination.
Student Awards
Outstanding Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Awards recognize how undergraduate and graduate students go above and beyond to embody the College of Education & Human Development values of diversity, cultural competence, equity and inclusion. Click here for more information and to submit a nomination.
Undergraduate Student Leader of the Year – The award recognizes outstanding achievement in leadership among undergraduate education students. Over the course of their MU undergraduate careers, candidates should have made leadership contributions, displayed professionalism, and served the academic community and/or field. Click here for more information and to submit a nomination.
Graduate Student Leader of the Year recognizes outstanding achievement in leadership among education graduate students. Over the course of their MU graduate career, candidates should have made leadership contributions, displayed professionalism, and served the academic community and/or field. Departments and schools are limited to two nominees per award. Click here for more information and to submit a nomination.
Outstanding College Teaching – Graduate Student Award recognizes outstanding achievement in instruction among education graduate students who have had a substantial role in the instruction of courses (e.g., instructor, teaching assistant, online instructor, etc.). Over the course of their MU graduate teaching career, candidates should have made contributions to student learning, displayed teaching effectiveness, and shown willingness to help students. Departments and schools are limited to two nominees per award. Click here for more information and to submit a nomination.
Outstanding Research & Scholarship – Graduate Student Award recognizes outstanding research achievement among education graduate students. Candidates should have established a strong and clear record of scholarship, including independent and collaborative research and dissemination activities, while a student at MU. Departments and schools are limited to two nominees per award. Click here for more information and to submit a nomination.
2023 College of Education Award Recipients
- Friend of the College: Jolene Schulz
- Alumni Achievement, Lifetime: Kathy Steinhoff
- Alumni Achievement, Professional: Shawn Woodhouse
- Alumni Achievement, Early Career: Amanda Minear
- Outstanding Engagement & Outreach – External: Eryca Neville
- Outstanding Engagement & Outreach – Internal: Kale Monk
- Outstanding Research and Scholarship – Faculty: Erica Lembke
- Outstanding Research and Scholarship – Faculty, Early Career: Jessica Rodrigues
- Outstanding Research and Scholarship – Graduate Student: Matthew Ogan
- Outstanding College Teaching, Faculty: Greg Sullivan
- Outstanding College Teaching, Faculty, Early Career: Danielle Oprean
- Outstanding College Teaching, Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Rob Petrone
- Outstanding College Teaching, Graduate Student: Emily Charvat
- Outstanding Student Leadership, Graduate: Hanamori Skoblow
- Outstanding Student Leadership, Undergraduate: Allaire Pigg
- Outstanding Professional Staff: Amy Adam
- Outstanding Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity, Faculty: Linda Helmick
- Outstanding Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity, Graduate Student: Monica Romero
- Outstanding Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity, Undergraduate Student:Tom Aviram
2022 College of Education & Human Development Award Recipients
- Undergraduate Student Leader of the Year: Kelly Miller
- Graduate Student Leader of the Year: Lindsay Brockmeier
- Distinguished Professional Staff: Cara Wylie
- Outstanding College Teaching: Delinda van Garderen
- Outstanding College Teaching – Early Career: Sarah Owens
- Graduate Advisor/Mentor of the Year: Rachel Thibodeau-Nielsen
- Faculty Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Award: Rose Metro
- Professional Staff Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Award: Fran Colley
- Undergraduate Student Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Award: Caleb Sewell
- Graduate Student Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Award: Wenxi Yang
- Graduate Student Instructor of the Year: Bini Sebastian
- Graduate Student Scholar of the Year: Jiyung Hwang
- Excellence in Research and Scholarly Activity: Kale Monk
- Excellence in Engagement & Outreach – Internal: Tashel Bordere
- Excellence in Engagement & Outreach – External: Rock the Community
- Honorary Alumni: Patricia & Gary Coles
- Alumni Outstanding Early Career: Caleb Davis
- Alumni Professional Achievement: Roger Wen
- Alumni Lifetime Achievement: Linda Jo Turner
- Friends of the College: Marilyn Coleman & Larry Ganong
2021 College of Education Award Recipients
- Outstanding College Teaching: Beth Whitaker
- Outstanding College Teaching – Early Career: Rose Metro
- Graduate Advisor/Mentor of the Year: Jennifer Fellabaum-Toston
- Faculty Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Award: Terrell Morton
- Distinguished Professional Staff: Brittany Smotherson
- Professional Staff Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Award: Ana Galicia
- Undergraduate Student Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Award: Roman Leapheart
- Undergraduate Student Leader of the Year: Mikayla Reed
- Graduate Student Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Award: Sarah de Marchena
- Graduate Student Leader of the Year: Brittany Fatoma
- Graduate Student Instructor of the Year: Stephanie Hopkins
- Graduate Student Scholar of the Year: Monica Kleekamp
- Excellence in Research and Scholarly Activity: Matt Burns
- Excellence in Engagement & Outreach – Internal: MU Center for School-Wide PBS
- Excellence in Engagement & Outreach – External: KC Scholars
- Honorary Alumni: Kathryn Chval
- Alumni Outstanding Early Career: Jonathan McElderry
- Alumni Professional Achievement: Amy Lannin
- Alumni Lifetime Achievement: Jay Fiene
- Friends of the College: Kansas City Audio Visual (KCAV)
2020 College of Education Award Recipients
- Outstanding College Teaching: Candace Kuby
- Graduate Advisor/Mentor of the Year: Sam Otten
- Faculty Diversity Award: Tony Castro
- Distinguished Professional Staff: Shawna Nichols
- Professional Staff Diversity Award: Emily Kebert
- Undergraduate Student Diversity Award: Kasey Smith
- Undergraduate Student Leader of the Year: Jessica Bock
- Undergraduate Student Leader of the Year: Destiny Gee
- Graduate Student Diversity Award: Jessica Kamuru
- Graduate Student Leader of the Year: Colleen Spurlock
- Graduate Student Instructor of the Year: Monica Kleekamp
- Graduate Student Scholar of the Year: Erica Mason
- Excellence in Research and Scholarly Activity: Sarah Diem
- Outstanding Engagement & Outreach – Internal: Ashley Woodson
- Outstanding Engagement & Outreach – External: DESE MO VR
- Alumni Outstanding Early Career: Ashley Fenwick
- Alumni Professional Achievement: Stephanie Scott
- Alumni Lifetime Achievement: Lou Ann Tanner-Jones
- Friends of the College: Rose & Michael Porter
2019 College of Education Award Recipients
- Outstanding College Teaching: Melissa Stormont
- Outstanding College Teaching – Early Career: Mike Metz
- Graduate Advisor/Mentor of the Year: Angie Zapata
- Faculty Diversity Award: Ashley Woodson
- Distinguished Professional Staff: Tina Van Ness
- Undergraduate Student Diversity Award: Taylor Thompson
- Undergraduate Student Leader of the Year: Jessica Wolff
- Undergraduate Student Scholar of the Year: Kathryn Tillotson
- Graduate Student Diversity Award: Lisa Aguilar
- Graduate Student Leader of the Year: Deanna Maynard
- Graduate Student Instructor of the Year: Mary Decker
- Graduate Student Scholar of the Year: Courtney Jorgenson
- Excellence in Research and Scholarly Activity: Janine Stichter
- Honorary Alumni: James Tarr
- Alumni Outstanding Early Career: Kelley Wittenborn
- Alumni Professional Achievement: Laurie Kingsley
- Alumni Lifetime Achievement: Edward Katcher
- Friends of the College: Julie & Michael Middleton
2018 College of Education Award Recipients
- Outstanding College Teaching: David Bergin
- Outstanding College Teaching – Early Career: Laura Zangori
- Faculty Diversity Award: Angie Zapata
- Staff Diversity Award: Fran Colley
- Distinguished Professional Staff: Bridget Murphy
- Undergraduate Student Diversity Award: Deja Bailey
- Undergraduate Student Leader of the Year: Matthew Peterson
- Undergraduate Student Scholar of the Year: Abigail Wurdack
- Graduate Student Diversity Award: Jonathon Sun
- Graduate Student Leader of the Year: David Aguayo
- Graduate Student Instructor of the Year: Amanda Olsen
- Graduate Student Scholar of the Year: Jennice McCafferty-Wright
- Graduate Advisor/Mentor of the Year: Wendy Reinke
- Excellence in Research and Scholarly Activity: Keith Herman
- Alumni Outstanding Early Career: Sarah Conoyer
- Alumni Professional Achievement: Karen Hickman
- Alumni Outstanding Service: Shirley Duff
- Alumni Lifetime Achievement: Dana Fox
- Friends of the College Award: Tom and Karen Weaver