Distinguished Faculty Awards
2024-2025 Distinguished Faculty Nominations Now Open!
The Distinguished Teacher, Service, and Researcher winners will be celebrated during the Spring 2025 Commencement exercises.
All nominations are due by 5:00pm, Wednesday, January 15, 2025
If you have any problems with the nominations forms, please contact:
Michelle Collier (michellecollier@isu.edu or x6311) or Lisa Scholes (lisascholes2@isu.edu or x2035)
You will be required to attach a document for your "Reasons for Nomination". Please fully address why you feel this faculty member deserves to be considered for the University's Distinguished Award.
Each year an Idaho State University faculty member is selected for the ISU's Distinguished Teacher Award for faculty members who are judged to most exemplify excellence in teaching. The top five finalists for each year's award are recognized as Outstanding Teachers and honored at a ceremony in April. The Distinguished Teacher is recognized at the May Commencement and serves as that year's mace bearer.
Each year an Idaho State University faculty member is selected for the ISU's Distinguished Service Award for faculty members who have made significant contributions in service to the University and society. The top five finalists for each year's award are recognized as Outstanding Service Providers and honored at a ceremony in April. The Distinguished Service Provider is recognized at the May Commencement.
Each year an Idaho State University faculty member is selected for the ISU's Distinguished Researcher Award for faculty members who are judged to most exemplify excellence in research to the University and society. The top five finalists for each year's award are recognized as Outstanding Researchers and honored at a ceremony in April. The Distinguished Researcher is recognized at the May Commencement.
- Significance/Impact of the research, scholarship, creative activities in relation to the frontiers of knowledge in that field.
- Publication of research findings in peer-reviewed national or international journals or juried/invitational shows, exhibits, or performances.
- Excellence in basic or applied research as evidenced by invention disclosures, provisional patent applications, perfected patents, advisory positions in industry, or mentorship of successful students.
- Evidence of extended, intentional development of the topic of research that resulted in a significant contribution.
- Any other evidence of the outstanding nature of the research activity that may be relevant.
- The review committees will consider the entire body of research conducted over a career, but the work conducted at ISU will be emphasized in the review.
ISU Distinguished Faculty Awards 2023-2024
Distinguished Researcher Award
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Justin Dolan Stover
Chair, Department of History
2023-2024 Outstanding Researcher
Dr. Morey Burnham, Assistant Professor, Sociology, Social Work, & Criminology
Dr. John Dudgeon, Associate Professor, Anthropology
Dr. Joel Bocanegra, Department Chair, Professor, College of Education
Dr. Alan Johnson, Professor, English & Philosophy
Distinguished Service Award
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Michelle Anderson
Clinical Associate Professor, Nursing, Graduate Programs, Accelerated Program
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Amanda Zink
Professor, English & Philosophy
2023-2024 Outstanding Service
Dr. Melody Weaver, Clinical Associate Professor, Nursing, Graduate Programs
Dr. Elaine Foster, Assistant Professor, Human Performance & Sport Studies
Dr. Carrie Bottenberg, Assistant Professor, Department of Goesciences
Dr. Margaret Johnson, Professor, English & Philosophy Dr. Fredi Giesler, Assistant Professor, Sociology, Social Work & Criminology Dawn Konicek, Assistant Clinical Professor, Accounting & Information Systems Cindy Bunde, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Physician Assistant Studies
Distinguished Teacher Award
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Heather Ray
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
2023-2024 Outstanding Teacher
Dr. Yu Chen, Professor, Department of Mathematics & Statistics
Dr. Wendy Ruchti, Associate Professor, Teaching & Educational Studies
Dr. Diane Ogiela, Associate Professor, Communication Sciences & Disorders
Dr. Alesha Churba, Coordinator/Clinical Senior Instructor, Computer Aided Design Drafting
Past Faculty Winners (2022-2023)
Distinguished Researcher
Shannon Kobs Nawotniak
Professor, Geosciences
Distinguished Service
Dani Moffit
Associate Professor, MSAT Program Director, Athletic Training & Physical Therapy
Distinguished Teacher
Tyler Burch
Assistant Professor, Marketing & Management
Past Distinguished Faculty Award Winners
Outstanding Researcher
- Dr. Shannon Kobs Nawotniak, Geosciences
- Dr. Joshua Swift, Psychology
- Dr. Zac Gershberg, Communication, Media, & Persuasion
- Dr. Ryan Lindsay, Community & Public Health
- Dr. Cory Bennett, Teaching & Education Studies
Outstanding Service
- Dr. Dani Moffit- Human Performance & Sport Studies
- Dr. Zackery Heern, History
- Dr. Devaleena Pradhan, Biological sciences
- Dr. Hyeri Choi, Music
- Dr. Ryan Lindsay, Community & Public Health
Outstanding Teacher
- Dr. Tyler Burch, Marketing & Management
- Dr. Xiaomeng (Mona) Xu, Psychology
- Dr. Marie Stango, History
- Dr. Jeff Brockett, Communication Sciences & Disorders
- Dr. Mike Roche, English & Philosophy
Distinguished Faculty Awards Past Winners