Mustang Ovations

The SMSU Deans' Office hosts the annual Mustang Ovations event each spring. The event highlights achievements from the past year including faculty publications, presentations, and accolades. The Seed Coalition President’s Awards and SMSU Equity Teaching Fellows are be announced. The recipient of the Cathy Cowan Award is recognized. The event was created salute to academic excellence, distinctiveness, and meaningful engagement.

The entire campus community celebrates the achievements of the Mustang Family.

This year's celebration is on Wednesday, April 30, at 4:00-5:00pm in the SMSU Upper Conference Center.

2025 Seed Coalition Award Recipients

Seed Coalition President’s Civic Engagement Leadership Award: Ben Walker
Seed Coalition President’s Community Partner Award: Juneteenth Celebration Planning Committee (City of Marshall)
Seed Coalition President’s Student Leadership Award: Jaliah Smith
Seed Coalition Engaged Campus Award for Community Collaboration: AE 588 Beats, Rhymes and Inclusive Minds (Developed by Kelly Thelen and Michela Carattini)
Seed Coalition Engaged Campus Award for Emerging Innovation, Honorable Mention: Enactus for Mindful Meals

2025 Equity Teaching Fellows

SMSU initiated a special faculty development opportunity in support of the SMSU Vision to be recognized throughout Minnesota and beyond for being an inclusive and student-centered university. It provides recognition and support for faculty who engage in a series of designated, ongoing equity-oriented professional development activities and reflection. The following faculty who completed one or more Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) courses during the 2024-25 academic year and submitted documentation identifying and reflecting on implemented changes are recognized as Equity Teaching Fellows:

Amber Kinner-Alahakoon
Laurie Johansen
Laura Koenig
Julie Walker

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

Tetta Askeland: Associate Professor of Theatre
Recognition in Scenic Design: An Inspector Calls. Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region 5. Des Moines, IA. January 19, 2025.

Kenneth Chukwuba: Associate Professor of Business Management
Appointment for the Editorial Board of the Journal of Business Management & Change.
Certificate of Recognition from DECA Inc.: Top 10 Collegiate Chapter, 2024-2025 Academic year.

Katelyn Giles: Assistant Director of Student Success
2025 Board of Trustees Excellence Award. Minnesota State Board of Trustees. St. Paul, MN. April 16, 2025.

PUBLICATIONS AND CREATIVE WORKS

Alyssa Anderson: Associate Professor of Biology
Anderson, A. (2025). Snow Crawlers. Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, Volume 88 (518):34-41.
Anderson, A. (2024). Intrepid Explorers. CHIRONOMUS: Journal of Chironomidae Research, 38, 2-3.

Tetta Askeland: Associate Professor of Theatre
Askeland, T. (2024). Lighting Designer, Marshall Pride: Drag Show.

Kenneth Chukwuba: Associate Professor of Business Management
Aniebonam, E. E., Chukwuba, K., Toromade, A. S., & Ekpobimi, H. (2025). Transformational Leadership and Cyber-security Innovation: How Visionary Leaders Drive Technological Progress and Security. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Growth Evaluation https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C24&q=chukwuba+kenneth&oq

Aniebonam, E. E., Chukwuba, K., Nwafor, E., & Taylor, G.(2023). International Journal of Applied Research. Journal HP: www.Instar.Com; ISSN, 2411, 6610.

Maryjane Dunn: Assistant Professor of Spanish
Dunn, M. (2024). "The Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Medieval Camino de Santiago." Memory, Crisis and Culture: A Spatio-Temporal Analysis, pp. 11 - 32.

Brett Gaul: Professor of Psychology
Gaul, B. (2025, January 27). “Steve Prefontaine: Artist on the Track?” Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, published online: January 27, 2025, 16 pages.

Pam Gladis: Professor of Library
Gladis, P., and Wiggins, M. (2024). “One Small State University’s Transformation Through Rightsizing.” Reference Services Review, 52(4) pp. 463-473. https://doi.org/10.1108/RSR-03-2024-0014.

John Ginocchio: Professor of Music
Ginocchio, J. (2024). “Exotic Modes and Modal Alterations in Marchas Moras.” Alta Musica.

Denise Gochenouer: Professor of Marketing
Gochenouer, D., Rickgarn, H., and Huang, L. (2024). “Preferred Teaching Delivery Methods for Generation Z.” Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice (ISSN# 2158-3595) Volume 24 (12), 2024.

Nadine Schmidt: Professor of Theatre
Schmidt, N. (2024). Performed the role of Emily Brent in Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None.”

Kandy Noles-Stevens: Associate Professor of Education
Noles Stevens, K. & VanOverbeke, D. (2025). Implementing equitable practice-based teacher education to advance rural STEM teacher candidates’ pedagogical and content knowledge. [Submitted In R. Jake Cohen (Ed.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 1282-1291). Orlando, FL, USA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/225682 /.].

Scott Peterson: Professor of Psychology
Peterson, S., (2024). Would you rather be a hero (unsung) or a celebrity? Academia Mental Health and Well-Being, 1(2), 1-6.

Heather Rickgarn: Associate Professor of Management
Gochenouer, D., Rickgarn, H., and Huang, L. (2024). “Preferred Teaching Delivery Methods for Generation Z.” Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice (ISSN# 2158-3595) Volume 24 (12), 2024.

Mary Risacher: Associate Professor of Education
Fier, S., & Risacher, M. (2025). Midterm reflective course evaluations: A tool for online course improvement. Distance Learning and Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 21(4), 49–64. https://doi.org/10.1108/DL-01-2025-0004A

Debbie VanOverbeke: Professor of Education
Noles Stevens, K. & VanOverbeke, D. (2025). Implementing equitable practice-based teacher education to advance rural STEM teacher candidates’ pedagogical and content knowledge. [Submitted In R. Jake Cohen (Ed.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 1282-1291). Orlando, FL, USA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/225682 /.].

Māra Wiggins: Professor of Library
Gladis, P., and Wiggins, M. (2024). “One Small State University’s Transformation Through Rightsizing.” Reference Services Review, 52(4) pp. 463-473. https://doi.org/10.1108/RSR-03-2024-0014

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

Alyssa Anderson: Associate Professor of Biology
Anderson A. (2024, June). The Importance of Bugs Below Zero - A Summary of Twenty-Five Years of Winter Research in Groundwater-Dominated Trout Streams. [Presentation]. Society for Freshwater Science. Philadelphia, PA.
Anderson, A. (2024, June). Freshwater Teaching, Outreach, and Research Resources and Educational Networking Tool (Freshwater TORRENT). [Presentation Society for Freshwater Science.]. Philadelphia, PA.
Anderson, A. (2024, June). Bugs Below Zero: Communicating Science and Engaging the Public with Winter Active Aquatic Insects and Stream Food Webs. [Presentation at the Society for Freshwater Science]. Philadelphia, PA.
Anderson, A. (2024, November). Communicating Science and Increasing Engagement in Participatory Science Projects: The Case of Bugs Below Zero and Winter-active Aquatic Insects. [Presentation at the Entomological Society of America]. Phoenix, AZ.

Tetta Askeland: Associate Professor of Theatre
Askeland, T. (2025, January 22-24). Fairytale Design Intensive Workshop. [Presentation at Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival]. Des Moines, IA.
Askeland, T. (2025, January 22). AI in Theatre Panel. [Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival]. Des Moines, IA.
Askeland, T. and Schmidt, N. (2025, January 23). Theatrical Funding and Upgrades: Thinktank. [Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival]. Des Moines, IA.
Askeland, T. (2025, February 11). AI in the Classroom. [SMSU Lunch and Learn for School Counselors]. Marshall, MN.
Askeland, T. (2025, February 19). AI in Theatrical Design. [Presentation at Iowa State University]. Ames, IA.
Askeland, T. (2025, February 17-21). Theatrical Drafting. [Iowa State University Residency]. Ames, IA.

Kenneth Chukwuba: Associate Professor of Business Management
Chukwuba, K. (2024). Strategies for Multinational Corporations Enter into a Foreign Market: Systematic Literature Review; International Conference on Multidisciplinary Studies and Education (ICMSAE-24) between 12th -13th December 2024 | Abuja, Nigeria.

Michela Carattini: Assistant Professor of Special Education
Thelen, K. & Carattini, M. (2024, October 29). Hip Hop Literacy Professional Learning Workshop (Pilot).
Carattini, M., Morgan, J. (2024, November 6). Early childhood education teachers’ knowledge of behaviors: Distinguishing between developmentally appropriate behaviors and maladaptive behaviors in young children. [Poster presentation accepted to the Annual Conference for Exceptional Children: Teacher Education Division.]

Kris Cleveland: Associate Professor of Exercise Science
Cleveland, K. (2025, April 3). Incorporating Experiential Learning into your Exercise Science Program: Bringing together university and community to benefit knowledge regarding physical activity and exercise in an employee/community fitness program on campus. [Presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine Northland Chapter Annual Meeting]. Mankato, MN.

Maryjane Dunn: Assistant Professor of Spanish
Dunn, M. (2024, November 8). A Pile of Rocks: When did the Cruz de Ferro become sacred? [Presentation at the Symposium for Pilgrimage Studies at the College of William & Mary]. Williamsburg, VA.
Dunn, M. (2025, April 5). Whose Camino is it anyway? [Presentation, American Pilgrims on the Camino]. Minneapolis, MN.

Katelyn Giles: Assistant Director of Student Success
Giles, K. (2025, May 7). Caseload Conundrum – Is There a Magic Number? [Presentation at the National Academic and Advising Association Region 6 Conference]. Bloomington, MN.

John Ginocchio: Professor of Music
Ginocchio, J. (2024, May). Planning and Conducting a Popular Music Class. [Presentation at the Maine Music Educators Association Conference]. Orono, ME.
Ginocchio, J. (2024, July). The Modern Marcha Mora: A New Generation of Composers and Innovations. [Presentation at the IEGB International Wind Music Conference.]. Valencia, Spain.
Ginocchio, J. (2024, July). Unhelpful Conducting Habits Learned from ‘Helping’ Students. [Presentation at the International Society for Music Education Biannual Conference]. Helsinki, Finland.
Ginocchio, J. (2024, July). Musical Chairs: Optimum Results Through Strategic Placement of Musicians. [Presentation at the International Society for Music Education Biannual Conference]. Helsinki, Finland.
Ginocchio, J. (2025, February). Unhelpful Conducting Habits Learned from ‘Helping’ Students. [Presentation at the New Jersey Music Educators Association Conference]. Atlantic City, NJ.
Ginocchio, J. (2025, February). Musical Chairs: Optimum Results Through Strategic Placement of Musicians. [Presentation at the New Jersey Music Educators Association Conference]. Atlantic City, NJ.

Pam Gladis: Professor of Library
Wiggins, M., Flynn, T. and Gladis, P. (2025, April 4). You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby: Librarians Evolving Role in FYS. [Presentation at the Association of College & Research Libraries National Conference].
Gladis, P. (2024, July 16). Advancing Preservation: Learning from Projects Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. [Virtual presentation at the Society of American Archivists Preservation Section Meeting].

Laura Koenig: Associate Professor of Psychology
Koenig, L. (2025, February 22). Upward and Downward Social Comparison: Relationships with Personality, Self-Esteem, Happiness, and Mindset. [Presentation at the Annual Convention for the Society for Personality and Social Psychology]. Denver, CO.

Lisa Lucas Hurst: Assistant Professor of English
Lucas Hurst, L. (2025, April 8). Moving from ‘Sage on Stage’ to ‘Guide on the Side’ (Finally!): How AI is Challenging the Foundations of Pedagogy. [Presentation at the E-ffordability Summit.] Menomonie, WI.

Kandy Noles-Stevens: Associate Professor of Education
Noles Stevens, K. & VanOverbeke, D. (2025). Implementing equitable practice-based teacher education to advance rural STEM teacher candidates’ pedagogical and content knowledge. [ Presentation at Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference]. Orlando, FL.

Scott Peterson: Professor of Psychology
Peterson, S. (2025, April 11). Marijuana Use, Academic Motivation and Achievement Behavior in College Students. [Presentation at 97th Annual Midwestern Psychological Association Conference.] Chicago, IL.

Christine Quisley: Assistant Professor of Education
Quisley, C., & Ullom, R. (2024). A school year full of color [Conference Session]. 2nd Annual Diverse Texts Conference. Bemidji State University.

John Rickgarn: Assistant Professor of Management
Rickgarn, J. (2025, May 13). Battling the Growth of Cybercrime: A Systematic Literature Review and the Emergence of Fraud-As-A Service. [To be presented at the 20th Annual Conference of the Midwest Association for Information Systems, hosted by the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University.] Stillwater, OK.

Mary Risacher: Associate Professor of Education
Risacher, M. & Fier, S. (2025, March 17-21). Utilizing midterm evaluations to enhance online discussion. [Virtual presentation at Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education; Interactive Conference, Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education]. Orlando, Florida.

Nadine Schmidt: Professor of Theatre
Askeland, T. and Schmidt, N. (2025, January 23). Theatrical Funding and Upgrades: Thinktank. [Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival]. Des Moines, IA.

Kelly Thelen: Assistant Professor of Education
Thelen, K. & Carattini, M. (2024, October 29). Hip Hop Literacy Professional Learning Workshop (Pilot)

Julia Ugorji: Assistant Professor of Nursing
Ugorji, J. (2024, December 2-3). Navigating Academic Nursing Racial Hierarchy: An Autoethnographic Journey of Resilience and Self-Empowerment. [Presentation at the International Conference on Nursing and Health Care]. Brussels, Belgium.

Māra Wiggins: Professor of Library
Wiggins, M., Flynn, T. and Gladis, P. (2025, April 4). You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby: Librarians Evolving Role in FYS. [Presentation at the Association of College & Research Libraries National Conference].

Matthew Zabka: Associate Professor of Mathematics
Zabka, M. (2024, September 5). Applications of Topology in Data Analysis. [Presentation at the 2024 International Conference of the Georgian Mathematical Union.] Batumi, Georgia.

EXTERNAL GRANTS

Adam Alford: Assistant Professor of Agronomy
MN Corn Research and Promotion Council. Teaching the effect of stand on season-long metrics and yields ($7,700). March 2025.
MN Corn Research and Promotion Council. The impact of row spacing on season-long metrics of soybean crop Health: A hands-on learning plot. Adam M. Alford. ($7,700 Funded). March 2025.
2025 MN Soy Research and Promotion Council, ($18,966). Development of Novel Edible Soy Products. Adam M. Alford and Soma Mukherjee. MN Soy Research and Promotion Council. July 2024.

John Ginocchio: Professor of Music
Southwest Minnesota Arts Council. Arts in the Schools Grant $4,000. November, 2024.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Will Thomas: Professor of Accounting
17 SMSU seniors and 2 other MinnState students presented 14 posters at the Undergraduate Research Conference. Their projects explained common accounting concepts and practices for a general audience.

Kenneth Chukwuba: Associate Professor of Business Management
Higher Education Teaching Certificate. Harvard University: Bok Higher Education. December 2024.
Case Study Teaching Certificate. Harvard University: Business School. May 2024.
Certificate of Participation on Advance Data Analysis and Research Methodology.
Certificate of Recognition. Easter Academy of Management (EAM). May 2024.

John Ginocchio: Professor of Music
Guest Conductor for the Northwest MBDA 7-8 Honor Band.
Guest Conductor for Southwest MBDA 11-12 Honor Band.
Performed in the Big Band for Michael Feinstein's “Because of You: My Tribute to Tony Bennett” concert in Brookings, South Dakota.

Marsha Grimes-Rose: Professor of Music
Earned a PMP (Project Management Professional) Certification.

Stephen Kingsbury: Professor of Music
Served as the conductor/clinician of the Big East Choral Festival at McCook Central School. Salem, SD. October 21, 2024.
Served as the conductor/clinician of the MC 5-8 Choral Festival at Murray County Central High School. Slayton, MN. March 28, 2025.
Served as an adjudicator for five MSHSL Solo and Ensemble Contests:
Region 8AA, South Solo and Ensemble Contest at Willmar High School. Willmar, MN. February 5, 2025.
Region 3A, Subsection 11 Solo and Ensemble Contest at Lakeview High School. Cottonwood, MN. March 27, 2025.
Region 3A, Subsection 12 Solo and Ensemble Contest at Benson High School. Benson, MN. March 29, 2025.
Served as an adjudicator for six MSHSL Large Ensemble Competitions:
Region 2A, Subsection 6 Large Ensemble Contest at LCWM High School. Lake Crystal, MN. March 3, 2025.
Region 6A Q Subsection 21 Large Ensemble Contest at Minnewaska Area High School. Glenwood, MN. March 5, 2025.
Region III-A, Subsection 12 Large Group Festival at KMS High School. Kerkhoven, MN. March 10, 2025.
Region 3A, Subsection 9 Large Ensemble Contest at Redwood Valley High School. Redwood Falls, MN. March 12, 2025.
Region 3A, Subsection 11 Large Ensemble Contest at Lakeview High School. Cottonwood, MN. March 17, 2025.
Region 6 A, Subsection 22 Large Ensemble Contest at Long Prairie-Grey Eagle High School. Long Prairie, MN. March 19, 2025.
Invited clinics at Minnewaska, Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton, Lakeview and Tracy Area High Schools.
Coordinated the Student Conducting Workshop at the ACDA of Minnesota Summer Dialog. August 2024.
Completed the Certificate in Effective Teaching Practice Framework from the Association of College and University Educators.

Christine Quisley: Assistant Professor of Education
Elected to a three-year term as VP of higher education for the Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 2025-2028.
Selected to present doctoral research at the Annual Meeting of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in Atlanta in October 2026. Dissertation title: The Effects of High-Leverage Practices on Teaching Candidates' Math Self-Efficacy.

Sonya Vierstraete: Professor of Education
Dr. Sonya Vierstraete has successfully completed the CORE Online Language & Literacy Academy, which is one of the three professional development opportunities identified in the Minnesota READ Act. This academy consisted of 50 hours of professional learning in the science of reading instruction for language-diverse classrooms.

MUSTANG OVATIONS