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 Tuesday, April 14 3:00-4:30pm in the SMSU Upper Conference Center.

2026 Seed Coalition Award Recipients

Seed Coalition Presidents' Student Civic Leadership Award: Sheridyn Runs After
Seed Coalition Presidents' Civic Educator Award: Amanda Sieling
Seed Coalition Presidents' Community Partner Award: Willmar Public Schools
Seed Coalition Presidents' Community Collaboration Award: Shanda Walker

2026 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 2025-26 academic year and submitted documentation identifying and reflecting on implemented changes are recognized as Equity Teaching Fellows:

Toni Beebout-Bladholm
Taner Erdogan
Marsha Grimes-Rose
Laura Muller-Anderson
Benjamin Walker
Kristin Kovar
Tracy Hadler
Thomas Flynn
Jessie Hennen
Bridget Kelly

Academic Year 2025-2026

• AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
   
• PUBLICATIONS AND CREATIVE WORKS
  
   
• PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
  
   
• EXTERNAL GRANTS
  
   
• OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
   

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

Tetta Askeland: Assistant Professor of Theatre
Association of the Study of Higher Education. Dissertation of the Year Award (Pending Results). Beaverton, Oregon.
Winona State University. (2025, December 12). Dissertation with Distinction. Winona, MN.

Kenneth Chukwuba: Professor of Business Management
MN Collegiate DECA, 2025-2026 Advisor of the Year.

Tarik Dobbs: Assistant Professor of English
Dobbs, T. (2026, January 1). (2026). 2026 New Writers Award for Poetry: Tarik Dobbs, for poetry collection Nazar Boy. Great Lakes Colleges Association. 

Neil Smith: Professor of English
Smith, A. N. (2025, July 29). The Prison Nurse (Excerpt), Uncharted Magazine.

Julie Walker: Associate Professor of Communication Studies
McKnight Foundation Heart of the Community Award. McKnight Foundation. Minneapolis, MN. Fall, 2025.
Top discussion panel participant. Selected as a member of the top discussion panel. Central States Communication Association Annual Conference Argumentation and Forensics Division. 2025.

PUBLICATIONS AND CREATIVE WORKS

Alyssa Anderson: Associate Professor of Biology
Anderson, A. (2025). Midges below zero: A review of hibernal emergence of Chironomidae in temperate regions. CHIRONOMUS Journal of Chironomidae Research, Volume 88 (518):34-41.
Anderson, A. (2025). Bugs Below Zero: Communicating science and engaging the public with winter active aquatic insects and stream food webs. CHIRONOMUS Journal of Chironomidae Research, 40, 145-149.
Anderson, A. (2025). The ecology and taxonomy of Chironomidae (Diptera): A memorial issue to honor Leonard C. Ferrington, Jr. CHIRONOMUS Journal of Chironomidae Research, 40, 2-5.
Anderson, A., Foutz, M., Lieser, C.M., Vierstraete, J.J., (2025). Intrepid Explorers Effect of Temperature on Adult Longevity of Winter Stoneflies (Plecoptera: Capniidae) from Two Minnesota Spring-Fed Streams. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 98(2), 75-90.

Tetta Askeland: Assistant Professor of Theatre

Askeland, T. (2025). The Impact of Generative AI on Undergraduate Students During the Scenic Design Process. OpenRiver Online Dissertation Repository.
Askeland, T. (2026). Standards-Based Grading in Technical Theatre. Essays in Education, Vol. 32: Iss. 2, Article 1.
Askeland, T. (2026). Sherwood: The Robinhood Story. West Virginia Public Theatre
Askeland, T. (2026). Proof. West Virginia Public Theatre.

Kenneth Chukwuba: Professor of Business Management
Akahome, J. E., Kurleto, M., & Chukwuba, K. (2025). Challenges of Social Media in Nigerian Digital Advertising Agencies. Products, Brands, and Labels in the Light of Ethical and Ecological Issues, 27.

Kris Cleveland: Associate Professor of Exercise Science
Cleveland, K., Peterson, S. (2025). Effects of a Personalized Fitness Program Provided by Undergraduate Exercise Science Students on Attitudes Toward Exercise, Mental Health, and Quality of Life. International Journal of Exercise Science, 18 (4), p.1334-1343

Tarik Dobbs: Assistant Professor of English
Dobbs, T. (2025). (2026). Three Poems: "To Be a Poet Tanka", "Commuter Tanka", "Tanka in a Faraway Land" Poetry Magazine (October 2025) / https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/issue/1723421/october-2025

Shelby Flint: Assistant Professor of Biology
Flint, S. (2025). Genetic divergence in population mean fitness is weakly associated with environmental and geographic distance in four prairie perennial forbs. Evolution Letters, 9(5), 522-532.
Flint, S. (2026). Variation in responses to temperature in admixed Populus genotypes predicts geographic shifts in regions where hybrids are favored. New Phytologist, 249(3), 1509-1526.

Mark Fokken: Associate Professor of Communication Studies
Fokken, M., Goblish, J., Walker B. (2025). Using Public Narrative in the Basic Course. Basic Communication Course Annual, 37(12), 185-208.

Jenifer Goblish: Associate Professor of Communication Studies
Fokken, M., Goblish, J., Walker B. (2025). Using Public Narrative in the Basic Course. Basic Communication Course Annual, 37(12), 185-208.

Soma Mukherjee: Assistant Professor of Culinology
Mukherjee, S. (2026). Upcycling Plant Residues for Functional Biomacromolecules in Next‐Gen Eco‐Friendly Food Packaging. Waste and Biomass Valorization; Springer Nature B.V., 32 pp.

Scott Peterson: Professor of Psychology
Cleveland, K., Peterson, S. (2025). Effects of a Personalized Fitness Program Provided by Undergraduate Exercise Science Students on Attitudes Toward Exercise, Mental Health, and Quality of Life. International Journal of Exercise Science, 18 (4), p.1334-1343.

Nadine Schmidt: Professor of Theatre
Schmidt, N. (2025-2026). Touring performances of the one-person show 'Apples in Winter' by Jennifer Fawcett. TheatreMidwest, producing organization.

Neil Smith: Professor of English
Smith, N. (2025). Ghost Dance, collection of three Slow Bear novellas.

Brooke Tader: Assistant Professor of Biology
Tader, B. (2025). Nuclear VAV1 increases GLI1-dependent transcription in pancreatic cancer cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC), 302(1)

Julia Ugorji: Assistant Professor of Nursing
McCoy, K., Okoro, F., Ugorji J. U., Akanegbu, C., Alexander, K., Calvert, W. J., Matthews, N., McCamey, D., Iheduru-Anderson, K., Webber-Ritchey, K. (2025). Mentoring in Higher Education: Perspectives of Underrepresented Minority Nursing Faculty. The Association of Black Nursing Faculty Foundation Journal Volume 1(3).  
Iheduru-Anderson, K., Akanegbu C, Ugorji, J. U., (2025). Redefining Strength: Challenging the Strong Black Woman Stereotype in Nursing Education and Leadership. Sage Open Nursing. 2025;11. doi:10.1177/23779608251382659 
Iheduru-Anderson, K., Alexander, K., Matthews, N., Ugorji, J. U., Ramdin, V. A., Okoro, F.,
Webber-Ritchey, K., Calvert, W., McCoy, K., Akanegbu, C., & McCamey, D., (2025). From Bedside to Classroom: An Autoethnography of the Mentoring Experiences of BIPOC Nurse Faculty from Transition to Tenure and Promotion. Global Qualitative Nursing Research. DOI: 10.1177/23333936251369439 
Iheduru-Anderson, K., Akanegbu, C., Ugorji, J. U., & Agomoh, C., (2025). Beyond Strength: The Paradox of the Strong Black Woman in Nursing and Leadership. Nursing Inquiry, 32 (3) e70033. https://doi.org/10.1111/nin.70033

Ben Walker: Professor of Communication Studies
Fokken, M., Goblish, J., Walker B. (2025). Using Public Narrative in the Basic Course. Basic Communication Course Annual, 37(12), 185-208.

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

Cindy Aamlid: Professor of Sociology
Aamlid, C. (2025, October 5). Exploring Students’ Attitudes Toward AI in Academics. [Presentation at Lilly Conference on Innovative Strategies to Advance Student Learning.] Traverse City, MI.
Aamlid, C., Koenig, L., Rickgarn, H., & Ullom, R. (2025, October 5). Exploring Students’ Attitudes Toward AI in Academics. [Presentation at International Teaching Learning Cooperative Lilly Conference.] Traverse City, MI. 

Michael Albright: Associate Professor of English
Albright, M. (2026, April 2). Inviting the “Character” Genre to the “great feast of languages.” [Presentation at Shakespeare Association of America:  2026 Annual Meeting]. Denver, CO.

Ben Anderson: Professor of Psychology
Peterson, S. & Anderson, B. (2025, August). The Effects of Dynamic Visual Noise on Imagistic Encoding and Retrieval. [Presentation at American Psychological Association Convention}. Denver, CO.
Anderson, B. (2025) The AI Dilemma: When Students Can Use It… But We Wish They Wouldn’t. [Presentation at Psychology One Conference]. Duke University, Durham, NC.

Tetta Askeland: Assistant Professor of Theatre
Askeland, T. (2025, August 25). Scene Design and AI Technology. [West Virginia University Theatre and Dance Program]. Rochester, MN.
Askeland, T. (2026, January 20). Adobe Firefly for Theatre. [American College Theatre Festival]. Rochester, MN.
Askeland, T. (2026, January 21). Fairytale Design Project. [American College Theatre Festival]. Rochester, MN.
Askeland, T. (2026, January 21). The Impact of Generative AI on Undergraduate Students During the Scenic Design Process. [American College Theatre Festival]. Rochester, MN.
Askeland, T. (2026, March 21). AI…Really? Yes, Really: AI Tools for Design and Production Classes. [Presented at United States Institute for Theatre Technology]. Long Beach, CA. 

Toni Beebout-Bladholm: Assistant Professor of Education
Noles Stevens, K. & Beebout-Bladholm, T. (2026, February 16). If You Build It, They Will Come: Building Dual Credit Teacher Preparation Courses. [Presentation at National Alliance for Concurrent Enrollment Programs]. South Padre Island, TX.
Noles Stevens, K. & Beebout-Bladholm, T. (2025, September 11). Using Educational Technology to Visualize Bias: Empowering Pre-Service Teachers Through a Culturally Responsive and Inclusive Curriculum in a Rural Teacher Preparation Program. [Virtual presentation at Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Virtual Conference]. Marshall, MN.

Maryjane Dunn: Assistant Professor of Spanish
Dunn, M. (2025, July 14-15). Los Secretos del Códice Calixtinus.  [Plenary presentation at XVI Lecciones Jacobeas Internacionales de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela.]. Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Dunn, M. (2025, November 7-8). It’s a Miracle! Family Dynamics of the 12^th Century Pilgrims.  [Presentation, Symposium on Pilgrimage Studies, College of William and Mary]. Williamsburg, VA.
Dunn, M. (2026, April 9-12). When did the Cruz de ferro become sacred? [Presentation, American Pilgrims on the Camino]. Hunt, TX. 

Mark Fokken: Associate Professor of Communication Studies
Fokken, M. (2026, April 180. Strategies for Student Engagement: Online and In-Person Classrooms. [Presented at Central States Communication Program]. Minneapolis, MN.

John Ginocchio: Professor of Music
Ginocchio, J. (2026, February 5). Composition in the Rehearsal Classroom. [Presentation at the Idaho Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference]. Nampa, ID. 

Laura Koenig: Associate Professor of Psychology
Aamlid, C., Koenig, L., Rickgarn, H., & Ullom, R. (2025, October 5). Exploring Students’ Attitudes Toward AI in Academics. [Presentation at International Teaching Learning Cooperative Lilly Conference.] Traverse City, MI.

Taleen Nalabandian: Assistant Professor of Psychology
Nalabandian, T. (2025, August 5). Psychological Distance from a Depressed Character Predicts Readers’ State Depression. [Presented at American Psychological Association 2025 Convention]. Denver, CO.

Kandy Noles-Stevens: Associate Professor of Education
Noles Stevens, K. & Beebout-Bladholm, T. (2026, February 16). If You Build It, They Will Come: Building Dual Credit Teacher Preparation Courses. [Presentation at National Alliance for Concurrent Enrollment Programs]. South Padre Island, TX.
Noles Stevens, K. & Beebout-Bladholm, T. (2025, September 11). Using Educational Technology to Visualize Bias: Empowering Pre-Service Teachers Through a Culturally Responsive and Inclusive Curriculum in a Rural Teacher Preparation Program. [Virtual presentation at Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Virtual Conference]. Marshall, MN.
Noles Stevens. K & VanOverbeke. (2026). Effects of Video Self-Analysis of the High-Leverage Teaching Practice of Conducting a Discussion in Elementary Mathematics Teaching and Culturally Responsive Teaching. [Presentation at Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education Conference Proceedings]. Philadelphia, PA. 

Scott Peterson: Professor of Psychology
Peterson, S. & Anderson, B. (2025, August). The Effects of Dynamic Visual Noise on Imagistic Encoding and Retrieval. [Presentation at American Psychological Association Convention}. Denver, CO.

Christine Quisley: Assistant Professor of Education
Quisley, C. (2025, October 17). The Effects of High-Leverage Practices on Teaching Candidates' Math Self-Efficacy. [Presented at National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Meeting]. Atlanta, GA.
Quisley, C. (2026, April 25). Intervention Time in K-2 Classroom What It Could Look Like. [Presented at Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics]. Duluth, MN.
Quisley, C. (2026, April 25). Intervention Time in 3-5 Classroom What It Could Look Like. [Presented at Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics]. Duluth, MN. 

Heather Rickgarn: Associate Professor of Management
Aamlid, C., Koenig, L., Rickgarn, H., & Ullom, R. (2025, October 5). Exploring Students’ Attitudes Toward AI in Academics. [Presentation at International Teaching Learning Cooperative Lilly Conference.] Traverse City, MI. 

John Rickgarn: Assistant Professor of Marketing
Rickgarn, J. (2025, December 4). Driving and Maintaining Motivation in Commission Only Compensation Sales Roles. [Presented at Metro State University Annual Student Research Conference]. St. Paul, MN.

Jeet Sausen: Associate Director of the Mustang Pathway Program
Sausen, J. (2025, September 15). Pathways to Possibility:  Adult Education Meets Higher Education. [Presentation at Minnesota Association for Development Education (MNADE)]. Hinckley, MN.

Amanda Sieling: Associate Professor of Justice Administration
Sieling, A. (2026, March 4). Relationship Building-Strategies for Engaging Students in the Classroom, discussant. [Presentation at Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Conference.] Philadelphia, PA.
Sieling, A. (2026, March 4). Academic True Crime, sole discussant. [Presentation at Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Conference.] Philadelphia, PA.
Sieling, A. (2026, March 4). Transitioning from Practitioner to Educator, moderator and discussant. [Presentation at Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Conference.] Philadelphia, PA.

Renee Ullom: Assistant Professor of Education
Aamlid, C., Koenig, L., Rickgarn, H., & Ullom, R. (2025, October 5). Exploring Students’ Attitudes Toward AI in Academics. [Presentation at International Teaching Learning Cooperative Lilly Conference.] Traverse City, MI.
Ullom., R. & Nafziger, B. (2025, November 20). Preparing Teacher Candidates for Multilingual Learners in the Science Classroom. [Presentation at the TESOL International Virtual Conference.]

Debbie VanOverbeke: Professor of Education
Noles Stevens. K & VanOverbeke. (2026). Effects of Video Self-Analysis of the High-Leverage Teaching Practice of Conducting a Discussion in Elementary Mathematics Teaching and Culturally Responsive Teaching. [Presentation at Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education Conference Proceedings]. Philadelphia, PA.

Julie Walker: Associate Professor of Communication Studies
Walker, J. L. G. (2026, April). Discussion panel participant. Teaching social justice in the basic communication course. Annual meeting of the Central States Communication Association. Minneapolis, MN.
Walker, J. L. G. (2025, September). Discussion panel participant. Navigating new horizons with AI. Annual meeting of the Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota. St. Cloud, MN.
Walker, J. L. G. (2025, September). Discussion panel participant. Teaching social justice in the basic communication course. Annual meeting of the Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota. St. Cloud, MN. 

EXTERNAL GRANTS

Stephanie DeVos: Director of Advising, Recruitment and Retention for the School of Education
The School of Education has been awarded $765,948.88 in grants this academic year for apprenticeships, residencies, and education tuition assistance. Stephanie DeVos and Dr. Sonya Vierstraete collaboratively authored the multiple grant applications, with awards of $1,296,790.62 in grants since FY24. Minnesota Department of Education - Planning Grant, Implementation Grant, ETAP - Education Tuition Assistance Program; National Center for Teacher Residencies (NCTR).

John Ginocchio: Professor of Music
Southwest Minnesota Arts Council. Arts in the Schools Grant $4,000. October 13, 2025.

Stephen Kingsbury: Professor of Music
Southwest Minnesota Arts Council. Voices of the Prairie Project Grant $4,000. September 26, 2025.
American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota. American Choral Directors Association IDEA (Inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility) Fund in support of the Voices of the Prairie Project $2,000. January 14, 2026.

Amber Kinner-Alahakoon: Assistant Professor of Social Work
University of Minnesota. SMSU Social Work Program, individualized, specialized training in child welfare through a contract with Title IV-E Grant of the Social Security Act. $348.513 for FY 2025-2026.

Erin Kline: Assistant Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
System Strategy Accelerator (Equity 2030) Grant. A $25,000 competitive grant designed to support the expansion of peer mentoring available through Access Opportunity Success and the Mustang Pathway Program.

Motunrayo Ogunrinbokun: Assistant Professor of English
Modern Language Association. $10,000 awarded for project “NextGen Humanities: Enhancing Student Success and Career Readiness.” The grant will support the Professional Writing and Communication program to enhance student engagement and professional development. March 15, 2026.

Sonya Vierstraete: Professor of Education
The School of Education has been awarded $765,948.88 in grants this academic year for apprenticeships, residencies, and education tuition assistance. Stephanie DeVos and Dr. Sonya Vierstraete collaboratively authored the multiple grant applications, with awards of $1,296,790.62 in grants since FY24. Minnesota Department of Education - Planning Grant, Implementation Grant, ETAP - Education Tuition Assistance Program; National Center for Teacher Residencies (NCTR).

OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Nancy Askeland: Director of Field Education, Social Work
Researched, explored and presented on the Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC) platform by Lumivero for cabinet approval. The ELC will allow social work field educators to streamline necessary documentation, student placement, and tracking for CSWE accreditation. This will allow a more student focused approach throughout Pre-field, placement, and their practicum experience.

Tetta Askeland: Assistant Professor of Theatre
Load In/Load Out Coordinator for American College Theatre Festival.

Kenneth Chukwuba: Professor of Business Management
Research Solutions. AI For Research Certificate, August 2025.  

Stephen Kingsbury: Professor of Music
Gave the world premiere performance of "When I Say Heart I Mean" by Linda Kachelmeier.  This piece was commissioned by the SMSU Choirs, with support of the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council, to honor the life and legacy of Saara Myrene Raappana.
Served at 14 invited choral clinics at schools across the state.
Invited to adjudicate 13 MSHSA Large Ensemble and Solo and Ensemble Festivals.
Served as Guest Conductor and Clinician for the 2026 Central Lakes Conference Festival and Honor Choir in St. Cloud.    
Hosted our annual SingFest choir event.  This year's event included almost 400 participants from 8 area high schools. 

Kandy Noles-Stevens: Associate Professor of Education
Selected by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) to serve on the Science Teacher  Educator & Licensure Working Group (working group).

Sonya Vierstraete: Professor of Education
Dr. Sonya Vierstraete served a reviewer for the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. Dr. Vierstraete participated on two site visit teams for Minnsota institutions providing teacher preparation over this past academic year.
The School of Education has collaborated with Education Minnesota to offer one of the premier teacher apprenticeship programs in Minnesota. TAM - Teacher Apprenticeship Minnesota provides apprentices across the state with an oportunity to earn their bachelor's degree and licensure in Special Education - Academic Behavioral Strategist thru job-embedded learning opportunities and assessments under the guidance of a journey worker (cooperating teacher). The facilitating team includes: Dr. LeAnne Syring, Dr. Michela Carattini, Dr. Anna Hesse, Dr. Donna Pettit, Director Stephanie DeVos, Director Rebecca Panka, Director Kala Kopitski, and Dr. Sonya Vierstraete.
The School of Education has collaborated with Willmar Public Schools to offer one of the premier teacher apprenticeship programs in Minnesota. SOTA - Scholars of Teaching Apprenticeship provides apprentices with an oportunity to earn their bachelor's degrees and licensures in Elementary Education and Special Education - Academic Behavioral Strategist thru job-embedded learning opportunities and assessments under the guidance of a journey worker (cooperating teacher). The facilitating team includes: Director Stephanie DeVos, Director Rebecca Panka, Director Kala Kopitski, Dr. Sonya Vierstraete, and Dr. LeAnne Syring.
The School of Education has earned national accreditation with AAQEP - Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation until 2032. This was a collaborative effort by the School of Education faculty and staff with the leadership of Ms. Kala Kopitski, Director of Assessment, Accreditation, and Licensure, Dr. Sonya Vierstraete, Chairperson of the School of Education, and Ms. Rebecca Panka, Director of Clinical Experiences in Education. Special recognition goes to Ms. Jen Swanson for her facilitation of logistics!