Employee Recognition & Retiree Reception, March 25

Published Friday, March 20, 2026

The SMSU entrance sign

Southwest Minnesota State University will host a reception on March 25 to recognize employees who achieved work anniversary milestones and those who are or have retired in the current academic year between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The reception and recognition ceremony will take place at SMSU on Wednesday, March 25 in the Conference Center Upper Level from 3:00-4:30 p.m.

Each year, SMSU celebrates individuals who have reached 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years of service. This year’s honorees collectively contributed 580 years of service to the University. This year’s employment milestones include:

40 years

Shawn Hedman

35 years

Deb Kerkaert

30 years

Antony Amato

Mark Fokken

25 years

Stacie Mulso

Julia Olson

20 years

Brad Bigler

Steve Davis

Amy Nemitz

Scott Peterson

Kelly Schuerman

Neil Smith

Sonya Vierstraete

Tom Williford

15 years

Jorun Ahmann

Amanda Bemer

Bradley Besse

Ben Nwachukwu

Tim Schrunk

10 years

Benjamin Anderson

Molli Anderson

Christine Fischer

Elizabeth Fladhammer

Joyce Hwang

Kristin Kovar

Ann Lanners

Yumi Lim

Liz Roy

Melissa Scholten

Daren Van Keulen

Tom Webb

5 years

Lori Bell

Kirsten Brichler

Taylor McKittrick

Rebecca Panka

Nathan Polfliet

Christine Quisley

Elliot Vaughan

Ross Wastvedt

2 years

Yemi Adelakun

Nancy Askeland

Luke Bailey

Brenda Bierschenk

Yuanyi Chen

Zachary Cunha

Uma Czech

Maryjane Dunn

Brian Gelster

Jody Gladis

James Guerrant

Mary Haberman

Alexander Harsh

Jeremy Ische

Kayla Jelen

Anna Kamrath

Bradley Kaufer

Taylor Krogman

Josh Kuusisto

Robert Lewis

Soma Mukherjee

Shari Neal

Kantina Neyens

Sebaztian Payne

Mitchell Riibe

Joyce Robinson

Zakary Snell

Edward Thooft

Steven Tykwinski

Renee Ullom

Mariah Van Asperen

Janel Venekamp

Jerry Westrom

Emily Vos

Cedric Williams

Recognition of Senior Adjunct Status (Adjunct faculty who have taught 10+ semesters)

Michael Deschneau

Lisa Mischke

Sarah Moline

John Rainey

Elizabeth Ruark

Maureen Sander

In addition to the work anniversaries, SMSU marks the retirement milestone for several long-time employees. The combined years of service given to SMSU by the 18 individuals retiring in the 2025-26 academic year totals more than 374 years.

Retiring/Retired (Years of Service)

John Alcorn (36)

Barb Berkenpas (13)

Stephen Davis (20)

Stephanie Fladhammer (9)

Lori Hebig (3)

Dave Hemp (27)

Dan Kaiser (27)

Dennis Lamb (23)

Lisa Lucas (13)

Kourosh Mortezapour (37)

Julia Olson (25)

Robert Schwoch (33)

Diane Stieper (13)

William Thomas (19)

Jackie Van Overbeke (19)

Tom Williford (20)

Judy Wilson (23)

LuJane Yackley (14)

The total years of service by all individuals recognized this year come to roughly 959 years. SMSU and the entire Mustang Family are grateful for the dedication and contributions made by these employees.