Two smiling female professors

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University has named Drs. Kristi Bockorny and Anna Schwan winners of this year’s Outstanding Faculty Awards.

Bockorny, associate professor of management and director of the NSU Honors Program, is the 2021 Foundation Faculty Excellence Award winner. Schwan, assistant professor of education, is the 2021 Outstanding Early Career Faculty Award winner.

The Foundation Faculty Excellence Award recognizes faculty for excellence in teaching and learning, a sustained commitment to faculty service, and achievements in research and creativity within their discipline. The Early Career Faculty Award is presented to an early career, full-time faculty member who demonstrates a strong record and commitment to excellence in teaching, research and service.

 

Foundation Faculty Excellence Award

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Kristi Bockorny receiving award from Provost Wanous

Bockorny, who has worked at Northern since 2009, received letters of nomination from faculty, students, staff and colleagues for the Foundation Faculty Excellence Award.

“Dr. Bockorny’s reputation as a teacher and researcher are well known across NSU,” wrote NSU English Professor Dr. Lysbeth Em Benkert. “To students, she is known to be fair, knowledgeable, challenging and unfailingly supportive. She sees the best in her students and seeks to help them live up to the potential she sees. At the same time, she backs up that support with a rock-solid knowledge base and a healthy research agenda.”

In her nomination, recent graduate Haley Grandpre wrote that Bockorny’s “caring, passionate, exciting, motivating and driving personality makes her one of the finest professors in the NSU School of Business and throughout the entire campus of NSU.”

Grandpre, now talent management administrator for Dacotah Bank, said she wouldn’t be where she is without Bockorny – and Bockorny is still leaving an impact on her academic and career journey.

“I believe Kristi will always be an inspiring, positive professor, leader, mentor and community servant for both NSU and the Aberdeen area,” Grandpre wrote.

Early Career Faculty Award

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Anna Schwan receiving award from Provost Wanous

Schwan, who has worked at Northern since 2017, received student, faculty and staff endorsements for the Early Career Faculty Award.

“While at NSU, Dr. Schwan has demonstrated her commitment to student success, retention and high-quality teaching,” said Millicent Atkins School of Education Associate Dean Dr. Andria Moon. “She continually goes beyond her faculty duties. She has spent countless hours developing innovative and engaging courses, improving curriculum, recruiting prospective students, mentoring current students, conducting research for scholarly articles, serving on numerous committees, and revising graduate programs.”

Students and colleagues also praised Schwan for her dedication.

“Dr. Schwan is selfless, kind-hearted, and is the kind of professor that students not only want to learn from but also love being around,” student Kendall Kohler wrote.

Fellow student Molly Walter wrote that “Dr. Schwan is one of the most caring professors I have met on this campus.”

NSU Director of Field Experiences Abby Exner wrote that Schwan is a joy to work with and a dedicated professional.

“We are all lucky to work alongside, grow and learn from Dr. Schwan,” Exner wrote.

About Northern State University

Northern State University is a student-centered institution that provides an outstanding educational experience, preparing students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors. A regional university, Northern offers rigorous academics; diverse civic, social and cultural opportunities; and a commitment to building an inclusive environment for all points of view. Northern also offers a broad-based athletics program, sponsoring 15 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports that compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). The university strives to enrich the community through partnerships such as its Educational Impact Campaign, which opened a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; new athletic and recreation fields; and, soon, an on-campus regional sports complex. With the $55 million campaign, NSU has been the recipient of more than $120 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.