Sharon Walker Faculty Excellence Awards

Morningside alumni Jim and Sharon Walker ‘70 established the Sharon Walker Faculty Excellence Awards in 2003. Criteria for selection include teaching excellence, effective advising, scholarship, and service to Morningside University. The awards are based upon the accomplishments and activities of a faculty member during the previous academic year.

Kim Christopherson began her time at Morningside in 2007 as a member of the psychology department. She moved to the Sharon Walker School of Education in 2015 to serve as a faculty member and an educational technologist, teaching within the action research course sequence in the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Morningside University. She also mentors PK-12 classroom teachers from across Iowa and the United States in their own classroom research projects. As educational technologist at Morningside, Dr. Christopherson serves as a critical resource for assisting faculty with integrating technology into their teaching with best practices for all teaching modalities (face-to-face, online, blended).

Tom Paulsen began leading the Regina Roth Applied Agricultural and Food Studies department at Morningside in 2016. Dr. Paulsen has been recognized for teaching excellence as the Iowa Teacher of the Year, the Milken National Educator award, the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Early Achievement in Teaching Award, the American Association for Agricultural Education Outstanding Early Career Award, the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Educator award, and the Teaching Scholar Award. Dr. Paulsen’s research interests fall within the areas of effective teaching and learning practices in the discipline of agriculture. His research has received national recognition from the Journal of Agriculture Education and the NACTA Journal.

Shelby Prindaville arrived at Morningside in 2019. In addition to her responsibilities on campus, she is president of the Sioux City Art Center Board of Trustees. Her studio practice combines her interests in the sciences and art, which has led to a collaboration with LSU Chemistry Professor John A. Pojman in developing a new polymer clay called QuickCure Clay. Prindaville’s artwork has been exhibited nationally and internationally and has been included in a number of public and private collections. This has resulted in her receiving a variety of grants, prizes, and international and domestic residencies. Prindaville has also been published in a wide range of journals, catalogs, and media outlets and she was invited to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine to become the first-ever artist in residence at veterinary school in the United States.

FIVE YEARS: Adam Boeve, head baseball coach; Tami Burnett, central scheduling manager/business office specialist; Jon Deaton, maintenance technician; Bob Felix, housekeeper; Juan Iniguez, custodian; Jennifer Kennelly, assistant professor of education; Trent Miller ’14, head men's basketball coach; Lawrence Muzinga, associate professor of accounting and business; Andy Nelson, director of campus ministry & community service

10 YEARS: Shannon De Clute ’02, associate professor of social sciences; Amy Derrick, textbook buyer; Bryan Farris, head swim coach; Jessica Pleuss, associate professor of social sciences; Jake Stevenson ’08, head men's wrestling coach; Heath Weber, dean of visual and performing arts

15 YEARS: Kim Christopherson, educational technologist; Allie Kirby ’07, admissions communication coordinator; Brett Lyon ’04, director of safety and security; JJ Marlow ’03, director of the Morningside Fund; Shaun Meyer ’18, senior systems administrator; Robb Rusk ’07, custodian; Beth Schlitter, institutional advancement administrative assistant; Bruce Weaver, custodian; Brenda Woodbury, payroll/ administrative coordinator

20 YEARS: Karmen Ten Napel, associate vice president for student life; Georgianna Wolf, administrative assistant of graduate nursing

25 YEARS: Jackie Barber ’95, dean of nursing education; Ron Jorgensen ’79, vice president for business & finance; Michelle Robinson, assistant director of student financial planning; Jim Stroh, professor of natural & mathematical sciences

30 YEARS: Pat Bass, humanities professor

35 YEARS: Shari Perley-Tramp ’96, information services administrative manager