Around Campus

Glenn Bayerkohler Named 2021 Cowan Award Winner

Accounting Professor Glenn Bayerkohler, who has been at Southwest Minnesota State University 34 years, was named the 2021 Cathy Cowan Award winner. Bayerkohler came to SMSU in 1988. Prior to that he worked one year for a law firm in Fairmont and for seven years as a professor at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. He earned Mathematics, Business Administration and Accounting degrees from Mankato State University; a Master’s in Professional Accountancy from the University of South Dakota; and his Juris Doctor degree from William Mitchell College of Law.

Why the move from law to higher education? “I always wanted to be a teacher,” said Bayerkohler. “Originally I thought I was going to be a math teacher. I liked numbers. But I ended up in accounting.”

After earning his law degree, “I thought I was going to be a business law professor, but there were more openings in accounting than business law, so I started teaching accounting.”

He would receive several certifications, including Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant and Certified Financial Management. He earned the Johnson & Johnson Silver Medal Award for having the second-highest Certified Financial Management test score in the country.

He also served in the Minnesota Army National Guard.

Bayerkohler keeps a low profile on campus, where he’s a student favorite. “When the time came closer to look for employment after my time at the university, Professor Bayerkohler helped me do so. I’m grateful SMSU has faculty such as Professor Bayerkohler dedicated to the success of his students beyond just that of the classroom,” wrote one of his students in his Cowan nomination form.

A former non-traditional student cites his teaching skills and civicmindedness. “His goal is to provide students with a strong foundation in accounting so they can successfully apply their knowledge and skills in the workplace and volunteer opportunities,” she said.

Bayerkohler tells his Accounting students that after graduation they should give serious consideration to serving on various community board and committees where they can use their talents and abilities to serve others.

In the community, Bayerkohler most recently finished two terms on the Marshall City Council, where he was known for being well-prepared on the issues and a steward of the taxpayer dollars. He served from 20132020.

Bayerkohler served on the Marshall School Board from 2002-2005 where he felt he could make use of his backgrounds in education, law, and accounting.

He has served various terms on the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Council during the 1990s, and was the church’s Building Committee Chairman from 1993-95 when the church built its new sanctuary.

“I could have retired already, but I really enjoy what I’m doing,” he said. “Working with students keeps you young at heart.”

He grew up in Lakefield, a community of 1,700 along the Iowa border. “I knew I wanted to live and raise my family in southwest Minnesota,” he said. “I’m a small-town guy, and I like small-town living. I like a school like SMSU where you get to know the students. You get to know the students in smaller class sizes, and the staff, too.”

He’s humbled by the Cathy Cowan Award. “I was reading about it, it’s an award for doing good for others — that’s honorable,” he said. “I look at the people who have won in the past, they are people that try to do good for others, not because it will get recognition, but because it’s the right thing to do, and they get satisfaction from helping others. It’s a big honor and I’m certainly surprised by being selected.”

Glenn and his wife Carolyn are the parents of two grown sons, Aaron and Ryan, both SMSU Alumni.

Dr. Jeffrey Bell Named Interim Dean at SMSU

SMSU Provost Dr. Ross Wastvedt announced that Dr. Jeffrey Bell has been named SMSU Interim Dean of the College of Arts, Letters and Sciences. He begins his new duties on July 6. “Jeff has provided outstanding leadership in several areas of importance to SMSU,” Wastvedt said. “He is well-respected among his colleagues, and his depth of knowledge will be especially valuable as SMSU implements a new strategic plan and builds capacity for addressing equity and inclusion.” Bell has served in a faculty role at SMSU since 2010 and is currently Professor of Exercise Science. He earned his B.A. and M.A. from Austin College (Texas) and his Ph.D. from Purdue University.

An active scholar, Bell is also deeply invested in mentoring undergraduate student research as part of the growing Exercise Science major at SMSU. He has served as the SMSU Assessment and Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Coordinator since 2017, guiding the institution through a successful reaccreditation review in 2019 and providing leadership for SMSU strategic planning. He also serves as a member of the SMSU Equity 2030 leadership group responsible for advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.

Bell replaces Dr. Aimee Shouse, who served SMSU for four years before accepting an administrative position at Tarleton State (Texas).

“I am very excited to serve SMSU in this capacity,” Bell said. “I am also humbled by the opportunities and challenges of the work ahead and the very big shoes I have to fill as Dean Shouse moves into the next phase of her career. There are many great things happening in the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences, in large part due to her tireless work with our excellent academic and support programs. I sincerely hope my passion for SMSU and all of our students’ success shines through in these new duties. Finally, I want to thank my family, the Exercise Science program, and the Science Department, for their support.”

TONY NUBILE AT THE HELM

Facilities Play Key Role in SMSU Mission

For the SMSU Physical Plant, the past 15 months have been a whirlwind.

It was March of 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions began at SMSU and across the country, and between state and federal guidelines — which changed frequently — the university went into overdrive in an effort to protect its faculty, staff and students from the spread of the coronavirus.

Now that restrictions have been rolled back, Tony Nubile, Physical Plant director, looks forward to “a return to normal.”

This summer, that includes overnight sports camps — wrestling, girls and boys basketball, volleyball, soccer and football. “The (state) Department of Health and the CDC tell us we can go back to our standard cleaning methods, which will help us tremendously,” said Nubile. He was at SMSU just eight months when the COVID-related restrictions began, and his staff had to pivot immediately.

Nubile’s staff worked tirelessly to construct and install plexiglass barriers in classrooms and offices where there was face-to-face contact with students. Those barriers will remain in classrooms this coming fall, he said, “just in case. We are going to err on the side of caution.”

“President (Kumara) Jayasuriya has said it’s his desire to get everyone back. We are all excited to have our students return to campus. One thing we heard from them consistently through feedback was their desire to return, to have that full college experience — going to classes, club meetings, speakers, theatre performances, athletics, and just being around their friends. Those are all things they missed.”

COVID-related signage has come down, “and our classrooms will be at full capacity,” he said. “It was a real odd time,” he said. “An entire year that was just sort of gone.”

Moving forward, Nubile and his staff are working on several projects this summer, the largest being renovations to the GM Complex, which includes the residence halls Ocean Boulevard, Shenandoah, Armstrong Hall and Homestead “It’s a replication of last summer’s GW Complex project,” he explained, and includes air conditioning in the four lounge areas of the individual houses; remodeling the kitchens with new appliances, cabinets and flooring; installing energy-efficient LED lighting; new furniture for the lounges; replacing the sliding glass doors with solid windows; and installing water-fill stations. “President Jayasuriya and the Foundation have done a tremendous job of raising funds for these residence hall renovations,” said Nubile. “The students are very appreciative of the improvements to the GW complex a year ago, and we continue to make similar improvements to the GM Complex this summer.” Other projects this summer include: • Preparing for a longanticipated pool deck replacement. The $1.4 million project is funded through Minnesota State system HEAPR dollars and will include some piping underneath the pool, which has eroded over time. New starting blocks will also be installed in the swimming area. Due to the heavy usage of the pool, the renovation must go smoothly and have no delays, said Nubile. “We hope to have it out for bids in September or October and break ground in March of 2022. We hope to have it completed by the end of August, and we are working with (SMSU swimming and diving coach) Marty Wahle and other groups who use the pool, like the high school and the local swim club, to come up with alternatives next summer.” • A new glass entry to Academic Commons, site of the Deeann Griebel Student Success Center • Replacing a section of Mustang Drive leading to the R/A Facility, which ”was in real rough shape,” said Nubile • Normal carpet cleaning and floor stripping and waxing to the floors in the academic buildings • Replacing an air conditioning unit for the room which houses the computer servers in Information Technology Services

“Our staff has done a phenomenal job, they are here every day, in the trenches, working hard to provide a safe environment for faculty, staff, students and guests. We are all excited to see life getting back to normal,” he said.

SUPPORT SMSU’S MISSION

SMSU students, faculty and staff continue to benefit from the support that YOU provide through the SMSU Foundation. You can start with something as tangible as funding the updates of old equipment with options in any giving range. Maybe your passion lies with an academic program, a supportive student service, or special space on campus? There are endless opportunities for you to enrich the lives of students at SMSU now and in the future. Remember what had an impact on you during your time at Southwest? Help us make the same impact on the lives of students today: SMSUfoundation.org/waystogive

NEED SOME IDEAS?

Groups across campus can coordinate concentrated giving efforts utilizing our crowdfunding platform. Active projects include the Mustang Market Food Pantry, Student Success Grants, Kyle Hahn Memorial Football Scholarship, Fine Arts Entrance Garden, and Forensics Team Scholarships. Learn more about these projects at: give.smsu.edu