NDSU Announces 2025-2026 Excellence Awards Recipients

Fourteen North Dakota State University faculty and staff have been selected for the 2025-2026 Excellence Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions in teaching, research, mentoring, advising, service learning, and community engagement. Recipients will be honored at the Celebration of Excellence ceremony on Sept. 15.

Danielle Condry, Associate Professor of Practice of Plant Pathology, Microbiology, and Biotechnology, received the Odney Award for Excellence in Teaching. Established with the NDSU Foundation by the family of the late Robert Odney, the award honors faculty who stimulate continuing interest in their subject, present course material clearly, demand rigorous thought, and contribute to the educational experience of students at NDSU.

Sam Markell, Professor of Plant Pathology, Microbiology, and Biotechnology, received the Fred Waldron Excellence in Research Award. Established with the NDSU Foundation Board of Trustees, the award recognizes faculty who have made consistent and excellent contributions to research and scholarship in their discipline over time.

Six faculty members were recognized with the Peltier Award for Innovation in Teaching: Jessica Striker, Professor of Mathematics; Kyle Vanderburg, Assistant Professor of Practice of Music; Thomas Krumel, Assistant Professor of Agribusiness and Applied Economics; Julia Bowsher, Professor and Chair of Biological Sciences; Jordan Schrupp, Senior Lecturer of Animal Sciences; and Stephen Wischer, Associate Professor of Architecture. Established by Joseph and Norma Peltier through the NDSU Foundation, the award recognizes outstanding educators whose innovative teaching techniques have enhanced the educational experience of NDSU students.

Ali Amiri, Associate Professor of Practice of Mechanical Engineering, received the Excellence in Mentoring Award. Established with the NDSU Foundation, the award recognizes faculty who have engaged in exceptional mentoring activities involving undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and others, as reflected in the impact on those they mentor.

Stephenson Beck, Professor and Chair of Communication, received the Service Learning Award, which recognizes the commitment and contribution of instructional faculty to service learning. To be eligible, nominees must utilize service learning rather than volunteerism alone.

Joe Deutsch, Professor in the School of Education, received the Chamber of Commerce NDSU Distinguished Faculty Service Award. Open to faculty holding the rank of full professor, the award honors faculty who have attained distinction in their profession, with particular emphasis on substantial service contributions to the community and the region, in addition to achievements as scholars, teachers, or artists during their time at NDSU.

Adam Goldwyn, Professor of English, received the Faculty Lectureship Award. One of the oldest and most prestigious of NDSU's awards, the Faculty Lectureship recognizes sustained professional excellence in teaching, scholarly achievement, and service, and is conferred on an individual who has demonstrated excellence in all three areas.

Recipients of the Odney, Waldron, Peltier, Mentoring, Service Learning, Distinguished Faculty Service, and Faculty Lectureship awards were selected by the Faculty Awards Committee, which solicits, reviews, and selects finalists for NDSU's faculty awards and professorships. The 2025-2026 committee includes Ying Huang (Engineering), Estelle Leclerc, (Health and Human Sciences), Febina Mathew (Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources), Laura Thomas (Arts and Sciences), Onnolee Nordstrom (Business), and Carrie Anne Platt, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.

Anna Finley, Assistant Professor of Psychology, received the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award, and Jill Lodde-Greives, Academic Advisor in the Academic Advising Center, received the Outstanding Professional Advisor Award. Together, the awards recognize faculty and professional advisors who have demonstrated a commitment to empowering students, fostering their academic and personal growth, and guiding them toward reaching their full potential.

The Outstanding Faculty Advisor and Outstanding Professional Advisor awards were selected by the Advising Awards Committee. The 2025-2026 committee includes Becky Bahe, Director of the Career and Advising Center and committee coordinator; Brad Jones, Academic Advisor in the Career and Advising Center; Lisa Christenson, Professor of Practice in Animal Sciences; and Elise Klindt, student employee in the Career and Advising Center and a Management Communication major.

To learn more about the NDSU Excellence Awards, please visit https://www.ndsu.edu/facultyaffairs/awards.