Buena Vista University Honors Faculty and Staff

June 5, 2015

Buena Vista University held its annual Faculty and Staff Recognition Dinner on May 22 to recognize and award achievements for employees of the university.

The fifteenth annual Education for Service Award was presented to Peggy Bates, enrollment manager and advisor within Graduate & Professional Studies (GPS). Bates began her career at BVU in 2006 as an administrative assistant and was promoted to assistant director in GPS before entering her current role in 2013. "I am very honored and humbled to receive this award," said Bates. "There is no better feeling than helping students achieve their educational goals. It is a very rewarding job, and I am blessed to work with an amazing team."

The award was established in 1998 by John and Connie Klockentager to honor a faculty or staff member who demonstrates an outstanding work ethic and is valued as a role model within the BVU community. John Klockentager is a former vice president for enrollment services at Buena Vista.

In announcing the award to Bates at the dinner, Mike Frantz, vice president of enrollment management, said, "Peggy is a compassionate, caring, encouraging role model for her team and her students. She wants nothing more than to see her students succeed in reaching their goals and puts the time and effort in to make that happen. She consistently steps in to be a helping hand to fellow staff members. Peggy is not only an ambassador for BVU, but also for her local community of Spencer."

Megan Long, a May graduate and former president of the Student Senate, announced the winners of two awards selected through voting by students. Dr. Andrea Frantz, associate professor of digital media, was selected as Student Senate Faculty Member of the Year, and Ken Meissner, director of spiritual life, was selected as Student Senate Staff Member of the Year.

The New Century Faculty Development Award for Research was awarded to Dr. Kihwan Kim, assistant professor of management. He published two peer-reviewed journal articles and has made two conference presentations. Each of his published papers addresses an important and contemporary topic in the field of management and business strategy. His article in the Group Decision and Negotiation Journal was recognized with the "Best Research Paper Award" when it was presented at the International Academy of Business and Public Administration Discipline Conference.

The Second Century Faculty Development Advising Awards were presented to Dr. Jamii Claiborne, associate professor of digital media and advisor to The Tack, and Dr. Kristy McClellan, associate professor of biology.

Two retiring faculty members, Dr. Bruce Ellingson, professor of digital media, and Dr. Scott Richey, associate professor of Spanish, were honored with emeritus status and were also inducted into the Order of Cumberland and Tollefson. Both honors are reserved for retiring faculty members who have given exceptional service to the university.

The following faculty members received promotions, as noted, which are effective starting the 2015-16 academic year: Dr. Brad Best to professor of political science; Professor Lisa Kesting-Best to professor of political science; Dr. Kristy McClellan to associate professor of biology; Dr. Neal McNabb to associate professor of criminology and criminal justice; and Dr. Jason Shepherd to associate professor of computer science. McClellan, McNabb and Shepherd were also granted tenure.

Faculty Member of the Year Awards for BVU's Graduate & Professional Studies program were also announced at the event: Bill Orlano in Carroll; Connie Colton in Council Bluffs; Gary Keplinger in Creston; Patricia Ryan in Denison; Robert Thacker in Fort Dodge; Sarah Nachazel in Iowa Falls; Stefanie Kirk in Estherville, Emmetsburg, Spencer and Spirit Lake; Dr. Marvin Gamble in Le Mars; Robert Williams in Marshalltown; Larry Kollman in Mason City; Jason Hubbartt in Newton; Cathy Steele in Ottumwa; and Denise Phillips for the online program.