
The success of St. Catherine University is a direct result of the hard work and contributions of the members of our community dedicated to our mission of educating women to lead and influence. The Faculty and Staff Awards is an annual celebration that recognizes the exceptional work of faculty and staff at the University.
Staff of the Year Awards
The Staff of the Year Awards honor staff members nominated by their colleagues for their exceptional work and outstanding contributions to the University. The winners are selected from a collection of impressive staff that exemplify the highest echelons of academic excellence and student focus.
Service and Support Staff Award
Josephine Heyl
Program Coordinator/Interpreter, ASL/Interpreting
Josephine joined the ASL and interpreting department in August 2017 and has cultivated an impressive list of achievements. She stepped up to help when the primary interpreter coordinator in the O’Neill Center resigned, and she quickly became the interpreter coordinator for the entire University. Her warmth, collaborative work style, grace, approachability, and strong interpersonal skills make her an outstanding employee.
Administrative Staff Award
Caitlyn Keo
Economics Research Specialist, Economics
A member of the Economics department, Caitlyn is efficient with her time, is helpful, positive, and demonstrates caring qualities toward the University community and our students. She was instrumental in creating the economics research lab and transformed it from being just a place to do research and homework into a welcoming environment to share ideas, collaborate, and be productive.
Katy Maas
Associate Registrar
Working in the registrar’s office, Katy assists with things big and small on a regular basis. This past year, she has proven herself invaluable to the EMS project, putting great effort into learning the software and making it work efficiently and creatively. She has a breadth of knowledge she willingly shares with others, working towards understanding difficult situations, and suggesting solutions.
2019 Faculty Teaching and Advising Awards
Faculty members selected for this honor represent the highest quality of teaching, dedication to effective mentoring, and academic advising. The winners are selected from an impressive faculty that exemplifies the highest echelons of academic excellence and student focus. Members of the St. Kate's community nominate faculty members for this award each year and celebrate colleagues who maintain high academic standards, go above and beyond in their teaching, and provide quality mentoring and advising.
Adjunct Excellence in Teaching and Advising Award
Fiyyaz Karim
Adjunct, Psychology
Fiyyaz, an adjunct professor for the past five years, consistently demonstrates excellence in teaching by creating impactful learning experiences for students. He structures his courses to be challenging and engaging, using various methods to help students deeply learn the material and explore critical concepts. In so many ways, Fiyyaz exemplifies what it means to be an excellent teacher.
Full-Time Faculty Awards
Holly Clynch
Associate Professor, Physical Therapy
Assistant Physical Therapy Assistant Program Director
Holly has been an educator at St. Kate’s for 21 years. In the classroom, she always strives for new ways to deliver content or develops new activities to help students actively learn. She is always careful to weave liberal arts, sciences, and Catholic social teaching into her curriculum. She educates her students about how power and privilege are addressed within healthcare, building awareness for their roles as providers and patient advocates.
Leso Munala
Assistant Professor, Public Health
Leso has been a faculty member in the Master of Public Health program for three years. Her courses explore difficult topics, and she often has students seeking opportunities to work with her. Her calm and engaging approach to teaching has built trust and respect among her students. Leso maintains high academic standards for her students and supports them in reaching their academic and professional goals. Colleagues across the University refer students to her for advising regardless of degree level and program of study.
Myser Mentor Award
The Patricia O’Connor Myser Award for Excellence in Faculty Mentoring honors St. Catherine University faculty members who are exceptional mentors to undergraduate students engaged in research and scholarly work. The winner receives a $5,000 award, plus $2,500 to invest in professional development.
Kristine West
Associate Professor, Economics
Kristine is committed to engaging students in the full process of scholarly research, from understanding the literature to disseminating their work at national conferences and in peer-reviewed journals. She is an extraordinary mentor who creates a space for students to act as lead authors in collaborative scholarly work and provides meaningful frameworks for them to develop as scholars. Kristine also serves as a mentor and model to faculty on how to effectively engage undergraduates in collaborative research.