2025–26 faculty and staff awardees

Awardees

Sue Gray MLIS’05

Reference Librarian, Library

Sarah Pavey

Administrative Assistant, Office of Scholarly Engagement

Mary Skaden

Application Coordinator, Admissions (CFA/Grad)
 

Honorees

Ederson De Paula

General Custodian, Custodial Services

Kelly Povo ’09

Alumni Relations Officer, IA Alumni Relations

The Faculty Teaching and Advising Awards honor faculty members who demonstrate the highest quality of teaching and dedication to effective mentoring and academic advising. Chosen from a field of impressive faculty committed to academic excellence, these honorees, nominated by the St. Kate’s community, go above and beyond in their roles as teachers and mentors.

Kelly Holmgren

Instructor, Radiography

Nawojka Lesinski, PhD

Associate Professor, Economics and Political Science

Rahul Roy, PhD

Assistant Professor, Biology

The Bonnie Jean Kelly and Joan Kelly Award for Faculty Excellence honors outstanding accomplishments in teaching and scholarship that bring external visibility to the University, regionally and nationally. The award was established by Joan Kelly, a 1946 graduate and lifelong supporter of St. Kate’s, to honor the memory of her sister, Bonnie Jean.

Stephanie de Sam Lazaro ’05, MAOT’06, OTD’14

Professor and Interprofessional Learning Director, I-SAIL

The Patricia O’Connor Myser Award for Faculty Excellence was established in 2015 to honor St. Catherine University faculty who are exceptional mentors to undergraduate students engaged in research and scholarly work.

Lacey Chu, PhD

Assistant Professor, Economics and Political Science

The Denny Prize for Distinction in Writing was established by the Denny family in 1994 in honor of their mother, Eleanor McCahill Denny, to fund an annual series of prizes for distinguished faculty and staff writing. Denny Prize winners are chosen by an external panel of judges, made up of prominent writers, scholars, and thinkers from the Twin Cities region.

Winners

Amy Hamlin, PhD

Professor, Art and Art History

Ariana Manalo

TRIO Coach, SPREE 

Alex Yuschik, PhD

Assistant Professor, Mathematics

Honorable Mentions

Katie Arnold

Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Rebecca Busanich, PhD

Professor, Exercise and Sports Science

Katie Kucko

Administrative Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

The Carol Easley Denny Award recognizes excellence in teaching, research, and community service. It is named for the late Carol Easley Denny, wife of the late Charles M. Denny, Jr., trustee emeritus and former chair of St. Catherine University’s Board of Trustees. The Denny Award is considered one of St. Catherine University's most prestigious faculty development awards. The award amount is up to $20,000. One to two awards may be given annually; the minimum award is $5,000.

Lacey Chu, PhD

Assistant Professor, Economics and Political Science

The Sister Amata Miller Catholic Mission in Action Award is presented each year to a member of faculty and staff who have demonstrated commitment to St. Kate’s Catholic mission. The award is named in honor of Sister Amata Miller, who carried out that mission as the Endowed Mission Chair for Catholic Identity and director of the Myser Initiative for Catholic Identity from 2006–2016.

Stacy Husebo MSW’02

Associate Professor, Master of Social Work Program

Jocelyn Zambrano

Career Counselor, Career Development

A special thank you to these dedicated faculty and staff members who are celebrating anniversaries of 25 years or more with the University.

25 Years of Service

Karen Kiener ’08, MLIS’13

Data and Systems Analyst, IA Operations

Heide Malat

Director of Counseling, Counseling

Andrea Olson, PhD

Professor, Psychology

Susan Rudd

Associate Director of Admissions, College for Women

30 Years of Service

Michael Baxter ’19, MAOL’23

General Custodian, Custodial Services

Madge Makowske MAOL’02

Deputy Athletic Director, Athletics

Gina Mancini-Samuelson, PhD

Professor, Chemistry