Northwest Missouri State University's state of the university address and academic affairs opening meeting of the 2026-2027 academic year includes recognizing employees from the prior year.
Continuing the institution’s long-standing tradition of naming one of the honorees as Northwest’s Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education recipient, the University announced Dr. Alex Taylor, an assistant professor in the School of Agricultural Sciences, will receive the 2027 award. Taylor joined the Northwest faculty in 2020 and teaches courses related to soil.
The Governor’s Award is sponsored by the Missouri Council on Public Higher Education and presented annually to an outstanding faculty member representing each of Missouri’s four-year public institutions. Northwest’s recipient is chosen from faculty members who receive the University’s Faculty Excellence Award for teaching and exemplify the Governor’s Award criteria for effective teaching, effective advising, innovation in course design and delivery, service to the university and community, and a commitment to high standards of excellence and success in nurturing student achievement.
Recipients of Faculty Excellence Awards in each of the three categories of teaching, scholarship and service represent each of Northwest’s four academic colleges. All full-time faculty holding a Board of Regents-approved appointment at the University are eligible for Faculty Excellence Awards.
Faculty Excellence Award for Teaching recipients are:
Dr. Nina Adanin, associate professor of recreation in the School of Health Science and Wellness: Adanin exemplifies Northwest’s mission through her commitment to instruction, curriculum development and student mentorship. She teaches diverse undergraduate and graduate courses and is continually redesigning her materials, assignments and instructional approaches to enhance student learning. Adanin emphasizes inclusive, culturally responsive, real-world learning that prepares students to become problem solvers and leaders. Her partnerships with the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals have created valuable internship opportunities and strengthened career readiness. Her pursuit of a GIS master’s degree further reflects her commitment to professional growth, innovation and understanding the student experience.
Dr. Taylor Harrison, assistant professor of mathematics and statistics in the School of Mathematics and Statistics: Harrison is an exceptional teacher and mentor whose passion for student learning is evidenced in his commitment to student success. He meets students where they are while challenging them to grow academically and personally. Students consistently praise his availability, caring nature and ability to maintain high expectations while creating a supportive learning environment. During the last year, Harrison managed an exceptionally demanding teaching load, including new and graduate-level courses. His expertise enables him to teach a diverse range of mathematics courses, and he consistently develops strong instructional materials.
Dr. Joseph Haughey, professor of English in the School of Language, Literature and Writing: Haughey is recognized for extraordinary dedication to professional development. Rather than simply attending workshops, he completes intensive courses and travels nationally and internationally to experience Shakespeare productions firsthand. In 2025, he completed three University of Chicago courses and attended Shakespeare performances in Colorado, Oregon and England. He brings his extensive scholarly knowledge and firsthand experience to the classroom, enriching students’ learning and inspiring new assignments and special topics courses. His enthusiasm and passion for literature create engaging learning experiences with students who describe his classes as enjoyable and memorable. His continual pursuit of knowledge and pedagogy distinguishes him as an outstanding educator and a deserving award recipient.
Dr. Alex Taylor, assistant professor of agricultural sciences in the School of Agricultural Sciences: Taylor has emphasized teaching excellence through innovation, industry-relevant and experiential instruction. He has developed courses in agroecology, soil science, remote sensing and regenerative agriculture while collaborating with offerings in computer science, chemistry and geology. Student evaluations exceed school averages, and students praise his expertise, passion, engaging lectures, relevant labs, organization and supportive focus on learning. Taylor continually improves his teaching, and his enthusiasm inspires students to pursue further study and research. Last year, he participated in eight professional development opportunities in areas that included AI, accessibility, course design and emerging agricultural issues.
Faculty Excellence Award for Service recipients are:
Dr. Kristi Alexander, professor of professional education in the School of Education: Alexander is recognized for exceptional sustained contributions to students and the University. She provides exemplary advisement to more than 500 graduate students in the education specialist program that is both structured and deeply personal. She serves on the Tenure and Promotion Committee and supports junior faculty navigating the expectations of academic achievement. As a former Faculty Senate president, she continues to be widely sought for her insight as a trusted mentor, leader and tireless advocate for both students and colleagues at Northwest.
Dr. Alisha Campbell, professor of biology in the School of Natural Sciences: Campbell oversees scheduling, academic programming, planning, curriculum reviews and preparation for statewide transfer pathway changes. She leads recruitment efforts, including pre-professional biomedical visit days, which attract more than 30 families each term. She also advises approximately 50 students annually and develops strong relationships with those students. Additionally, she has chaired faculty searches, served on a dean search committee and contributed to Faculty Senate committees.
Cari Cline, senior instructor of computer science and information systems in the School of Computer Science and Information Systems: Cline demonstrates a commitment to student support, teaching and service at the school, university, regional and state levels. She advises undergraduate and graduate students, supports faculty and has led significant curriculum improvements, including capstone review, assessment procedures, rubric alignment, course updates and ADA compliance. She has assisted approximately 200 students through advising and academic support and taught four course overloads. She also serves on multiple committees and contributes to regional Future Business Leaders of America and business education initiatives. At the state level, she serves on the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Computer Science Advisory Council and helps shape K-12 certification requirements and advanced computer science teacher certification opportunities for Northwest students.
Dr. Joe Kreizinger, professor of theatre in the School of Fine and Performing Arts: Kreizinger demonstrates exceptional sustained engagement in service and student support at the program, school and college levels. His leadership roles and volume of service reflect a high degree of trust, administrative competence and professional credibility among colleagues. Kreizinger’s substantial student support efforts include advising all speech and theatre education students, all performance majors and most theatre minors, complemented by active participation in advanced standing reviews and the implementation of annual end-of-year student reviews. His sponsorship of three student organizations, coordination of recruitment initiatives, leadership of weekly theater department meetings and oversight of recruitment service award recipients reflect consistent mentorship and community building.
Faculty Excellence Award for Scholarship recipients are:
Dr. Kim Casey, professor of political science in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences: Casey has demonstrated exceptional scholarly productivity during the last year. She published an article commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a book review and co-authored an article in the Missouri Policy Journal. She and a student presented related research at the Southern Political Science Association conference, which contributed to the field and helped ensure the student’s admission to graduate school. Additionally, Casey has authored four chapters for an edited volume about Missouri government and politics, forthcoming in spring 2027. She wrote two solo chapters and two authored chapters about state executives and Missouri’s urban-rural divide.
Dr. Himadri Chakraborty, professor of physics in the School of Natural Sciences: Chakraborty has a longstanding reputation as one of the preeminent researchers at Northwest with four manuscripts published in top-tier research journals during the last year. He and members of his research team have also presented their work at conferences to an international audience, including an invited presentation at the Indian Institutes of Technology. Further, he and his team received a major federal grant from the National Science Foundation of $490,000, a level of highly competitive federal funding that is rare for researchers from primarily undergraduate institutions like Northwest.
Dr. Shantel Farnan, associate professor of professional education in the School of Education: Farnan demonstrates exceptional scholarly productivity and leadership through her research, publications and mentorship of colleagues. In 2025, she co-authored the textbook “Special Education in Today’s Diverse Classroom.” She also served as a manuscript reviewer for two journals, Teacher Education and the Journal of Special Education Programs, and presented at professional conferences as well as Northwest professional development days. Equally impressive is her commitment to mentoring junior faculty, helping colleagues navigate scholarly processes and develop publications that support their professional growth.
Dr. Gary Zhao, assistant professor of computer science and information systems in the School of Computer Science and Information Systems: Zhao had six publications in 2025 that addressed DevOps, adaptive learning, generative AI, information security, machine learning and public perceptions of AI. He also secured multiple research grants, including a 2025 grant supporting a large language model-based AI agent for learning management systems. Zhao actively involves students in research mentoring projects, presenting at regional and national conferences and securing profession-based learning grants for cybersecurity. His scholarship service also includes reviewing for academic journals and magazines.
Paula McLain, senior human resources generalist: McLain’s contribution to the campus has always been as a consistent leader in guiding Northwest’s student employment program. The 2025-26 academic year was particularly demanding due to both external factors, such as revised state minimum wage requirements, and internal factors such as the University’s implementation of Workday. Additionally, in the absence of a position in the Graduate Office, McLain assisted the graduate dean with the graduate assistantship for several months. McLain continuously and tirelessly served the institution, including academic units, throughout a particularly challenging year with student employment changes at Northwest.
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Staff in the Office of the Registrar are recognized as being champions of the mission of the University. They demonstrate exceptional dedication in their support of students, staff and faculty. They are continually professional, student-focused, forward-thinking, willing to pitch in, and they regularly go above and beyond to serve. The staff consists of Terri Vogel, registrar; Heather Kline, associate registrar; Crista Chappell, assistant registrar; Andrea Kirt, registrar services specialist; Faith Dow, academic scheduling specialist; Laura Linville, transcript specialist; and Lindsey Coe, records specialist.
Dr. Shay Malone, the assistant vice president of community engagement and institutional excellence at Northwest, received the Monica C. McCollough University Police Department Service Award for her efforts to connect police officers with students through organizational engagement, ongoing training and one-on-one mentorship. The opportunities led by Malone and the Center for Engagement and Community Connection assist the UPD with its preventative and responsive efforts throughout the campus.
Dr. Bayo Joachim, a professor of communication in the School of Communication and Mass Media, received the Raymond L. Ottman University Police Department Community Service Award. Joachim, who has been a member of Northwest’s faculty since 1990, is known for connecting with students and employees and sharing resources and life lessons long after they graduate or retire. In addition to a plaque, Joachim received $250 to donate to an organization of his choice.
The emergency room and behavioral health staffs at Mosaic Medical Center-Maryville received the Clarence Green Jr. Team Culture Award, which Scott Koelliker, the medical center’s president, accepted on their behalf. “President Koelliker and his emergency room team, led by Paula Goodridge, and his behavioral health unit, led by Teri Alvarez, respond to the needs of our students and employees with kind, consistent mental health care 24 hours a day and 7 days a week and 365 days a year,” UPD Lt. Marcus Holmes said in presenting the award.
About the awards:
The McCollough Award recognizes Northwest students or employees who are not members of the UPD but have assisted the department and its officers by offering solutions to prevent and solve crime or in achieving its goals. It is named for Monica McCollough, who served UPD as a student dispatcher, full-time dispatcher and office manager from 2002 to 2014. She improved department processes and implemented programs that continue to serve the Northwest community, including the Safe Ride Home program, which provides safe and timely transportation to students, and the Santa Cops program to assist families in Nodaway County with Christmas gifts.
The Ottman Award recognizes an individual who demonstrates ongoing community leadership through contributions to building a sense of unity and purpose. The recipient must be involved in volunteer programs, social groups or outreach centers. The recipient also demonstrates positive values and behaviors that inspire others to emulate and effect positive changes. It is named for Raymond Ottman, a member of the UPD for 15 years. Ottman implemented resources and programs – such as Pizza and Police, CoCo with the PoPo, Bobby Palooza and Partners in Prevention, among others – that continue to serve the Northwest community. He departed Northwest in 2015 as a lieutenant of operations to become police chief at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.
The Clarence Green Jr. Team Culture Award recognizes a team, through their intentional actions, that demonstrates a shared mindset by leveraging each member’s perspective and strengths through fostered collaboration and open dialogue, which instills trust and drives engagement. Green served Northwest in numerous capacities during a 28-year span from 1996 until retiring from the University in 2024. He was appointed university police chief in 1997 and remained in that role until his retirement. In 2019, he was named Northwest’s vice president of culture, and he served as the institution’s interim president during the 2022-23 academic year. He currently is the dean and director of North Central Missouri College’s campus in Savannah.
