2025 Award Winners

Meghana Rawat headshot

DEAN'S DISTINGUISHED faculty service award

Communication

Meghana Rawat

Meghana Rawat, from Dehradun, India, joined Utah Valley University in 2021 as an Assistant Professor of Strategic Communication after earning a Ph.D. in Organizational and Strategic Communication from Purdue University. She currently teaches classes in public relations and social media writing, global and intercultural communication practices, research methods, and theory. Dr. Rawat studies how organizations and individuals build relationships and structures to influence systemic changes in society by using qualitative methods. Her most recent project includes examining the #ShiftThePower movement in an applied participatory project with women who are working toward the development of their local communities despite lack of funds and resources. Dr. Rawat finds meaning in serving the UVU community at the department, college, and university levels. She also loves going on walks with her husband, Brandon, and dog, Arlo.

Shannon Mussett headshot

DEAN’S distinguished faculty Teaching award

Philosophy & Humanities

Shannon Mussett

Shannon Mussett received an M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy from Villanova University. She was chair of the Department of Philosophy and Humanities (2012-2015) and will be chair again (2025-2028). She has also served twice as Associate Chair and as the Gender Studies Coordinator (2012-2015). She is currently Executive Co-Director of the Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy, the second largest professional philosophy organization. Dr. Mussett received the Honors Professor of the Year award in 2021, the UVU Board of Trustees Award of Excellence award in 2020, the Honors Faculty Recognition Award in 2019, and the Outstanding Faculty Award, School of Humanities and Social Sciences in 2017.  Dr. Mussett has taught at UVU for over 20 years and remains in total awe of the students—their curiosity, passion, and dedication to learning. There is nowhere else she would want to be and is honored to serve this dynamic, supportive, and thriving university.  She is married to fellow professor, Michael Shaw. They have two children, Cleo and Milo, who seem to be following in their philosophical footsteps on their own journeys into higher education. She loves to hike, travel, cook, and work to make the world better in whatever ways she can.

Kyler Wakefield headshot

DEAN’S distinguished staff award

MSW Program Manager

Kyler Wakefield

 Kyler Wakefield is from Orangeville, Utah, and earned both of his degrees at Utah Valley University, including a B.A. in History and a Master of Public Administration (MPA). Kyler has one published article and has another approved for publication. Both articles are related to Utah history and started as projects as a UVU student. In his UVU position, Kyler is proud to play a role in improving the administration of the Master of Social Work program as it prepares for growth. Kyler loves to cook, camp, play Dungeons and Dragons, and spend time with his wonderful wife, Afton. As a history alumnus, he wants to give a shoutout to the liberal arts students and educators—we are engaging, skillful, and deep-thinking people who make meaningful contributions to our workplaces.

Kristina Gibby headshot

DEAN’S distinguished faculty scholarship award

Philosophy & Humanities

Kristina Gibby

Kristina S. Gibby is from Thousand Oaks, California, and earned her B.A. in Humanities and M.A. in Comparative Studies from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Louisiana State University. In 2023, Dr. Gibby published her first book, Ancestral Voices, Healing Narratives: Female Ghosts in Contemporary US and Caribbean Fiction, which explores the significance of female ghosts—specifically maternal figures, who haunt female narrators, inspiring them to transcribe the dead's obfuscated (hi)stories and recover their family memory. As part of the Philosophy & Humanities department, she teaches Humanities through the Arts, World History through the Arts I & II, Adventures in Ideas after 1500 ("World Literature"), Art and Culture of Latin America, Approaches to Humanities, the Caribbean Novel, and Humanities Capstone. Dr. Gibby loves to hike, travel, and read.

Section 2 Header

2024 Award Winners

Christa Albrecht-Crane

Professor, English and Literature

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Rachel Arocho

Assistant Professor, Family Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Teaching

Jolene Arnoff

Assistant to the Dean, College of Humanities & Social Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

Steven Sylvester

Associate Professor, Political Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Scholarship

2023 Award Winners

Bryan Eldredge

Department Chair, Languages and Cultures

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Brent Austin

Lecturer, Applied Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Teaching

Stephanie Vasquez

Admin Support III, Languages and Cultures

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

Leslie Simon

Associate Professor, Philosophy and Humanities

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Scholarship

Ezgi Sertler

Assistant Professor, Philosophy

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Inclusion

Ashley Nadeau

Assistant Professor, English and Literature

Faculty Senate Award of Excellence

2022 Award Winners

Jeffrey Nielson

Instructor, Philosophy & Humanities

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Elizabeth Fawcett

Assistant Professor and Program Director, Master of MFT

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Teaching

Kiera Davis

Associate Director, Master of CMHC

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

Todd Spencer

Assistant Professor, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Scholarship or Creative Work

 
 

2021 Award Winners

Grant Richards

Professor, Psychology

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Leandra Hinojosa Hernández

Assistant Professor, Communications

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Teaching

Lori Duke

Associate Director, MFT Clinical Coordinator

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

Fredrick H. White

Professor, Integrated Studies

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Scholarship or Creative Work

 
 

2020 Award Winners

Martin McDonell

Professor, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Nathan Gorelick

Associate Professor, English & Literature 

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Scholarship or Creative Work

Gregory Jackson

Assistant Professor, Integrated Studies

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Teaching

Kristen Smith

Administrative Assistant, Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

 
 

2019 Award Winners

Anton Tolman

Professor, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Russell T. Warne

Associate Professor, Behavioral Science 

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Scholarship or Creative Work

Stevie Munz

Assistant Professor, Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Teaching

Natalie Shelley

Advisor, Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

 
 

2018 Award Winners

Elaine Englehardt

Professor, Philosophy & Humanities

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Farah A. Sanders

Lecturer, Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Scholarship or Creative Work

Claudia Jorgensen

Assistant Professor, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Teaching

Mark Olson

Program Coordinator, Integrated Studies

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

 
 

2017 Award Winners

David Morin

Assistant Professor, Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Eric Stencil

Assistant Professor, Philosophy & Humanities

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Scholarship

Maria Blevins

Assistant Professor, Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Teaching

Leslie Gae Robinson

Academic Advisor, Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Advising

Amelia Riding

Administrative Assistant, Languages & Cultures

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

 

2016 Award Winners

Dr. Karen Mizell

Professor, Philosophy & Humanities

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Stephen Whyte

Assistant Professor, Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Creative Work

Dr. Nancy Tobler

Assistant Professor, Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Research

Angela Chavez

Advisor, History & Political Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

Kiera Davis

Administrative Assistant, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

 

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2015 Award Winners

Travis Reynolds

Academic Advisor, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Advising

Kimberly Williamson

Administrative Assistant, History & Political Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

Dr. Rob Carney

Professor, English & Literature

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Creative Work

Dr. Jessica C. Hill

Assistant Professor, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Research

Dr. Michael Minch

Professor, Philosophy & Humanities; Director, Peace & Justice Studies Program

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

 

2014 Award Winners

Tara Ivie

Academic Advisor, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Advising

Toni Harris

Assistant Dean, College of Humanities & Social Sciences

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

Dr. Kris Doty

Assistant Professor, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Dr. Karin Anderson

Professor, English & Literature

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Creative Work

Dr. Russell Warne

Assistant Professor, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Research

 

2013 Award Winners

David Scott

Communication

Dean’s Award for Excellence for Research

Dave Litchford

Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Nancy Rushforth

Integrated Studies

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Creative Work

John MacFarlane

History & Political Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Advising

Natalie Shelley

Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

 

Fourth Section (Section 4)

2012 Award Winners

Chris Weigel

Philosophy & Humanities

Dean’s Recognition Award for Scholarly Research

Rob Carney

English & Literatures

Dean's Recognition Award for Creative Work

Roger Wise

Behavioral Science

Dean's Recognition Award for Service

Kristen Campbell

Behavioral Science

Dean's Recognition Award for Advisor Excellence

Mark Olsen

Integrated Studies

Dean's Recognition Award for Staff Excellence

 

2011 Award Winners

Dr. Christa Albrecht-Crane

English & Literature

Dean’s Recognition Award for Scholarly Research

Alex Caldiero

Philosophy & Humanities

Dean’s Recognition Award for Creative Work

Roger Wise

Behavioral Science

Dean’s Recognition Award for Service

Kristen Campbell

Behavioral Science

Dean’s Recognition Award for Advisor Excellence

Mark Olson

Integrated Studies

Dean’s Recognition Award for Staff Excellence

 
 

2010 Award Winners

Dr. David Richard Keller

Philosophy & Humanities

Dean’s Recognition Award for Scholarly Research

Scott Carrier

Communication

Dean's Recognition Award for Service

Dawn Chase 

English & Literature

Dean’s Recognition Award for Advisor Excellence

Carol Morgan 

Languages

Dean’s Recognition Award for Staff Excellence

 
 
 
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