Thursday, April 23, 2026, in the Kirby Ballroom

The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) held a ceremony on April 23, 2026, to celebrate the exceptional efforts and milestones of its faculty and staff. These awards recognize individuals who exemplify the University’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and public service.

University of Minnesota System Awards

University of Minnesota McKnight Awards

This honor is awarded to exceptional candidates and recognizes professors at different career stages.

• McKnight Land Grant Professorship
  • Daniel Stevens, Physics & Astronomy, SCSE
• McKnight Presidential Fellow
  • Lucas Busta, Chemistry & Biochemistry, SCSE
• Distinguished McKnight University Professorship
  • Karen Gran, Earth & Environmental Sciences, SCSE

Horace T. Morse-University of Minnesota Alumni Association Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education

This honor is awarded to exceptional candidates who exemplify the University's commitment to excellence in undergraduate education.

• Jennifer Jones, Studies in Justice, Culture & Social Change, CAHSS
• Jacob Wainman, Chemistry & Biochemistry, SCSE

Community-Engaged Scholar Award: Research and Creative Activities

• Jessica Hanson, Applied Human Sciences, CEHSP

Exemplary University-Community Partnership Award

• Aparna Katre, World Languages & Cultures, CAHSS

Chancellor’s Awards

Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching

This award recognizes faculty who have made contributions of extraordinary quality to UMD's teaching mission.

• 10+ Years of Service: Rajiv Vaidyanathan, Marketing, LSBE
• Less than 10 Years of Service: Kai Vance, Communication, CAHSS

Chancellor's Award for Distinguished Research/Creative Activity

This award honors faculty for excellence in research, scholarly contributions to their field, and dedication to student research.

• 10+ Years of Service: Ted Ozersky, Large Lakes Observatory & Biology, SCSE
• Less than 10 Years of Service: Jessica Savage, Biology, SCSE

Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Public Service

This award is given to a faculty member with an extraordinary and sustained commitment to public service and community engagement.

• Joseph Lane, Environment, Sustainability & Geography, CAHSS

Advising Awards

Outstanding Undergraduate Faculty Advisor Award

• Lara LaCaille, Psychology, CEHSP

Outstanding Graduate Faculty Advisor Award

• Amy Versnik Nowak, Applied Human Sciences, CEHSP

Outstanding Staff Awards

Outstanding Staff Award

• Nichole Chisholm, Kathryn A. Martin Library
• Anna Gilmore, International Student Services
• Amy Kireta, SCSE
• Lisa Kittelson, Academic Affairs

Outstanding Team Award

• Health Services Counseling Team: Michelle Asp, Sara Cedars, Veronica Gaidelis-Langer, Julie Kim, Karina Krosbakken, Lea Morey Finstrom, and Jim Shreffler

Milestone Years of Service

55 Years of Service

• Tim Roufs

45 Years of Service

• Daniel Seguin

40 Years of Service

• Mark Mizuko
• Ron Moen

35 Years of Service

• Sue Bosell
• Kevin Lamar
• Craig Maly
• Steven Strand
• Michelle Tessier

30 Years of Service

• Steve Bardolph
• Erik Brown
• Richard Maclin
• William Rhodes

25 Years of Service

• Trista Anderson
• Angela Blais
• Valerie Brady
• Donn Branstrator
• Timothy Craig
• Mitra Emad
• Jean Farrell
• Guihua Fei
• Justin Fish
• Ryan Frane
• Linda Goodreau
• Alec Habig
• Thomas Hrabik
• Ginger Johnson
• Andy Kauppinen
• Carmen Latterell
• Curtis Lewis
• Jeffrey Maahs
• Carter Meland
• Ryuta Nakajima
• Rudy Perrault
• Bob Rients
• Michael Rother
• Michael Sengbush
• Kevin Smith
• Christopher Untiedt
• Kara Ward
• Kari Young