Four Faculty Recognized with Awards for Excellence

ST. PAUL, Minn., April 16, 2025  – The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities today recognized four individuals with Awards for Excellence. These awards are conferred annually to college and university teaching faculty and university administrative service faculty to acknowledge and provide systemwide recognition for consistently superior commitment to student learning and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence at the colleges and universities of Minnesota State.

“Our dedicated teaching and service faculty empower students to succeed by providing exceptional education and support services. From academic programming to student services to residential life, their commitment ensures opportunities for all Minnesotans and fuels our state’s future growth and prosperity. The Board of Trustees Awards for Excellence honor their transformative contributions to our students, communities, and state,” George Soule, chair of the Board of Trustees, said.

2025 SERVICE FACULTY OF THE YEAR

This award is bestowed upon university service faculty to acknowledge and reward exceptional commitment to students and to encourage ongoing excellence in the key roles that service faculty fulfill at our system’s universities including advising and counseling students; recruitment, retention, and placement of students; residential life programming; facilitation of student groups and student leadership; and other involvement in university and community activities.  This year, the Service Faculty of the Year is:

Nina Johnson
Director of Hobson Memorial Union
Bemidji State University

“No matter how you look at the five criteria that the Board of Trustees has established for this honor — leadership, expertise, advancement of equity and inclusion, professional development and commitment to student success — Nina Johnson excels,” John Hoffman, Bemidji State University president, said. “She is the ideal candidate for this award, and I could not be more pleased to share her nomination with you.”

2025 EDUCATORS OF THE YEAR

These awards are bestowed upon faculty within Minnesota State to acknowledge and reward exceptional commitment to student learning, and to encourage ongoing excellence in teaching. The award proclaims, on behalf of the entire Minnesota State system, the Board of Trustees’ pride in the dedication and accomplishment of its faculty who provide instruction that prepares Minnesota State college and university students for their professional, scholarly, and civic lives. This year, the Educators of the Year are:

J. Scott Baker
Education
St. Cloud State University

“Scott Baker supports students in their journey of self-reflection and demonstrates how that helps them make sense of their future classrooms,” Larry Dietz, interim president of St. Cloud State University, said. “While students go through this process, Scott assesses them as they grow in self-awareness as future teachers. Self-reflection, vulnerability and authenticity are important means to build a community of belonging within classrooms.”

Monica Erling
Sociology
Hennepin Technical College

“As a leader and communicator, Monica exemplifies excellence. She brings people together across disciplines and departments, creating cohesive and supportive networks that enhance the college’s mission and culture,” Joy Bodin, Hennepin Technical College president, said. “Her ability to create a peaceful, inclusive work environment is a testament to her leadership qualities and her genuine care for those around her.”

Lisa Tracy
Biology
Inver Hills Community College

“Lisa is gifted at making connections with her students and aims to make sure her courses are engaging in a culturally responsive manner,” Michael Berndt, Inver Hills Community College president, said. “Lisa seeks to learn about her students as individuals through an introductory survey. One way she uses that information is to invite students to teach her how to greet them in their native language. She will sometimes even know her students’ children’s names when they appear in the Zoom room.”

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Minnesota State includes 26 community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving approximately 270,000 students. It is the fourth-largest system of two-year colleges and four-year universities in the United States.