Montana State’s College of Letters and Science to honor top faculty, staff and students on April 16

BOZEMAN - The Montana State University College of Letters and Science will honor faculty, staff and students at its annual awards ceremony Thursday, April 16, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Strand Union Building Ballrooms C and D. The event is free and open to the public.

Honorees are listed below by award and name. Information about them is taken from nominating materials.

Excellence in Classroom Teaching and Laboratory Teaching

William Fassbender, an assistant professor in the Department of English, and Samida Shetty, assistant professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, each will receive the Excellence in Classroom Teaching and Laboratory Teaching award.

Fassbender, who co-leads the undergraduate teaching option and graduate master's in English education programs, is known for cultivating a classroom culture grounded in thoughtful inquiry and shared intellectual responsibility. It is typical for him to facilitate class discussions with carefully timed questions and prompts that encourage students to clarify their ideas, extend their thinking and make connections across course texts, always ensuring that students are the primary drivers of the conversation. He cultivates rigorous intellectual engagement while supporting students as developing teachers and scholars, creating a culture in which challenging ideas can be explored collaboratively and respectfully. Fassbender also co-directs the Yellowstone Writing Project, a robust community of more than 100 teachers across Montana and bordering states.

Shetty teaches a number of statistics courses that, despite their difficulty, are popular with students. She uses Socratic lectures mixed with guided labs in statistical procedures that incorporate statistical software. Shetty is able to foster deeper understanding of difficult concepts through back-and-forth communication with individual students in class, while also ensuring the entire class is brought into the conversation. Her lectures are engaging but flexible, capturing student interest and questions while not straying from the main points. Shetty also organizes the math department's DataFest, a 48-hour data science competition that takes place over a weekend.

Excellence in Teaching that Enhances Our University and College's Commitment to Access and Success

Linda Karell, associate professor, and Kara Lapp, instructor, both in the Department of English, each will receive the Excellence in Teaching award for enhancing a commitment to access and success at MSU and in the College of Letters and Science.

In more than three decades of teaching at MSU, Karell has demonstrated a commitment to access and success for every student that goes well beyond single course offerings and is evident throughout her entire teaching portfolio. In the past several years, she has taught courses with literature that introduces diversity in terms of gender, race, geographic location, sexuality, class and international history. She ensures that classroom conversations about these works take place in a safe and open community. She is equally attentive to the needs of students with disabilities, explicitly inviting them to communicate needed accommodations early and without stigma.

Lapp is an MSU alumna and instructor who strives to create a collaborative environment for students where linguistic and writing diversity is celebrated and valued. She believes that diversity in the writing classroom begins with recognizing and respecting the various communities that students represent while also presenting them with varied materials from which to learn. The works she selects offer students insight into lives different from their own but comprehensible through the dedication of her teaching.

Excellence in Mentorship at the Undergraduate and Graduate Levels

Benjamin Leubner, assistant professor in the Department of English, will receive the award for Excellence in Mentorship at the Undergraduate and Graduate Levels. He is being recognized, in part, for his excellent mentorship of undergraduate students, graduate teaching assistants, master's students in traditional and accelerated programs, and doctoral candidates in American studies. He currently serves as coordinator of the English department's new accelerated master's program, which allows exceptional undergraduates to begin accumulating graduate credits in their final two years of study and complete a master's degree on a compressed timeline. Leubner has functioned simultaneously as administrator, advocate, adviser and guide for this developing program, which has revitalized student interest in graduate studies in the department. His dedication to students in the classroom is no less notable, with his teaching grounded in the belief that a teacher is someone who loves to learn and tries to get others to love to learn, too. He trusts in his students as thinkers and urges them to carry curiosity with them beyond the classroom. At MSU, he has chaired or served on more than a dozen master's thesis committees, advised independent studies in both the English and American studies graduate programs and received numerous awards for his teaching and mentorship.

Excellence in Teaching that Advances MSU's Land-Grant Mission

Charo Loa, instructor in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, and Beth Shirley, assistant professor in the Department of English, are being recognized for their work preparing students to become committed educators in communities across Montana.

Loa, who teaches Spanish language, is praised by her students for the passion she brings to the subject matter. Her knowledge of the topics introduced in class contribute to deep, productive and open-minded discussions, and her high standards motivate students to better themselves as they pursue higher learning. The life experiences she had growing up in Lima, Peru, inform her teaching directly and help provide students with a valuable global perspective that is important to their development as citizens. She also works in the classroom to locate students' experiences within a broader cross-cultural context, which is important in Montana's agricultural and rural communities.

Shirley chose to join the faculty at MSU because of the opportunity she would have to work with the citizens of the state. As a technical and professional communications scholar, Shirley focuses on ways that academic, professional, agricultural and rural stakeholders communicate their specialized knowledge to one another and to the public, particularly about issues of environmental import such as climate change, sustainable agriculture and agritourism. She brings together interdisciplinary networks of researchers and community stakeholders to learn from one another while addressing shared problems. She is invested in connecting students with public stakeholders and has devised creative ways to do so. Her students have tackled projects that range from producing a magazine to creating digital templates for use by MSU Extension that are aimed at attracting younger viewers.

Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards

Hannah Christiaens, a master's student in English, and Kevin Surya, a doctoral student in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, will receive Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards.

Christiaens is the GTA for assistant professor Beth Shirley's researched writing course, in which writing majors are introduced to a variety of research methods and encouraged to pursue their own original research questions. She brings in her own experiences with research and thinks critically about the integration of research with teaching. She understands that research is intimidating at first, and she engages with students to help them find their own way, empowering them to try new things and to master challenging skills. In 2024, Christiaens was a TA for Shirley's digital rhetorics and multimodal writing course and was instrumental in helping to develop a new service-learning project in collaboration with MSU Extension. Christiaens' suggestions and input were critical to students' enjoyment and success in the project overall. The work done on the collaborative pilot project resulted in two different peer-reviewed publications, which Christiaens co-authored. In 2025, she presented findings from that research at a conference.

Surya has served as a GTA since 2021, instructing courses including college algebra, introduction to statistics, methods of data analysis II and intermediate statistics with computing. His exceptional teaching and support of the curriculum design showcases his independence, deep knowledge and care for his students. His supervisors praise his many attributes, including his preparedness, dedication and understanding of content. In the classroom, Surya shares thoughtful content with his students, demonstrating his ability to present material in new and useful ways. He provides not only effective direct instruction but thoughtful feedback on assignments, helping students to think critically during class activities. His students report that he is able to explain concepts and provide guidance without giving away the answers or leaving them frustrated. When given an opportunity to improve curriculum, Surya has done so, underscoring his ability to translate statistical knowledge to quality content and his dedication to teaching and learning. Outside the classroom, Surya participates in the student chapter of the American Statistical Association and the student club that helps provide tutoring during DataFest each spring. His work during the event reflects his dedication to student learning and his passion for teaching.

Meritorious Research/Creativity Award

Lindsey Albertson, associate professor in the Department of Ecology, and Blair Davey, associate professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, will receive the Letters and Science Meritorious Research and Creativity Award for their contributions to research.

Albertson's productivity in the field of zoogeomorphology - the process by which organisms alter their environments to elicit structural geological and morphological changes - has elevated her reputation in the field, as well as that of the department and college. Coral reefs are well-known examples of ecosystem engineering, but the importance of other, less noticeable examples is becoming better understood, in large part because of Albertson's creative and insightful investigations identifying and quantifying those effects. Especially notable is her integrative work looking at the significance of the geomorphological changes made by animals. Albertson is the preeminent researcher of zoogeomorphology in freshwater aquatic ecosystems, focusing on macroinvertebrates such as caddisflies and crayfish in habitats including the Yellowstone, Gallatin and Madison rivers. Her work has led to a better and broader understanding of their ecology, which in turn has afforded enhanced management of these resources. Albertson is also an excellent classroom teacher who supports the research of many undergraduate and graduate students.

Davey's scholarship and research have been met with enthusiasm and respect from renowned experts in her field. In her highly technical research, she examines theorems about the two types of partial differential equations. Her greatest accomplishment in the last five years has been the development of a framework for producing parabolic theorems from their elliptic counterparts. This method of deriving solutions to partial differential equations had not been generally possible previously, and her work is greatly valued by the research community. Davey is the author of more than 20 papers in the field of partial differential equations, with her work appearing in the most prestigious journals, and she is the principal investigator of a highly competitive National Science Foundation CAREER award. Davey does not work in isolation, instead inviting and promoting mathematical collaboration. In 2024, she was the co-organizer of a partial differential equation workshop in Moab, Utah, that brought scholars from across the nation together to examine open questions in their field. She also organized a conference in Bozeman, bringing international scholars to MSU to interact with each other, introduce ideas to graduate students and to advance new ideas among collaborators. Davey is described as a "generous mentor" of her graduate students.

Excellence in Integration

Steven Kalinowski, professor in the Department of Ecology, and Craig Lee, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, will receive the Excellence in Integration award, which recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated student engagement in valuable learning processes that integrate teaching, outreach and research activities.

Kalinowski is a conservation geneticist who came to MSU in 2003 to pursue research in his field before shifting his focus to the ways students learn to think scientifically. For the past decade, he has investigated that question and worked to discover how faculty can best teach science. While continuing to teach in the Department of Ecology, Kalinowski concurrently conducts research into teaching science in a way that will have measurable positive outcomes for undergraduates at MSU and beyond. His research shows that a student's scientific reasoning skill is a strong predictor of grades in a variety of STEM courses related to the department's biological sciences major, as well as to retention in STEM fields. Kalinowski created a scientific reasoning skill exam that is given both to incoming freshmen students and to graduating seniors in the department. That assessment has identified students' level of mastery of various topics pre- and post-instruction. In addition, Kalinowski created and teaches a one-credit course on scientific thinking. He also has tested new ways to teach the principles of biological diversity course, and he is the author of the book "Scientific Thinking: A Student-Centered Approach."

Lee has been a model of integration since he joined the faculty in 2022. He consistently integrates teaching, research and service, raising the visibility of the department and MSU while providing students with memorable fieldwork and applied experiences. Last fall, in collaboration with the Extreme History Project, students in Lee's Anthropology 215 course took part in the excavation of an area of downtown Bozeman in advance of its redevelopment. This is one of many examples of integration Lee has led through public-facing, community-engaged research and professional consulting. He has collaborated with Indigenous scholars and museum professionals on museum exhibits and engaged diverse audiences on his archaeological research. He emphasizes ethical, consensus-based content development, particularly with Indigenous partners. Lee is a board member and officer of the PaleoCultural Research Group, and he lends his academic expertise to support applied research, public outreach and organizational sustainability.

Kathy Griffith Employee Excellence

Doreen Brown in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephanie McLaren in the Department of Physicsand Sheridan Peña, formerly of the dean's office, each will receive the Kathy Griffith Employee Excellence Award, which annually recognizes employees for exceptional work performance.

Brown, who has served as the graduate program director of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry since 2010, is described as graduate students' "biggest champion." On a practical level, she handles organizational matters efficiently, but she goes above and beyond to ensure that the program's outstanding students flourish. Over the past three years, she has worked with faculty to develop a "Toolkit" course for first-year graduate students, making sure that faculty are available to lead the different sessions. Brown also routinely sits in on graduate student exams and seminars. For more than 15 years, she has organized the graduate teaching assistants, ensuring there is a qualified TA for every lab section, and this semester, she worked with the general chemistry program to develop a new contract for TAs that more clearly defines the roles and expectations of the position. She also has worked diligently with a committee to significantly improve the graduate student handbook. Last fall, Brown organized the department's annual graduate recruiting event, ensuring a flawless presentation of the department's strengths for the next generation of chemists and biochemists. She also voluntarily and routinely works beyond her job description to help the department by taking on extra duties, such as oversight of the departmental website and newsletter.

McLaren is heavily relied upon by the physics department to take care of paperwork associated with employee assignments and to interface with Human Resources and the college on faculty searches, the annual budget and all other matters of business. She ably renders assistance on financial matters, studying and verifying records and accounts. Her familiarity with those has helped the department identify funds for various needs, including updating laboratory manuals for different courses over the past two years and bringing Physics 103 into an online format. Almost everyone in the department seeks McLaren's assistance at some point, and she provides it in a friendly, professional and efficient manner. Her work enables the department to reach its educational, scholarly and service goals, all of which contribute greatly to the missions of the college and MSU.

Peña, who recently left the college for another position on campus, served in the dean's office as the academic services manager for two years. Without fail, she handled her wide range of duties with professionalism and dedication, going above and beyond for students, faculty and staff. Peña worked closely with the College of Letters and Science Student Ambassadors, assisting with numerous projects related to student engagement, outreach and college recruitment. She is described by one of those ambassadors as "the root of our team's success," setting the agendas, leading the meetings and managing event logistics. She was valued and admired by faculty, staff and students for her personable demeanor, attention to detail and commitment to her many duties.

CLS Dean's Award for Outstanding Graduating Senior

The College of Letters and Science Dean's Award is presented to two outstanding seniors: Derek Jollie, a student in the departments of mathematical sciences and physics, is the recipient of the science award, and Lukas Kosel, a student in the Department of English and Department of History and Philosophy, receives the letters award.

Jollie, who is majoring in mathematics and physics, is known as an exceptional student whose record reflects the highest standards of achievement in the College of Letters and Science. He is an accomplished dual-degree student, productive researcher and leader with an exceptional academic record, both in CLS and the Honors College. In addition to completing several challenging upper-division mathematics courses, he already has excelled in three graduate-level courses in linear algebra, analysis and topology. His intellectual curiosity extends well beyond the classroom into the broader research community. He participated in the UCLA Computational and Applied Mathematics REU in 2024 and 2025, working on projects ranging from multimodal scientific foundation models to Gaussian process-based identification of potential energy surfaces in magneto-gravitational traps. At MSU, he has collaborated with associate professor Scott McCalla on research focused on identifying physical laws from data. To that end, he built experimental apparatuses and reached out to faculty in the physics department to initiate collaborations. He is the lead author of a peer-reviewed publication published in 2025 in the Journal of Machine Learning for Modeling and Computing and has also demonstrated the ability to communicate his ideas through presentations of his research. His research spans sophisticated topics at the intersection of mathematics, physics, computation and machine learning. Jollie is a Hilleman Scholar, a Goldwater Scholar and the winner of multiple university and departmental scholarships. Among his many meaningful contributions to the math department and broader university community, he has participated in the department's Directed Reading Program, worked as a tutor in the Math and Stats Center, and he currently serves as president the Math Club. He is recognized by faculty and peers as outgoing, curious and respectful, always helpful and engaged in and outside the classroom.

Kosel, who will graduate this spring with degrees in history and English, is described by his professors as a thoughtful, committed and intellectually curious student who is driven by learning and working through ideas in community. At MSU, he has pursued his many and varied interests in writing, history, Africana studies and foreign relations in multiple ways, balancing the courseload that comes with a dual major with his work on the student newspaper and as a tutor at the MSU Writing Center. In the classroom, Kosel has consistently contributed to discussions by striking the balance between sharing his own insights and reflecting on those expressed by other students. He has eagerly embraced numerous opportunities to conduct and present his research. For a class project, he produced a podcast that deeply explored the ways that African folklore appeared in various forms in African American rhetoric during and after enslavement; he conducted archival and interview research to explore the history and rhetoric of the Black Panther chapter in Seattle in the late 1960s and early '70s; and, through an independent study funded through MSU's Undergraduate Scholars Program, he traveled to archives across the western United States to explore how the concept of miscegenation appears in racial rhetorics in the West. He went on to present that research at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research in Pittsburgh. Kosel is a Hilleman Scholar who worked for the past two summers as a paid intern in China as a fellow of the Baucus Institute. In the College of Letters and Science, he has distinguished himself beyond the classroom through his already mentioned extracurricular activities and as a CLS Student Ambassador. He also has poured energy into building the Africana Studies certificate program, working to recruit students and secure funding to ensure the program's longevity.