51Âþ»­

51Âþ»­ proudly recognized employees during a ceremony on May 9 in the St. Francis Center on campus. The following awards and recipients were announced:

• Janet Rohmiller, Associate Professor of Education, received the Emerging Faculty Scholar Award. This award is awarded to a faculty member who has taught at Briar Cliff for five years or less and has demonstrated outstanding scholarship in one or more of the following areas: teaching, research, creative work, community-based application of knowledge, and the integration and synthesis of knowledge. 

• Ken Berg, Associate Professor of Education, received the Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award. This award is presented to a faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship in one or more of the following areas: teaching, research, service to the university, creative work, community-based application of knowledge, and/or the integration and synthesis of knowledge. 

• Judy Tagstrom, Senior Accountant, received the Distinguished Staff Award. This award is given to a staff member who has demonstrated over time extraordinary and consistent commitment to their responsibilities. 

• Larry Obermeyer, Director of Resource Development, received the Paul and Frances Duff Pursuit of Excellence Award. This award is given annually to the person who demonstrates extraordinary commitment to improving our institutional quality, who constantly seeks to actualize talents and gifts, who displays integrity by committing personal energy to the fullest development of her or his God-given gifts, who recognizes the importance of faith and unselfish service, and who is a great credit to 51Âþ»­. 

• Brian Cook, Assistant Professor of Music, received the Bonaventure Award. This award is given to an employee who works to advance and achieve the integration of student curricular and co-curricular experiences through the establishment of learning communities, collaborative ventures, and/or other activities that promote the attainment of a holistic education. 

• Alisha Elder, Education Instructor, received the Clare Diversity Award. This award is given to an employee who has demonstrated through positive interactions with others, a respect and value for differing backgrounds and points of view along with efforts to foster a more inclusive and equitable learning and work environment within the university community. 

• Scott Griffith, Assistant Professor of Business Administration, received the Innovation Award. This award is presented to an employee who has demonstrated creativity, a deep understanding of the levels and barriers in high education and offered a new or improved approach or opportunity related to innovative education, and as a result, made the university a better place. 

• Melanie Berte-Hickey, Associate Professor of Social Work, received the Community Impact Award. This award is given to an employee who has contributed greatly to the achievement of the university’s outreach mission by undertaking efforts that are meaningful and responsive to the community interest, needs and that reflect positively on the university as a whole, with substantive impact and long-term significance for the larger community and Briar Cliff’s place in it. 

• Rachel DeMoss, Senior Graphic Design and Communications Specialist, received the Spiritus Franciscanus Award. This award is given to a member of the University community, student, staff, faculty, or administrator, who imitates and reflects the values and lives of St. Francis and St. Clare.

In addition, employees were honored for their milestones in their years of service to Briar Cliff. The following employees served a combined 215 years and were honored:  

• 5 years: Teri Copple, Audrey DeWitt, Suzie Fischer, Tracey Lamoreaux, Corby McGlauflin, Shannon O-Connell-Persaud, Andy Osborn, Sandra Scholten, Kelsey Stevens, Connie Windeshausen 

• 10 years: Ronda Keenan, Jennifer Hamman, Daniel Jung, Meggen Lloyd, James Mosley, Ashley Pawlowski, Shane Saxen, Dr. Eric Strong, Wilfrido Suarez, Dr. Patrick Hauer 

• 25 years: Carla Grey 

• 35 years: Bobbi Swanson