5 in College of Arts and Sciences receive Dean’s Compass Awards

The College of Arts and Sciences at Northwest Missouri State University recently honored five of its faculty and staff members who embody the University’s core values related to collaboration, respect and integrity, and excellence.

Dr. Elise Hepworth, who joined Northwest as the dean of its College of Arts and Sciences last fall, presented the inaugural Dean’s Compass Awards during the University’s academic unit planning and development meetings in January.

“I wished to initiate this award to publicly recognize the contributions our tremendous faculty and staff make to their departments, the College of Arts and Sciences, and more broadly Northwest Missouri State University,” Hepworth said. “These individuals have gone above and beyond to serve students and colleagues, and it is important that they be acknowledged for the example they set as collaborators, thought partners and teammates.”

Any full-time faculty or staff member whose employment responsibilities are housed within the academic departments of the College of Arts and Sciences is eligible for nomination.

The award recipients and summaries of their nominations are provided below. One individual from each of the five departments comprising the College of Arts and Sciences was recognized.  

	Michelle Allen, laboratory coordinator in the Department of Natural Sciences Allen has long been a key contributor to the department, with responsibilities related to laboratory supply ordering, media and solution preparation, and scientific instrumentation supervision and maintenance. In addition, she has gone above and beyond by providing support to Northwest’s general biology lab program and taking on responsibilities to help manage the renovation of lab spaces in the Garrett-Strong Science Building. Her work has involved tracking the solicitation of funding quotes for scientific equipment and helping to streamline communication between project architects and engineers and the array of faculty connected to the renovation project.
	Dr. Jiwon Choi, staff accompanist in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts Choi is a kind, calm, caring and consistent musician who supports every person with whom she shares a rehearsal room or performance space. She is generous in her musicality and always present for students and faculty alike in their performance needs. She goes above and beyond in her time and dedication to creating an expectation of excellence within the music program. Student performers would not be at the exceptional level that they are without her support at the keyboard.
	Dr. Richard Black, professor of English in the Department of Language, Literature and Writing Black’s promotion to full professor presented him an opportunity to provide more mentoring and leading within the Department of Language, Literature and Writing, and he has easily transitioned into that role. He has an ability to see beyond his own curricular interests and address department matters with openness and care. Such qualities have made him a great chair of the Department’s Literature and Pedagogy Committee and a great colleague to younger faculty. In the last couple of years, he also has stepped into teaching Northwest’s Foundations of Literary Study and Senior Seminar courses, making him a perfect choice for the courses – to represent literary study to new majors and help graduating students with culminating projects.
	Haley Hutcheson, instructor of mathematics and statistics in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics Hutcheson is an integral member of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. According to a colleague, “Haley is a strong collaborator who fosters positive discussions and builds up her colleagues in the Department and across campus.” She has quietly and successfully coordinated Northwest’s high school mathematics competition since its restart in 2023, helping several hundred high school students enjoy an engaging and competitive experience at the University. Hutcheson is an embodiment of the Northwest culture.
	Dr. Bronson Herrera, associate professor of political science in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences Herrera has stepped up this year to take on additional tasks in addition to his oversight of Northwest’s Center for Policy and Civic Engagement (CPCE) for the past several years. One of the items the CPCE undertakes is an exit poll that requires creating a survey, obtaining approval from the University’s Institutional Review Board, managing dozens of student volunteers and then analyzing the data – a larger task during presidential election years when voter turnout is highest and an invaluable experience for students. Herrera also has led efforts to create a master’s degree program in public administration program, which required writing curriculum proposals and coordinating with other faculty writing the remaining proposals. Herrera also is chairing his first search committee this year as the Department searches for a new faculty member to help with the public administration program. Herrera remains a wonderful colleague – always kind and making sure new colleagues feel welcome in the Department.