Faculty and Staff Achievements

Dr. Tim Anderson, professor of business, is serving as an elected member and chairman-elect of the Board of Commissioners for the Baccalaureate/Graduate Degree Commission of the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, the accrediting association for business programs. He also partnered with Dr. Rick Puetz of Dakota State University for a presentation at the ACBSP national conference on Quality Assurance Reporting in summer 2010. They will make a similar presentation at the 2011 conference.

The Chadron State College Arboretum, under the direction of facilities coordinator Blair Brennan and horticulturist Lucinda Mays, was the recipient of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum’s 2010 Affiliate Site Award. The award is presented to recognize public gardens that “demonstrate excellence in collection development, maintenance practice and community engagement.”

Dr. Kathy Bahr, professor of English, won the 2011 Frederick C. Luebke Award for outstanding regional scholarship. She won the award for her essay, "Collateral Damage: Veterans and Domestic Violence in Mari Sandoz’s ‘The Tom-Walker.’”

Ryan Baily, head track and field coach, was named this year’s Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Women’s Indoor Track and Field coach of the year.

Dawn Brammer, assistant professor of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, was elected president of the Nebraska Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance. The year-long post runs from November 2010 to November 2011.

Dr. Mathew Brust, assistant professor of science, is credited for discovering a previously undocumented beetle that will be officially described. He also authored five scholarly works about insects that were published in professional journals. He presented information about the design and function of adhesive setae in male tiger beetles to the North Central Branch of the Entomological Society of America at Minneapolis, Minn.

Nancy Cairns-Pietrangelo, an adjunct faculty member for Social and Communication Arts, received the Presidental Gold Award for Community Service from President Barack Obama for her international works with UNICEF. The awards are presented to “thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service.”

Dr. Laura Gaudet, chairwoman of Counseling, Psychology and Social Work, has been elected the post-secondary vice president for the Nebraska School Counseling Association for the second time. She was elected during the NSCA conference in October 2010. The term runs from July 1, 2011, to July 1, 2012.

Dr. Joyce Hardy, professor of science, was selected in late summer 2010 to serve as a peer reviewer for Higher Learning Commission accreditation. Since taking the post, she has been training in the Program to Evaluate and Advance Quality and Pathways accreditation processes.

Michael Kennedy, journalism instructor and adviser, was elected the 2011-2012 executive director of the Nebraska Collegiate Media Association during its annual conference in Hastings on Saturday, April 9.

Deb Kuskie, food services office manager, was presented the Award of Excellence for Creative Dining Services for 2010-2011. The award is presented to one employee annually for excellence in attitude, initiative, service and performance.

Con Marshall, information services officer, was named the Chadron’s 2010 Citizen of the Year by the Chadron Record newspaper in January.

Pam Newberg, King Library head of technical services, presented two sessions at the Online Audio-Visual Catalogers Conference in Macon, Ga., in October 2010. The sessions were entitled Beginning Sound Recordings Cataloging and Realia Cataloging. She also is a member, and most recent past chairwoman, of the Cataloging of Children’s Materials Committee of the Association of Library Cataloging and Technical Services, which is part of ALA. She will be part of a panel presentation in June at the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans.

Dr. Shafiq Rahman, associate professor of communication arts, has authored a book that details challenges faced by Bangladeshi-Americans since 9/11. The book, “The Bangladeshi Diaspora in the United States after 9/11: From Obscurity to High Visibility,” has been published and profiles the Bangladeshi community in the United States.

Michele Rickenbach, assistant registrar, was named 2011 woman of the year by the Chadron chapter of the Business and Professional Women.

Brad Smith, athletic director, has been selected to enter the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Hall of Fame this summer. The honor follows last summer’s induction of Dr. Scott Ritzen, wrestling coach, as a member of the 1980 Adams State College wrestling team.

Maggie Smith-Bruehlman, Upward Bound program director, graduated August 2010 from the University of Wyoming with a doctorate in curriculum and instruction. She also completed a 200-hour Yoga Certification Teacher Training program in Costa Rica in December 2010. Now a certified yoga teacher, she is teaching yoga classes in the dance studio of the Nelson Physical Activity Center.

The Nebraska Alumni Association has selected Dr. Teresa Zimmerman, assistant professor of applied sciences, with its Young Alumni Achievement Award. The award will be presented Thursday, May 5, at the association’s 2011 Alumni Awards Banquet in Lincoln.