Service and Scholarship: Lindenwood Announces 2026 Faculty Awards

Lindenwood faculty were recognized at the University’s annual awards ceremony, held on Monday, April 20 in the Lindenwood Theater.  

The event opened with years of service recognition for employees who are celebrating five, 10, 20, and 30 years at the University. Each honoree was presented with a special pin commemorating the occasion. 

• The faculty awards began with Assistant Professor of Art History Dr. Trenton Olsen winning the Excellence in Teaching Award. The award recognizes innovation, student-centeredness, and teaching effectiveness. Olsen was recognized for his integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality into student learning, personalized mentorship, and co-curricular leadership.  
• The President’s Scholar-Teacher Award is presented to a full-time faculty member who most effectively merges professional scholarship with effective pedagogy. Associate Professor of Public Health Dr. Amy Estlund won the award following her Fulbright-funded global health research in Bosnia and Herzegovina and collaborations with organizations such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the United Nations Population Fund. Estlund was commended for “sustained commitment to merging scholarly work with meaningful, high-impact teaching,” having applied the research and organizations as an educational opportunity for students. 
• Professor of Chemistry Dr. Scott Hasty won the Scholar of the Year Award which honors commitment to professional scholarship. Hasty has guided nearly 30 students to present at regional and national American Chemical Society (ACS) and is planning submissions to ACS journals. Presenting the award, Faculty Council Chair Dr. Wojciech Golik added, “by maintaining a high-output research program, producing conference presentations, and contributing publishable innovations to the field, Scott demonstrates sustained, impactful scholarship recognized beyond the institution.” 
• The Lindenwood Service Award is presented to a full-time faculty member who exhibits service to and promotion of the University. Associate Professor Susan Edele received the honor. “As Director of the Writing Center and Foreign Language Lab, she supports over 1,000 students annually while mentoring tutors and specialists to deliver inclusive, high-quality academic assistance,” said Faculty Council Vice Chair Amanda Harrod. Edele was also recognized for coaching faculty, leading the Writing Center to a national certification, and community-building efforts. 
• The Lindenwood Adjunct Teaching Award was awarded to Adjunct Instructor of Art History Krista Carpino. The award celebrates the combination of innovation, student-centeredness, and teaching effectiveness. Through redesigning the gateway course curriculum and maintaining student engagement and personalized learning through online classes, Carpino was praised for exemplifying excellence in adjunct teaching. 
• Associate Professor of Exercise Science Dr. Kyle Sunderland won the First-Year Impact Award. Selected by current first-year students, some shared their thoughts on Sunderland’s impact. “From the very first weeks of college, when everything feels new and uncertain, he creates a classroom that students genuinely look forward to,” Student Experience Program Manager Paris Suzuki read. “Beyond the curriculum, he invests in students as individuals—checking in, listening, and helping them envision their futures.” 
• Selected by Lindenwood Student Government, the Faculty Advisor and Mentor of the Year Award was presented by Student Government Vice President Emily Worthmore. Professor of English Dr. Justine Pas received the award. “Dr. Pas goes above and beyond her role—creating opportunities, checking in on students, and inspiring us to aim higher,” Worthmore read. “I truly believe she represents the heart of what a mentor should be, and I am grateful for the positive difference she continues to make in my journey at Lindenwood” 
• The Professor of the Year Award, also selected by Lindenwood Student Government, went to Professor of Advertising and Public Relations Dr. Kristy Tucciarone. “Dr. Tucciarone is incredibly passionate about advertising and truly does an amazing job in real-world preparation for her students in the classroom,” Worthmore read. “Recently, she had a group of her students create designs for billboards and partnered with the University marketing so that these designs are now on display throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area as advertisements for the University.” 
• Assistant Professor of Game Design Ben Fulcher was presented with the RISE Innovator Award. Celebrating creativity, problem solving, or innovation in implementing the RISE pillars, the award commended Fulcher creating a professional simulation from a classroom project. Putting students into real world situations, Fulcher allowed students to think and act as industry professionals. 
• The RISE and AI Award was presented to one full-time and one adjunct faculty member who have either integrated AI into their coursework or adapted their coursework in response to an AI-enabled world. Senior Professor of Psychology Dr. Colleen Biri accepted the award. A member of the AI Task Force and leader of the College of Science, Technology, and Health’s AI pilot, Biri creates custom GPTs for students and mentors colleagues on AI use. Adjunct Instructor Robert Moresi also accepted the RISE and AI Award. Having completed AI courses in the Learning Academy and being a member of the AI book club, Moresi applied this understanding to his Principles of Management class. Moresi addresses student anxieties and teaches ethical use of AI for future managers. 

Closing the event, Senior Vice President of Human Resources Dr. Deb Ayres told the crowd, “the work you do- often behind the scenes- shapes our students’ experiences, strengthens our community, and moves this institution forward in meaningful ways.”