Northland Community & Technical College is proud to announce that five faculty and staff members have been named recipients of the 2024 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Awards. The distinguished awardees are Lisa Bottem, who serves as the Financial Aid Director; Caleb Curfman, a History Instructor; Andrea Moses, an Advisor; Mei Sather, a Nursing Instructor; and Joel Ziegler, a Welding Instructor.
NISOD Excellence Awards recognize academic leaders who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and contribution to their students and colleagues. NISOD’s International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence is the definitive gathering of community and technical college educators passionate about teaching and learning.
Since 1989, NISOD’s annual conference has provided faculty, administrators, and staff with the resources, ideas, and solutions that drive excellence in all areas of community and technical college campuses.
Lisa Bottem, Financial Aid Director
“I feel truly honored to have been nominated and selected as a recipient of this award,” said Bottem. “It is humbling to know that your colleagues recognize and appreciate your work and commitment to the college and the greater community. I am also blessed to have worked with wonderful people over the years.”
Caleb Curfman, History Instructor
“I am honored to be recognized by a fantastic group of colleagues at Northland,” said Curfman. “I have the opportunity to work with amazing students, and I strive to provide them with the best learning experience and environment that I can. In the classes I teach, I work to provide a place where students have agency in their learning, and this motivates me to innovate and improve continuously.”
Andrea Moses, Advisor
“I take pride in developing and fostering relationships and bonds with each student individually,” Moses said. “This award not only recognizes me individually, but it also recognizes that it takes many people to take a student through the entire process from starting or continuing their education through the culmination of earning their degree.”
Mei Sather, Nursing Instructor
“This award not only reflects my continuous efforts for high-quality education, but it’s also a testament to the collective dedication of the entire nursing community,” Sather said. “Whether advocating for healthcare equity, championing patient-centered care, or advancing nursing science through research, I’m convinced that our collective efforts can improve lives and shape a better future for all.”
Joel Ziegler, Welding Instructor
“It was unexpected and an honor to know that they think I deserve this award,” said Ziegler. “I just focus on my students and try to get them prepared to enter the workforce. Recognition is the furthest thing from my mind when doing that.”
Excellence Award recipients will be recognized during NISOD’s annual conference, May 25-28, 2024, in Austin, Texas. Excellence Awards recipients receive a specially cast, pewter medallion hung on a burnt-orange ribbon. All Excellence Award recipients’ names, titles, and colleges are included in a special booklet featuring congratulatory ads from many recipients’ colleges. In addition, presentations at the conference involving Excellence Award recipients are indicated in the Conference Program with a special icon.
About NISOD
The National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) is a membership organization committed to promoting and celebrating excellence in teaching, learning, and leadership at community and technical colleges. NISOD provides budget-friendly, high-quality, and faculty-focused programs and resources for community and technical colleges that want to make the most of their professional development dollars. For over 40 years, NISOD has aligned a wide array of benefits with the needs of our members, which explains why the American Association of Community Colleges named NISOD “The country’s leading provider of professional development for community college faculty, staff, and administrators.” For more information about NISOD, visit www.nisod.org.
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