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MSU Denver
The Mission
The Roadrunners Who Soar Awards ceremony is the University’s pinnacle recognition event. It honors employees from across the University for their contributions throughout the academic year, specifically those high-performing employees who positively impact student and employee success and model the University’s CADRE values – Community, Access, Diversity, Respect, Entrepreneurship/Excellence. The recognition includes the Soar Awards, Teaching Excellence Awards, Chair Excellence Awards, Team Roadrunner Awards and the Golich Awards, including:
- Staff and Administrator Excellence Award
- Outstanding Professional Advisor Award
- Outstanding Faculty Advisor
- Student Employee of the Year
- Student Employee Supervisor of the Year
- Exceptional Achievement in Undergraduate Leadership Award
- Outstanding Mentor for Undergraduate Research
- LGBTQ Student Resource Center Advocate Award
- Excellence in Online Teaching Award
- Open Educational Resource Used in a Course
2021 Roadrunners Who Soar Awards Ceremony
The 2021 Roadrunners Who Soar awards ceremony took place on October 14, 2021. Our employees tuned in from across the organization to watch as we recognized outstanding employees who exemplify Metropolitan State University of Denver’s CADRE values.
Trophies for 2021 Roadrunners Who Soar Awards.
Staff and Administrator Excellence Award winner Ruth M'Gonigle poses with Emalie Whan-Traylor and Provost Alfred Tatum, Ph.D., at 2021 Roadrunner Who Soar Awards ceremony.
Cocktail hour at 2021 Roadrunners Who Soar Awards ceremony.
Student jazz band plays at 2021 Roadrunners Who Soar Awards ceremony.
Roadrunners Who Soar Awards 2021 audience.
Provost Alfred Tatum, Ph.D., announces the Golich Awards category at 2021 Roadrunners Who Soar Awards ceremony.
George Middlemist, Ph.D., announces Team Roadrunner Awards at the 2021 Roadrunner Who Soar Awards ceremony.
Distinguished Service Award winner Sheila Rucki, Ph.D., poses with colleagues at 2021 Roadrunners Who Soar Awards ceremony.
Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award winner Courtney Rocheleau, Ph.D., accepts award from Provost Alfred Tatum, Ph.D., at Roadrunners Who Soar Awards 2021.
Outstanding Mentor for Undergraduate Research Award winner Andrew Bonham, Ph.D., poses with student and Provost Alfred Tatum, Ph.D., at 2021 Roadrunners Who Soar Awards ceremony.
Distinguished Service Award winner Matthew Kring poses with family and colleagues at 2021 Roadrunners Who Soar Awards ceremony.
Distinguished Service Award winner Braelin Pantel, Ph.D., poses with President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., at 2021 Roadrunners Who Soar Awards ceremony.
Soar Award winner Leone Dick shares remarks at the 2021 Roadrunners Who Soar Awards ceremony.
Soar Award winner Karla Horgan Arevalo poses with family and team members at 2021 Roadrunners Who Soar Awards ceremony.
Soar Award winner Tim Carroll poses withfamily and team members at 2021 Roadrunners Who Soar Awards ceremony.
Chair Excellence Award Winner Jessica Rossi-Katz, Ph.D., poses with Bill Henry, Ph.D., at 2021 Roadrunners Who Soar Awards ceremony.
Department of Social Work Undergraduate and Graduate Field Education Team members pose at 2021 Roadrunners Who Soar Awards ceremony.
Soar Award winner Sue Barnd, Ed.D., poses with award, family members and colleagues at 2021 Roadrunners Who Soar awards ceremony.
2021 Roadrunners Who Soar Awards Ceremony; October 14, 2021
Award Winners
2021 – Leone Dick, Chief of Staff; Karla Horgan Arévalo, Health-Care Navigator; Tim Carroll, Director of Media Relations; Bridgette Coble, Ph.D., Director of Career Engagement
2020 – Diane Yee, Director, Campus Recreation; Samantha Borrego, Coordinator, First-Gen Initiatives Program; Taylor Hase, Supplemental Instruction Specialist, Undergraduate Studies
2019 – Eric Silva, Scholar Advisor, TRiO Student Support Services; Mary Kay McCue, Office Manager, Physics
2021 – Sue Barnd, Ed.D, professor, School of Education; Rebecca Trammell, Ph.D, associate professor, Criminal Justice and Criminology
2020 – Kevin Hammons, Lecturer, Human Services & Counseling / First & Emergency Response Administration; Mary Alice Sawaya, Ph.D., Professor, Nursing; Dorothy Shapland, Ed.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Education
2019 – Wendy Gallagher, Senior Lecturer, Modern Languages; Lisa Hagan, Ph.D., Professor, Psychology; Ingrid Carter, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Elementary and Education and Literacy
2021 – Department of Human Services and Counseling; Department of Social Work Undergraduate and Graduate Field Education; Instructional Design Group
2020 – Bursar, Cashier and Perkins Teams; The Center for Advanced Stem Education Team, Learning Management System Committee
2021 – Jessica Rossi-Katz, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences
2020 – Daniel Lair, Ph.D., Department of Communication Studies
2019 – Fordyce Lux III, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Biology
President's Awards
2021 – Braelin Pantel, Ph.D., AVP, Student Engagement and Wellness/Dean of Students
Distinguished Service Awards
2021 – Lisa Lasswell, Associate Director, Health Center at Auraria; Matthew Kring, Associate Director of Student Success and College Completion; Sheila Rucki, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science
Vicki Golich Awards
2021 – Michael Nguyen Director, Enrollment Management & System Operations
2020 – Michael Nguyen Director, Enrollment Management & System Operations
2021 – Ruth M’Gonigle, Brand Manager, University Communications and Marketing
2020 – Joe Morales, Equipment Manager, Human Performance and Sport
2021 – Colby Vollrath, Office of the Registrar
2020 – Mario Noriega
2020 – Samantha Chavez, Front Desk Worker, Department of Social Work
2019 – Jamie Flores, Front Desk Assistant, Applied Learning Center
2020 – Kayla Duensing, Welcome Desk Coordinator, Department of Social Work
2021 – Shannon Adamsick, Academic Advisor and Retention Specialist, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
2020 – Amber Paugh, Senior Academic Advisor, School of Education
2019 – Joseph Cao, Advisor, School of Business
2021 – Courtney Rocheleau, Ph.D, Professor of Psychological Sciences
2020 – MB Krueger, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities, Department of Music
2019 – Soj Sirivanchai, Retention and Success Advisor, Gender Institute for Teaching and Advocacy
2021 – Ingrid Carter, Ph.D, Professor, Elementary Education and Literacy
2020 – Dr. Linda Sundbye, Professor, Mathematics
2019 – Rebecca Cottrell, Lecturer, Modern Languages; Jeff Helton, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair, Health Professions
2020 – Samuel Jay, Associate Professor, Communication Studies; Brooke Woolman, Lecturer, Chemistry and Biochemistry
2019 – Andrew Bonham, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair, Chemistry; Todd Laugen, Ph.D., Professor, History
2021 – Ann Diker, Professor of Nutrition
2020 – Ellen Metter, Librarian
2019 – Alex McDaniel, Associate Director of Industrial Design, Center for Teaching, Learning and Design
2021 – Andrew Bonham, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Archived Awards
Outstanding Mentor for Undergraduate Research Award
2020 – Siva Priya Santhanam, Professor, Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
LGBTQ SRC Advocate Award
2020 – Elise Krumholz, Coordinator, Student Conflict Resolution Services
Outstanding Faculty Advisor – Tenured
2019 – Lisa Ortiz, Professor, Journalism and Media Production
Outstanding Faculty Advisor – Tenure-track
2019 – Randi Brazeau, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Exceptional Achievement in Undergraduate Leadership
2019 – Maureen Flynn, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Psychology
Applied Learning Center Hall of Distinction Award
2018 – Rebecca Trammell, Ph.D., Associate Professor, College of Professional Studies
2019 – Shaun Schafer, Ph.D., Chair and Professor, Journalism and Media Production
CADRE+ University Values Awards – Community Engagement Award
2019 – Tom Cech, Director, One World One Water Center; Jennifer Riley-Chetwynd, Co-director, One World One Water Center; Nona Shipman, Associate Director, One World One Water Center; Ale Brown, Graphics and Events Specialist, One World One Water Center
CADRE+ University Values Awards – Civic Engagement Award
2019 – Bethany Fleck Dillen, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Psychology
CADRE+ University Values Awards – Access Award
2019 – Lunden MacDonald, Ph.D., Executive Director, Roadways; Camelia Naranjo, Assistant Director of Peer Mentoring, Roadways; Evan Chianese, Peer Mentor Specialist, Roadways
CADRE+ University Values Awards – Access Award
2019 – Courtney Rocheleau, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Psychology; Lisa Hagan, Ph.D., Professor, Psychology; Greg Singer, Professional Academic Advisor, Psychology; Matt Forcella, Professional Academic Advisor, Psychology; Maureen Flynn, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Psychology; Bethany Fleck Dillen, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Psychology; Anna Ropp, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Psychology; Kristy Lyons, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Psychology; Chris Garris, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Psychology; Pam Ansburg, Ph.D., Professor, Psychology; Christine Good, Ph.D., Affiliate Faculty, Psychology; Jake Cooney, Ph.D., Affiliate Faculty, Psychology; Katherine Hill, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Psychology; Chad Mortensen, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Psychology; Bill Taylor, Ph.D., Affiliate Faculty, Psychology; Layton Seth Curl, Ph.D., Chair and Professor, Psychology; Aaron Richmond, Ph.D., Professor, Psychology; Jovan Hernandez, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Psychology ; Lorraine Kubicek, Ph.D., Affiliate Faculty, Psychology
CADRE+ University Values Awards – Diversity/Inclusion Award
2019 – Colleen Toomey, Coordinator of First-Gen Initiatives, Center for Equity and Student Achievement; Brandi Scott, Director, Center for Equity and Student Achievement; Katherine Martinez, Ph.D., Interim Director and Department Chair, Gender Institute for Teaching and Advocacy; Salina Blea, Undergraduate Research Program Coordinator, Applied Learning Center; Raquel Jimenez, Assistant Director, College Assistance Migrant Program; Samantha Borrego, Advisor, College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences
CADRE+ University Values Awards – Respect Award
2019 – Kelli Frank, Director for Behavioral Intervention & Student Conduct and Co-chair, Student Engagement & Wellness; Dave Haden, Associate Dean and Co-chair, Student Engagement & Wellness; Brian Bagwell, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Human Services and Counseling; Thomas Ragland, Associate Director for Student Conduct, Dean of Students; Gail Bruce-Sanford, Ph.D., Executive Director, Counseling Center; Steven Lee, Ph.D., Assistant Director, Counseling Center; Greg Sullivan, Director, Access Center; Jessica Salazar, Assistant Attorney General, Colorado Attorney General’s Office; Nicholas Stancil, J.D., Deputy General Counsel, Office of the President; Justin Hauxwell, M.D., Psychiatrist, Health Center at Auraria; Erica Quintana-Garcia, Case Management Coordinator, Roadrunner Food Pantry; Corporal Andrew Pannwitz, Auraria Campus Police Department; Matt Makley, Ph.D., Professor, History; President, Faculty Senate
CADRE+ University Values Awards – Entrepreneurship and Innovation
2019 – Brooke Evans, Ph.D., Professor, Mathematical and Computer Science, Learning Assistants Program
CADRE+ University Values Awards – Effectiveness/Efficiency Award
2019 – Sarah Buller, Process Transformation Specialist, University Effectiveness
CADRE+ University Values Awards – Excellence Award
2019 – Adam Graves, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Philosophy; Founder, Denver Project for Humanistic Inquiry; Rosemarie Allen, Ed.D., Assistant Professor, Special Education, Early Childhood and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education
Hispanic-serving Institution Implementation Team Award
2019 – Angela R. Marquez Ph.D., Special Assistant to the President for HSI, Office of the President
Hispanic-serving Institution Implementation Team Award – Institutional Infrastructure
2019 – Eric Silva, Scholar Advisor, TRiO Student Support Services; Work Group Chair Maria Akrabova, Ph.D., Chair and Associate Professor, Modern Languages; Miguel Garza Wicker, Director of Digital Strategy, Strategy, Marketing and Communications; Evelynn Guzman de Leon, Student Retention Specialist, College Assistance Migrant Program; Sarah Harman, Executive Director, University Effectiveness; Chalane Lechuga, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Chicana/o Studies; Adriana Nieto, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Chicana/o Studies; Braelin Pantel, Associate Vice President Student Engagement and Wellness/Dean of Students, Dean of Students; M. Marina Pereira Ph.D., Associate Dean, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences; Tisha Townsend, Scholar Advisor, TRiO Student Support Services; Steve Willich, Director, LGBTQ Student Resource Center; Jeremy VanHooser, Diversity Coordinator, Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Hispanic-serving Institution Implementation Team Award – Cultural Competence
2019 – Samantha Borrego, Advisor, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences; Work Group Chair; Horacio Borja-Duran, Coordinator of Family, Spanish, and Special Programs, Roadways; Gregor Mieder, Coordinator, Immigrant Services Program; Brandi Scott, Director, Center for Equity and Student Achievement; Katherine Young, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Secondary K-12 Education, School of Education
Hispanic-serving Institution Implementation Team Award – PreK-12 Outreach
2019 – Cynthia Baron, Director, Center for Multicultural Excellence and Inclusion; Work Group Chair; Maria Bracamontes, Program Assistant, Modern Languages; Tayla Dornbush, Ph.D., Education Director, Center for Visual Art; Megan Hughes-Zarzo, Ph.D., Director, Honors Program?; Matthew Jenkins, Associate Professor, Art
Hispanic-serving Institution Implementation Team Award – Transfer and Enrollment Management
2019 – Tiffani Baldwin, Ph.D., Coordinator of Transfer Student Success and Persistence, Roadways; Work Group Co-chair; Courtney Matsumoto, Program Administrator and Academic Advisor, Advanced Manufacturing Sciences Institute; Work Group Co-chair; Joshua Gabrielson, Associate Director of Admissions, Transfer Services; Laura Gorny, Ph.D., State and Federal Reporting Specialist, Institutional Research; Bill Herman, Ph.D., Associate Dean, College of Business; Erin Hiltner, Associate Athletic Director for Student Services, Intercollegiate Athletics; Deborah A. Horan, Ph.D., Chair and Professor, Elementary Education and Literacy, School of Education; Jennifer Lampe, Transfer Evaluation Supervisor, Office of the Registrar; Connie Sanders, Interim Registrar, Office of the Registrar
Hispanic-serving Institution Implementation Team Award – Financial Aid
2019 – Juan Gallegos, Assistant Director, Center for Multicultural Excellence and Inclusion; Work Group Co-chair; Thomas Hernandez, Associate Director, Financial Aid and Scholarships; Work Group Co-chair; Michelle LeBoo, Associate Director, Financial Aid – Reporting and Communications; Ariadna Ochoa Magallanes, Specialist, Immigrant Services Program; Thad Spaulding, Executive Director, Financial Aid and Scholarships; Gwen Thompson, Senior Director of Development, University Advancement
Hispanic-serving Institution Implementation Team Award – Policy
2019 – Ally Garcia, Director, TRiO Student Support Services; Work Group Chair; Ramon Del Castillo, Ph.D., Chair, Chicana/o Studies; Raquel Jimenez, Interim Director, College Assistance Migrant Program; Megan Jones, Policy Administrator, Office of General Counsel; Yadira Solis, Graduate Intern, College Assistance Migrant Program
2020 Roadrunners Who Soar Awards Ceremony
2020 Roadrunners Who Soar Awards Ceremony; Streamed Aug. 6, 2020
Nominate a Colleague
Want to recognize a colleague?
All MSU Denver employees are eligible for the Soar and Team Roadrunner awards, if the individual and/or team has received a nomination and meets the criteria. MSU Denver employees who are eligible include: faculty, administrators, classified staff, student employees, hourly employees, trustees and board members.
Eligibility for the Teaching Excellence Awards, Chair Excellence Awards and all awards in the Golich Awards category is specific to certain roles. To learn more about eligibility for these awards, please reach out to the contact(s) listed for each.
How to nominate an outstanding Roadrunner
Nominations have closed for the 2021 awards cycle. Nominations are open for approximately four weeks during the spring semester. Information and specific nomination window dates will be communicated in the Early Bird and posted on the University website.
For more information on employee recognition and the Roadrunners Who Soar Awards ceremony, please contact Lindsey Coulter, employee engagement and communications specialist.