Sioux City, Iowa – Morningside University is pleased to announce that its 2022 Sharon Walker Faculty Excellence Awards were presented to Dr. Kim Christopherson, educational technologist and professor of education; Dr. Tom Paulsen, professor and head of the Regina Roth Applied Agricultural and Food Studies department; and Shelby Prindaville, associate professor of art and chair of the art department.

“We are fortunate to have exceptional faculty at Morningside. The Sharon Walker Faculty Excellence Awards are an important part of attracting the kind of talent we have. An awards program of this caliber is not common in higher education, and we are grateful that Jim and Sharon Walker saw an opportunity to celebrate faculty excellence at Morningside in a way that truly sets us apart,” stated Dr. Chris Spicer, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “The outside evaluators never have an easy task in selecting the recipients because of the level of research, teaching, and learning offered on this campus, and this year’s field of winners is no exception.”

Kim ChristophersonDr. Christopherson began her time at Morningside in 2007 as a member of the psychology department. She moved to the Sharon Walker School of Education in 2015 to serve as a faculty member and an educational technologist, teaching within the action research course sequence in the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Morningside University. She also mentors PK-12 classroom teachers from across Iowa and the United States in their own classroom research projects. As educational technologist at Morningside, Dr. Christopherson serves as a critical resource for assisting faculty with integrating technology into their teaching with best practices for all teaching modalities (face-to-face, online, blended). Her research interests have always focused on student learning and the use of technology in the learning process. Christopherson holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of St. Thomas and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in experimental psychology focusing on educational psychology from the University of North Dakota. At home, Dr. Christopherson enjoys cooking, gardening, and camping with her husband and two daughters.

Tom PaulsenDr. Paulsen began leading the Regina Roth Applied Agricultural and Food Studies department at Morningside in 2016. He taught high school agricultural education for 21 years and has been a university faculty member for the last 14 years, including his time at Morningside. Dr. Paulsen has been recognized for teaching excellence as the Iowa Teacher of the Year, the Milken National Educator award, the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Early Achievement in Teaching Award, the American Association for Agricultural Education Outstanding Early Career Award, the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Educator award, and the Teaching Scholar Award. Dr. Paulsen’s research interests fall within the areas of effective teaching and learning practices in the discipline of agriculture, particularly as it relates to higher education capstone and field experiences with a primary focus on preservice and in-service teacher education. His research has received national recognition from the Journal of Agriculture Education and the NACTA Journal. Dr. Paulsen received his bachelor’s degree from Northwest Missouri State University and his master’s degree and Ph.D. from Iowa State University.

Shelby PrindavilleProfessor Prindaville arrived at Morningside in 2019. In addition to her responsibilities on campus, she is president of the Sioux City Art Center Board of Trustees. Prindaville previously served as the art program director and assistant professor of art at the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kan. Her studio practice combines her interests in the sciences and art, which has led to a collaboration with LSU Chemistry Professor John A. Pojman in developing a new polymer clay called QuickCure Clay. Prindaville’s artwork has been exhibited nationally and internationally and has been included in a number of public and private collections. This has resulted in her receiving a variety of grants, prizes, and international and domestic residencies. Prindaville has also been published in a wide range of journals, catalogs, and media outlets and she was invited to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine to become the first-ever artist in residence at veterinary school in the United States. Prindaville earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with a concentration in sculpture from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Fine Arts from Louisiana State University’s interdisciplinary painting and drawing program.

The Sharon Walker Faculty Excellence Awards were established by Jim and Sharon Walker ’70 in 2003. Criteria for selection include teaching excellence, effective advising, scholarship, and service to Morningside University. The awards are based upon the accomplishments and activities of a faculty member during the previous academic year using both submitted materials and in-person evaluations conducted by a panel of three outside evaluators. Each winner receives a $10,000 honorarium and $2,000 to use for faculty development.