Sioux City, IA – Two Morningside College faculty members, Jessica LaPaglia and Anni Moore, and one academic program, the Applied Agriculture and Food Studies program, received the 2019 Dr. William C. Yockey Assessment Awards. The awards annually recognize outstanding efforts to improve student learning at Morningside.

Jessica LaPaglia, associate professor of psychology, was recognized for her improvements to the general psychology course. LaPaglia also teaches courses in learning and memory, research methods, and biopsychology. She earned her B.A. at Augsburg College and M.S. and Ph.D. at Iowa State University.

Anni Moore, associate professor of biology, was recognized for her use of formative assessments to improve lab competencies for students in the microbiology course. In addition to microbiology, Moore also teaches courses on immunology. She received her B.S. and Ph.D. at Northern Illinois University. 

The Regina Roth Agricultural and Food Studies program received the Yockey Programmatic Assessment Award. Faculty in the program made improvements to their assessment rubric, learning outcomes, and enhanced student learning experience with their work. The program prepares students for careers in agricultural and food studies, agriculture education, agribusiness, environmental policy and law, agronomy, and food safety. 

A $2,500 cash prize is included with each award. The family of the late Dr. William C. Yockey, a 1949 Morningside graduate and chemistry professor at the college for over 30 years, established the awards in his name.

Jessica LaPaglia

Anni Moore

Morningside College Agriculture and Food Studies Program