Faculty Awards
The Office of the Provost coordinates four awards for DSU faculty, to acknowledge their excellent contributions to research as well as their incredible teaching endeavors at Dakota State.
2025 award winners
Each year, Dakota State University proudly recognizes faculty achievements whose dedication, excellence, and impact reach far beyond the classroom. These awards celebrate the core values of DSU’s mission, including outstanding advising and mentorship, innovative research, exceptional teaching, and meaningful service to DSU and the community.
The awards are named after individuals who shaped both the university and Madison through their leadership, scholarship, and generosity. Their legacy and commitment to DSU continues to inspire excellence across campus.
Advising Mentorship
Dr. Peter Britton was selected as the 2024-2025 recipient of the Alexander “Sandy” Davidson Award for Excellence in Advising and Mentoring.
Research
Dr. Michael Ham was selected as the 2024-2025 recipient of the Merrill Hunter Award for Excellence in Research.
Service
Dr. Betsy Schambers was selected as the 2024-2025 recipient of the DeWayne Mork Award for Excellence in Service.
Teaching
Dr. Andrew Behrens was selected as the 2024-2025 recipient of the Ernest M. Teagarden Award for Excellence in Teaching.
About the awards and past recipients
The Alexander "Sandy" Davidson Award for Excellence in Advising is sponsored by Jennifer and Scott Weatherill and Barb and Brian Harmdierks to honor the legacy of "Sandy" Davidson. Jennifer and Barb, Sandy’s daughters, support this award in heartfelt recognition of his remarkable years of friendship, service, and dedication to students at General Beadle and Dakota State University. Sandy served in key roles, including Dean of Students and Director of Counseling, and made a lasting impact on countless students and colleagues. Though he retired in 1985, his commitment to Dakota State and the Madison community endured. His profound influence and tireless efforts are fondly remembered, even after his passing in 2006.
Past recipients
2025 Mr. Peter Britton
2024 Dr. Andrew Sathoff
2023 Dr. Chris Olson
2022 Dr. William Sewell
2021 Dr. Tom Halverson
2020 Dr. Kyle Cronin
2019 Dr. David Bishop
2018 Dr. Gabe Mydland
2017 Dr. Viki Johnson
2016 Dr. Stephen Krebsbach
2015 Mr. Rob Honomichl
2014 Dr. Stacey Berry
2013 Dr. Gale Wiedow
2012 Dr. Barbara Szczerbinska
2011 Ms. Kathy Engbrecht
2010 Dr. Donna Hazelwood
2009 Dr. Gabe Mydland
2008 Dr. Deana Hueners-Nelson
2007 Dr. Rick Puetz
2006 Dr. Don Wiken
The Merrill Hunter Award for Excellence in Research is sponsored by the Hunter family in honor of their father, Merrill. Merrill was a long-time South Dakota newspaper publisher and owned the Madison Daily Leader, one of the last independent daily newspapers in the state. He was a World War II and Korean War veteran, active in the community, and was serving as president of the DSU Foundation at the time of his death in 1990.
Past recipients
2025 Dr. Mike Ham
2024 Dr. Cherie Noteboom
2023 Dr. Omar El-Gayar
2022 Dr. Andrew Sathoff
2021 Dr. Kurt Kemper
2020 Dr. David Zeng
2019 Dr. Cherie Noteboom
2018 Dr. Ashley Podhradsky
2017 Dr. Jun Liu
2016 Dr. Michael Gaylor
2015 Dr. Yong Wang
2014 Mr. Giles Timms
2013 Dr. Surendra Sarnikar
2012 Dr. Kristel Bakker
2011 Dr. Josh Pauli
2010 Dr. Amit Deokar
2009 Dr. Kevin Streff
2008 Dr. Xinwen Fu
2007 Dr. Rich Avery
2006 Dr. Mark Hawkes
The DeWayne Mork Award for Excellence in Service is sponsored by DeLon Mork in honor of his father, DeWayne Mork. DeWayne was a Madison businessman, philanthropist, and community leader. He and his wife Joann purchased the Madison Dairy Queen in 1964 and, along with son DeLon, built it into a family-run business that won them recognition as SD Retailer of the Year in 2002. DeWayne passed away in 2004.
Past recipients
2025 Dr. Betsy Schamber
2024 Dr. Rich Avery
2023 Dr. Kyle Cronin
2022 Dr. Jack Walters
2021 Dr. Kevin Smith
2020 Dr. Michael Roach
2019 Dr. Deb Tech
2018 Dr. Pamela Rowland
2017 Dr. Jennifer Nash
2016 Ms. Sandy Champion
2015 Dr. Kevin Krahenbuhl
2014 Dr. John Nelson
2013 Ms. Kelly MacLeod
2012 Dr. Gale Wiedow
2011 Dr. Glenn Berman
2010 Dr. Jennifer Gross
2009 Dr. Maureen Murphy
2008 Dr. Jack Walters
2007 Dr. Vicki Sterling
2006 Dr. Judy Dittman
The Dr. Ernest Teagarden Award for Excellence in Teaching is sponsored by the DSU Foundation. Dr. Ernest Teagarden was a long-time faculty member at Dakota State and was named Professor Emeritus of Business upon his retirement in 1993. Over the years, Dr. Teagarden served as Chair of the Social Science and Business Education Division and later of the Division of Business, Industry and Public Administration. Dr. Teagarden passed away in 2007.
Past recipients
2025 Dr. Andrew Behrens
2024 Dr. Katie Anderson
2023 Dr. Mark Spanier
2022 Mr. Andrew Kramer
2021 Ms. Kindra Schneider
2020 Dr. Austin O'Brien
2019 Ms. Angela Behrends
2018 Dr. Kevin Smith
2017 Dr. Jeff Howard
2016 Mr. Michael Lynch
2015 Dr. Mark Hawkes
2014 Dr. Pat Engebretson
2013 Dr. Deb Tech
2012 Dr. Tom Jones
2011 Dr. Vicki Sterling
2010 Dr. Christopher Olson
2009 Dr. Dale Droge
2008 Dr. Justin Blessinger
2007 Dr. Nancy Moose
2006 Dr. Dan Weinstein