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2025-2026 Distinguished Faculty Nominations Now Open!

The Distinguished Teacher, Service, and Researcher winners will be celebrated during the Spring 2026 Commencement exercises.

All nominations are due by 5:00pm, Friday, January 16, 2026

If you have any problems with the nominations forms, please contact:

Lisa Scholes (lisascholes2@isu.edu or x2035)

You will be required to attach a document for your "Reasons for Nomination". Please fully address why you feel this faculty member deserves to be considered for the University's Distinguished Award.

Teacher Nomination

Service Nomination

Researcher Nomination

Each year an Idaho State University faculty member is selected for the ISU's Distinguished Teacher Award for faculty members who are judged to most exemplify excellence in teaching.  The top five finalists for each year's award are recognized as Outstanding Teachers and honored at a ceremony in April.  The Distinguished Teacher is recognized at the May Commencement and serves as that year's mace bearer.

You are invited to nominate a member of the faculty who, in your judgment, exemplifies excellence in teaching.  Please consider attributes relevant to teaching only.  Elements such as research and service are not to be considered for this award.
Nominees should meet the following eligibility standards:
1) Any member of the university faculty currently in their third or subsequent year of full-time service at Idaho State University, and
2) The nominee must have prospects for and interest in continuing as a member of the University faculty for 2026-2027.
Nominations are being sought from the ISU faculty, staff, student body, and alumni.  ALL NOMINEES MUST BE NAMED BY AT LEAST TWO (2) GROUPS - STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, OR ALUMNI - TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS HONOR.  You are encouraged to contact a member of another group to further support your nominee.
Forms are due by 5:00pm, Friday, January 16, 2026

Each year an Idaho State University faculty member is selected for the ISU's Distinguished Researcher Award for faculty members who are judged to most exemplify excellence in research to the University and society.  The top five finalists for each year's award are recognized as Outstanding Researchers and honored at a ceremony in April.  The Distinguished Researcher is recognized at the May Commencement.

You are invited to nominate a member of the faculty who, in your judgment, exemplifies excellence in research.  Please consider research attributes only.  Elements such as teaching and service are not to be considered for this award.
Nominees should meet the following eligibility standards:
1) Any member of the university faculty currently in their third or subsequent year of full-time service at Idaho State University, and
2) The nominee must have prospects for and interest in continuing as a member of the University faculty for 2026-2027.
**Selection Criteria:
  • Significance/Impact of the research, scholarship, creative activities in relation to the frontiers of knowledge in that field.
  • Publication of research findings in peer-reviewed national or international journals or juried/invitational shows, exhibits, or performances.
  • Excellence in basic or applied research as evidenced by invention disclosures, provisional patent applications, perfected patents, advisory positions in industry, or mentorship of successful students.
  • Evidence of extended, intentional development of the topic of research that resulted in a significant contribution.
  • Any other evidence of the outstanding nature of the research activity that may be relevant.
  • The review committees will consider the entire body of research conducted over a career, but the work conducted at ISU will be emphasized in the review.
Forms are due by 5:00pm, Thursday, January 16, 2026

Each year an Idaho State University faculty member is selected for the ISU's Distinguished Service Award for faculty members who have made significant contributions in service to the University and society.  The top five finalists for each year's award are recognized as Outstanding Service Providers and honored at a ceremony in April.  The Distinguished Service Provider is recognized at the May Commencement.

You are invited to nominate a member of the faculty who, in your judgment, exemplifies excellence in service.  Please consider service attributes only.  Elements such as research and teaching are not to be considered for this award.
Nominees should meet the following eligibility standards:
1) Any member of the university faculty currently in their third or subsequent year of full-time service at Idaho State University, and
2) The nominee must have prospects for and interest in continuing as a member of the University faculty for 2026-2027.
Forms are due by 5:00pm, Thursday, January 16, 2026

Distinguished & Outstanding Faculty Awards

Past Distinguished and Outstanding Award Recipients

ISU Distinguished Faculty Awards 2024-2025

  • Distinguished Teacher: Marie Stango, History
  • Distinguished Researcher: Mustafa Mashal, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Distinguished Service: Diana Campanella Schow, Community and Public Health

ISU Outstanding Faculty Awards 2024-2025

  • Outstanding Teacher:
    • Amanda Eller, Teaching and Educational Studies
    • Lauren MacDonald, History
    • Leslie Nickerson, Chemistry
    • Irene van Woerden, Community and Public Health
  • Outstanding Researcher:
    • David Delehanty, Biological Sciences
    • Devaleena Pradhan, Biological Sciences
    • Kurt Sundell, Geosciences
    • Raphael Njoku, History
  • Outstanding Service:
    • Colden Baxter, Biological Sciences
    • Elizabeth Redd, Anthropology
    • Karen Hartman, Communication, Media and Persuasion
    • Mona Xu, Psychology

All Prior Recipients for Distinguished and Outstanding Awards