Hiatt is 2025 Governor’s Award recipient; 6 receive Faculty Excellence Awards

Dr. Rachel Day, assistant professor of music in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts

Day has conceptually revolutionized instruction in applied vocal lessons. Her research-based teaching methodology promotes the necessity of consideration of the whole body as an instrument, not just the voice. Highly respected by students, colleagues and the music community, her teaching methods significantly improve singing, movement and confidence.

Student evaluation comments focus on themes of significant improvement of the use of voice in singing but also her patience, compassion, dedication and non-judgmental focus. The music students she teaches are largely in the Bachelor of Music Education program, and her modeling is instrumental to their success as future professionals.

Dr. Shelly Hiatt, professor of counseling in the School of Health Science and Wellness

Hiatt has demonstrated a relentless commitment to teaching excellence throughout her career. She works diligently to use best practices in curriculum development, pedagogy, delivery format and student support. 

Students describe her classroom experience as informative, understanding and compassionate. A graduate student in the school counseling program stated Hiatt “models the behaviors and methods she expects from her school counseling students.” Undergraduate students consistently remark on the hands-on experiences they have in her classroom and that her feedback motivates them to work hard on the work she assigns. During the 2023-2024 academic year, student feedback repeatedly praised her organization, engagement, communication and ability to provide enlightening information without overwhelming students.

Faculty Excellence Award for Scholarship

Dr. Tina Ellsworth, assistant professor of professional education in the School of Education

Ellsworth demonstrates habits of highly effective scholarship, research productivity and mentoring to students. She has produced nine peer-reviewed works since the start of 2023, including in top journals, and has co-authored three grants totaling $210,000 since 2022. 

Ellsworth has published or presented her research in Middle School Journal, Social Studies Research and Practice, Social Studies and the Young Learner, Social Education, Theory and Research in Social Education, and The History Teacher. She authored book chapters in 2023 for publications of the Library of Congress and the National Council for the Social Studies. She has 12 peer-reviewed national presentations since 2022 and seven invited presentations.

Ellsworth takes Northwest undergraduate students to social studies conferences and teaches them the art of scholarship, a high-leverage practice worthy of acclaim for its impact on student retention. She also has shown extraordinary leadership, which includes her election to the executive board for the National Council for the Social Studies as its vice president.

Dr. Sarah Naramore, assistant professor of history in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences

Naramore has shown excellent progress in scholarly activity. She published a book, “Benjamin Rush, Civic Health, and Human Illness in the Early American Republic” with University of Rochester Press in June. She also authored a chapter about Yellow Fever in an edited volume on American Disasters.

Naramore presented at two conferences, wrote two blog posts and gave two invited talks. She had an article accepted for publication in Pennsylvania History about the influence of war on Benjamin Rush’s medical theory. She also continued work on a book project on the history of endemic goiter in the U.S.

Her 2021 article, “Making Endemic Goiter an American Disease, 1800-1820,” was the recipient of the 2023 Stanley Jackson Prize for the Journal of History of Medicine and Allied Sciences.

Faculty Excellence Award for Service

Dr. Elyssa Ford, professor of history in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences

Ford has been exceptionally active in regard to service. She directs the University’s public history lab and established an archival project with the Missouri State Archives that is providing unique opportunities and internships for students.

Ford is a member of Faculty Senate and serves as the chair of the Faculty Welfare and Budget Committee. She also is a member of the Culture of Well-Being Committee and the Archives Advisory Board. She serves as the organizer for the LGBTQIA employee affinity group at Northwest and the Campus Museum Advisory Board. She serves as advisor for the Fulbright program and directs the University’s growing Honors Program.

Ford also is active in service to her discipline within the community. She is president of the Nodaway County Historical Society and a member of the executive board for the Missouri Association of Museums and Archives. She serves on the development committee for the National Council of Public History, as a public history liaison for the Coordinating Council of Women’s Historians and as co-chair of the Public History Committee for the Western History Association.

Dr. Bayo Joachim, professor of communication in the School of Communication and Mass Media

Joachim serves as the School of Communication and Mass Media’s assistant director and on its Communication Scholarship Award Committee and the Communication 102 committee. He also advises communication majors and minors.

Joachim serves as the advisor of the African Students Organization and last spring received the Northwest award for Outstanding Organizational Advisor. He also serves on the University’s Committee on Rank and Tenure and the Student/Faculty Disciplinary Committee.

Outside of his duties as a faculty member and committee roles, Joachim models selfless service by volunteering to assist students who need transportation, making countless trips to Kansas City throughout the year. He also provides meals and counsel to students in need.