15 faculty granted promotions, tenure for 2025-26

Northwest Missouri State University has approved the promotions and tenure appointments of 15 faculty members.

The promotion and tenure applications were approved Thursday by the Board of Regents.

“It is an honor to recognize 15 of our faculty members who have been awarded promotions or promotions with tenure,” Northwest Provost Dr. Jamie Hooyman said. “These appointments are evidence of their exceptional contributions to teaching, research and service. They are instrumental in advancing our University’s mission and fostering academic excellence. I could not be prouder of their accomplishments.”

Faculty receiving promotions and tenure are listed below with their academic disciplines and new ranks, which become effective at the start of the 2025-26 academic year.

Faculty receiving promotion

• Dr. Ajay Bandi, to professor in the School of Computer Science and Information Systems
• Dr. Brett Chloupek, to professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Dr. Joy Daggs, to professor in the School of Communication and Mass Media
• Ronda Driskill, to senior instructor in the School of Agricultural Sciences
• Dr. Joseph Haughey, to professor in the Department of Language, Literature and Writing
• Haley Hutcheson, to senior instructor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics
• Dr. Katy Strickland, to professor in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts

Faculty receiving promotion to the rank of associate professor and tenure

• Dr. Beth Gregory, in the School of Education
• Dr. Amy Hillard, in the School of Health Science and Wellness
• Dr. Laura Kauzlarich, in the Melvin D. and Valorie G. Booth School of Business
• Tom LaPann, in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts
• Dr. Rebecca Moore, in the School of Education
• Dr. Machelle Skinner, in the School of Health Science and Wellness
• Dr. Joseph Tomasso, in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts
• Dr. Adam Zrust, in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts

To receive tenure and promotion, faculty members must demonstrate sustained excellence in teaching and professional development, scholarship and creative activities, and show service and student support by submitting a portfolio documenting accomplishments in these areas. Tenure is an arrangement under which a faculty member remains employed with an institution of higher education until he or she resigns, retires or is discharged.

Faculty are eligible to apply for tenure and promotion to the rank of associate professor after four years in the rank of assistant professor at Northwest. The rank of full professor is granted to faculty who have served a minimum of five years in the rank of associate professor at Northwest. Faculty serving within the rank of instructor for a minimum of six years at Northwest are eligible to apply for promotion to the rank of senior instructor.