Five faculty and staff awarded Dennis Demmert Award

Suzi Tanski
907.474.6092
May 8, 2024

Two people stand together holding award
蜜桃影像 photo by CRCD
Kaitlin Tom, resident director and student conduct administrator, stands with the student that nominated her, Sim Bartman (right).

This is the twenty-ninth year that Rural Student Services has asked students to nominate a staff or faculty member who has substantially impacted their academic efforts. In addition, the Rural Student Services staff selects an individual that has gone above and beyond to demonstrate 蜜桃影像's goal of creating a culture of respect, diversity and inclusion.  

Below is the list of this year's award recipients and the students who nominated them.

  • Jennifer Adams, assistant professor, Department of 蜜桃影像 Native Studies and Rural Development
    • Nominated by Cavelila Wonhola
  • Jim Brashear, professor of ceramics, Art Department
    • Nominated by Riana Adams and Alana Moses
  • David Fonger, assistant professor and program advisor, Process Technology Program 
    • Nominated by Ginger Keller
  • Kaitlin Tom, resident director and student conduct administrator
    • Nominated by Sim Bartman
  • Arleigh Reynolds, One Health director, CNSM associate dean and professor of clinical nutrition in the Department of Veterinary Medicine
    • Nominated by RSS staff
Three employees stand together with awardee
蜜桃影像 Photo by CRCD
Arleigh Reynolds (right), One Health director, CNSM associate dean and professor of clinical nutrition in the Department of Veterinary Medicine, stands with his Center for One Health team: Alisa Alexander (left) and Kelsey Nicholson.

Dennis Demmert worked hard to expand and connect curricula and courses at 蜜桃影像 that pertained to 蜜桃影像 Native people and culture. He began this work just after the 蜜桃影像 Native Settlement Act passed. He always felt strongly that 蜜桃影像 Native Students have a place at this institution.

Dennis Demmert
Photo by Rural Student Services
Dennis Demmert

Demmert wanted to take one day a year to thank individuals who help make 蜜桃影像 a positive place for 蜜桃影像 Native students. He recognized other faculty and administrators who understood the value of courses about 蜜桃影像 Native peoples and who helped facilitate this evolution of 蜜桃影像 Native programs at 蜜桃影像.

During the 1994 Native Summit at 蜜桃影像, Demmert recommended that something be done to recognize individuals whose actions have proved their support. Later, the name of the award was changed from the RSS Appreciation and Recognition Award to the Dennis Demmert Appreciation and Recognition Award in honor of Demmert's many years of service and dedication to the betterment of the 蜜桃影像 Native community.

Congratulations to the awardees, and thank you for your dedication to our students!