USD College of Arts & Sciences Faculty Receive Teaching, Research, Service Awards
“The faculty’s commitment to our students, their discipline, and our community makes the College of Arts & Science such a special place,” said John Dudley, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. “In teaching, research, and service, our faculty represent the value and impact of a liberal arts education.”
Richard and Sharon Cutler Awards in Liberal Arts
Richard and Sharon Cutler of Sioux Falls established these awards with a generous contribution in 2003 to reward outstanding College of Arts & Sciences faculty and promote liberal arts education at USD. The Cutler Awards are given annually to one faculty member in each of the three divisions who advances liberal arts education through both teaching and research. The recipients of the 2025 Cutler Awards include the following.
- Christopher Anderson, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Biology, received the award in the Science and Mathematics Division. Anderson regularly teaches courses from the introductory biology survey to upper-division and graduate courses on anatomy and physiology. His teaching and research philosophy is to understand the complexity of biological systems through bringing together diverse approaches, disciplines and perspectives. Outside of the classroom, Anderson has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate student researchers in his laboratory, all of whom graduate with research experience and skills related to critical thinking, independent and group project management and effective and verbal and written communication. Anderson’s research is broadly focused on understanding physiological and biomechanical systems in an ecological and evolutionary context using reptiles, primarily chameleons, as an animal model. This research has resulted in nine peer-reviewed journal articles in the past three years, a USD President’s Research Award and a $1.29 million Faculty Early Career Development grant from the National Science Foundation. Anderson also participates in conservation efforts related to chameleons as chair of the Chameleon Specialist Group for the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission.
- Mandy Williams, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, the winner in the Social Sciences Division, is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, where she serves as graduate coordinator for the department’s programs in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology. Williams teaches a wide range of courses for both graduate programs and supervises clinical practicum for speech language pathology students. Her teaching philosophy centers on fostering a supportive learning environment where critical thinking and collaboration are emphasized both in the classroom and the clinical settings. She regularly directs student research projects—including undergraduate Honors theses, audiology capstones and directed research projects—and reviews student research proposals for the graduate council and the LEND program through the University of South Dakota Center for Disabilities. Her recent collaborative and interdisciplinary research activities included updates for the second edition of her co-edited book, the "Routledge International Handbook of Psycholinguistics and Cognitive Processes."
- The award in the Humanities Division went to Robert Turner, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics. His teaching activities include advanced grammar and classes on Spanish literature and culture, as well as an Honors seminar on science fiction and identity. As a teacher, Turner strives to make his classroom activities relevant and reflect practical application and real-world connections. His active research agenda focuses on early modern Spanish literature and the theater of Tirso de Molina, a Spanish Baroque dramatist and poet. In the past three years, Turner has published four journal articles on these topics.
Monsignor James M. Doyle Humanities Teaching Award
Kevin Magee, MFA, was awarded the Monsignor James M. Doyle Humanities Teaching Award. This award is made possible thanks to a gift from Monsignor James Michael Doyle, former chair of religious studies at USD and a prominent theologian inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame. Monsignor Doyle endowed a prize to reward an outstanding teacher and mentor in the College of Arts & Sciences.
Magee is an instructor in the Department of English. For many years, Magee taught exclusively in Sioux Falls, focusing on introductory composition, literature, and creative writing courses, including remedial basic writing courses. He has taught in Vermillion since 2021, and he has been actively involved in departmental activities and student mentorship. His thoughtful and intentional approach to course design and preparation helps students learn their capabilities and find their voice in writing.
Blair and Linda Tremere Public Service Award
Julia Hellwege, Ph.D., was awarded the Blair and Linda Tremere Public Service Award. Blair and Linda Tremere are dedicated alumni of USD and longtime benefactors of the College of Arts & Sciences. Blair Tremere spent more than thirty years in professional service in city, county, metropolitan and state government positions in the Twin Cities, and Linda Tremere is a retired certified public accountant and vice president/director of financial controls for Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. in St. Paul, Minnesota. This award is given annually to a single faculty member in the College of Arts & Sciences who has demonstrated outstanding public service to the local community or to the state of South Dakota in the previous calendar year.
Hellwege is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science, which provides her opportunities to engage with public service activities as director of the Chiesman Center for Democracy. Hellwege became director of the Chiesman Center in 2024 and was deeply involved since 2021. Her work at the center includes hosting a Democracy Conference, developing a new podcast called "Democracy Dialogues," and partnering with South Dakota News Watch on statewide polls of South Dakota residents. She also incorporates service-learning projects in her American Government course in which her students engage in a wide variety of projects to benefit local community organizations. Off-campus, Hellwege is currently serving her second four-year term on the Vermillion City Council, where her platform focuses on sustainability, community and development. Another facet of her community service involves acting as a public intellectual. In this capacity, she engages with national and local media and writes pieces for public consumption.
Johnson Family Outstanding Instructor Award
Cheryl Hartman, Ph.D., was awarded the Johnson Family Outstanding Instructor Award, which is made possible through an annual gift of the Johnson family. Mary Elizabeth Johnson is a USD graduate in mass communication who served as Chaplain at the Mayo Clinic for over three decades, working closely with women experiencing health issues and loss. The Johnson Family Outstanding Instructor Award is given each year to a single faculty member holding the rank of instructor who demonstrates outstanding classroom teaching and mentoring in the previous calendar year.
Hartman, a senior lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, is the only full-time sociology faculty member at USD – Sioux Falls, and in this role, she is responsible for delivering nearly every major course while also mentoring students in research projects and providing a range of experiential learning opportunities. Each semester, she teaches courses that range from Introduction to Sociology to upper-level seminars on topics such as social deviance and social stratification. Her teaching philosophy involves engaging students in the topic, presenting materials in an accessible manner, and structuring assignments with detailed instructions and models to help students succeed. Her classes challenge students to think critically about complex concepts and processes. As faculty advisor for the USD – Sioux Falls Sociology Club, Hartman regularly brings in alumni and guest speakers and provides opportunities for students in the community.
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