Missouri State University Foundation Awards for Excellence in Teaching, Research and Service
The Foundation Awards for Excellence in Teaching, Research (and/or creative expression) and Service are intended to recognize full-time faculty who demonstrate evidence of significant accomplishments. Faculty members must be nominated by peers for the Foundation Awards, which are funded by the Missouri State University Foundation. Foundation Awards are presented annually up to two faculty in each of the three categories. Each recipient receives $3,600 in the form of a salary authorization. Please view the timeline and process description.
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2026 Foundation Awards for Teaching, Research and Service
Foundation Awards in Teaching, Research and Service were presented to three Missouri State faculty members in May 2026. Each recipient of these awards recognizing excellence in the areas of teaching, research and/or creative activities, and service received an monetary reward of $3,600 funded by the Missouri State University Foundation.
Click on the links below to find out more about this year's award recipients. View past winners.
Foundation Awards for Teaching
Dr. Tara Boehne
Occupational Therapy (School of Healthcare Professions)
McQueary College of Health and Human Services
Dr. Holly Holladay
Communication, Media, Journalism and Film
Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities
Foundation Awards for Research
Dr. Daniel Goering
Management
College of Business
Dr. Tayo Obafemi-Ajayi
Cooperative Engineering Program
College of Natural and Applied Sciences
Foundation Awards for Service
Dr. Melissa Penkalski
School of Nursing
McQueary College of Health and Human Services
Dr. Julia Troche
History
Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities