Outstanding faculty and staff at Northeastern Junior College were recognized at an Advisory Council meeting on Thursday. The four individuals were nominated by their colleagues to receive state-level awards and were honored at the Colorado Community College System’s ninth annual Commitment to Excellence Awards ceremony on April 8 at History Colorado.
Dr. Debora Stump, professor of anatomy and physiology/biology, is the Faculty of the Year. She started as an adjunct professor and is now in her 10th year as a full-time faculty member. Before coming to NJC, she had her own veterinary practice for two years.
“Anything and everything we ask of her, she says yes,” Rachelle Davis, health, science and math department chair, said.
Dr. Stump played a major role in the transition from CCCOnline to Colorado Online by taking responsibility for teaching multiple sections of online anatomy and physiology for the first time and at the last minute. Doing all of that while maintaining a full in-person load.
“She found that her experience helped her to grow as an instructor and she enjoyed getting to know her online students at a better level than she ever imagined. One example is she enjoyed getting to know a German student who was enrolled in the classes from Germany,” her award nominator said, adding, “She takes on new and uncomfortable situations in a manner that helps her become a better instructor because of her passion to make the world of animals and people more healthy.”
“Debora always has a smile on her face and she makes Whyman Hall a happy place to work. She consistently gives a personal touch to her students through academic advising and advocacy,” her award nominator said, adding that she is involved in student organizations. “She helps foster a love for the medical and animal science world in high schoolers with different concurrent enrollment students and on the campus of NJC.”
In her farm animal and physiology classroom, she has students reconstruct three-dimensional skeletons that they use to show the kinesthetic movement of all the individual bones in a video as part of their final project.
“She really is an asset to NJC, she has a heart for students, she has a heart for science, and NJC,” Davis said.
Cindy Piper, cashier in the Financial Aid Office, is the Classified Staff of the Year. She was previously the cafeteria manager and acted as a sort of “mom” for the students.
“You could see her walking around to the tables, checking on these young men and women. I have seen her personally come solve some challenges they had and resolve issues and it was just so impressive to see that dedication. She continues that now in the Financial Aid Office,” NJC President Mike White said.
Jason Ha, academic technology coordinator, is the Professional/Technical Employee of the Year. He graduated from NJC in 2018 and started out working for the college as an intern in the IT Department and worked his way from part-time to full-time.
His colleague, who nominated him for the award, said, “Jason is very hardworking and diligent at his job. He is constantly being helpful to someone and he maintains a friendly and respectful presence for students, faculty and staff. This year, NJC has taken on more online classes than expected and Jason has gone above and beyond to make sure those classes are set up with the instructors.”
Shelli Krager, early childhood education instructor, is the Adjunct Instructor of the Year. Her full-time job is working as a teacher and director of the preschool at Prairie School. As an adjunct instructor at NJC, she is part of the team that “keeps early childhood education running throughout the state of Colorado,” by offering 12-16 courses a year for current early childhood education students and area providers, according to Celeste Delgado-Pelton, chair of the Liberal Arts Department.
Krager teaches intro to infant/toddler techniques and the lab that goes with that, plus she helps teach online courses.
“We are really indebted to her; she does a fantastic job,” Delgado-Pelton said.
Earlier in the meeting, the council was introduced to new staff, including Dr. Henry Oh, vice president of academic affairs. An educator, leader, author, scholar and speaker with a diversity of expertise and background, Dr. Oh’s board credentials include registered respiratory therapist, medical laboratory scientist, chartered biologist, certified brain health coach, and certified professional in engineering management. He has made significant contributions to advancing the quality and accessibility of higher education, impacting students, educators, and institutions both nationally and internationally.
Throughout his career, Dr. Oh has held key academic leadership roles, including Associate Dean, Department Chair, and Executive Director, where he has championed curriculum innovations, student success, and faculty development. He was recognized as an Honorary Colonel by the State Governor of Kentucky in 2022 and as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology in the U.K. His recent book, “Unlocking Your Mind: How the Brain Learns and Adapts,” has received three national and international awards, offering readers insights into the brain’s potential in neuroplasticity.
Other new staff members include Christinia Gesford, director of financial aid; David Farrow, dean of career and technical education; Eric Iseli, automotive and diesel faculty; Gerry Whipple, applied technology campus career navigator; Jaime Soliman, online support specialist; and Matthew Wheeler, structural trades II.
In other business, NJC Honors Program senior Cole Haley shared his capstone project presentation on “Replacement of Traditional Drive Trains With Hybrid Diesel Electronic Drivetrain in Ag Operations.” He spoke about how replacing the traditional drive train with an electric drive train would improve efficiency and gave a real-world example of a company doing that, Edison Motors, an electric truck manufacturer in Canada.
Additionally, during his president’s report, White shared that construction on the Applied Technology Campus expansion project is progressing and is expected to be completed in June, in time to offer an electrician program there in the fall.
He also shared that concurrent enrollment courses at NJC have provided $970,000 in savings for students and NJC’s enrollment right now has increased 6% compared to the same time last year. Plus, he mentioned the partnerships NJC continues to form with four-year universities, announcing that there will be three graduates from The Partnership for Rural Educator Preparation program this spring.
The council also recognized outgoing member Jamie Jo Axtell and new council member Logan County Commissioner Mike Brownell.