About the Awards
In celebration of Women’s History Month in March, the ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies (WGSS) Coalition presents the annual Dr. April Brooks Awards in Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies. These awards recognize the outstanding accomplishments of individuals or organizations, on or off campus, who promote equity in gender and/or sexuality. Nominees advance the mission of the WGSS program at ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ: to educate our university and the public on issues related to gender and sexuality, through innovative curricula, research and/or outreach.
Past Award Winners
2001
- Dr. Carol Peterson, provost
- Dr. Marysz Rames, dean of student services
- Nancy Neiber, Women's Intercollegiate Athletics
- Dawn Goetz-Parten, student, pharmacy
- Deborah Bortnem, administrative assistant, cooperative Extension
2002
- Dr. Laurie Stenberg Nichols, dean of family and consumer sciences
- Dr. Joye Anne Billow, professor of pharmacy
- Randi Ebsen-Shumann, President's Cottage
- D. Kirstan Butler, student
2003
- Dr. Virginia Norris, department head, psychology
- Dr. Diane Rickerl, professor of plant science
- Jan Evans, senior secretary, College of Arts and Sciences
- Kara Christensen, student, journalism and mass communication
2004
- Dr. Mary Kay Helling, assistant vice president
- Dr. Suzette Burckhard, professor of civil and environmental engineering
- Palette Heesch, program assistant, plant science
- Melissa Pater, student and athlete
2005
- Dr. Peggy Gordon Miller, president
- Dr. Carol Cumber, professor of economics
- Julia Fausti, Computer Support, plant science
- Mary Andrawis, student, pharmacy
2006
- Dr. Roberta Olson, dean of nursing
- Doris Giago, professor of journalism and mass communication
- Susan Goens, administrative assistant, ag-bio engineering
- Stephanie Chase, student, political science
2007
- Karyn Weber, director of human resources
- Dr. Anne Fennell, plant science
- Katherine Heiberger, catalog assistant, academic affairs
- Renay Silva, Student, nursing
2008
- Lynn Verschoor, director of the South Dakota Art Museum
- Dr. Linda Nussbaumer, professor of interior design
- Louise Skovlund, custodial services
- Melissa Wuellner, graduate student, wildlife and fisheries
2009
- Dr. Maria Ramos, department head of modern languages
- Kristi Russow, instructor in the College of Education
- Carrie Van Buren, curator at the Agricultural Heritage Museum
- Catherine Grandorff, student, English and global studies
2010
- Dr. Kathleen Donovan, assistant to the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and department head, English
- Dr. Sharon Clay, professor of plant science
- Cheryl Beste, administrative assistant, Department of Animal and Range Sciences
- Claire Garry-Peschong, student, civil engineering
2011
- Dr. April Brooks, department head and professor, history and political science
- Dr. Aimee Wertz-Lutz, associate professor, animal science
- Brenda Bjorklund, accounting assistant, animal science
- Eliza Yellow Bird, student, counseling
2012
- Dr. Laurie Haleta, department head and professor, communication studies and theatre
- Dr. Heike Bücking, associate professor, biology and microbiology
- Christine Garst-Santos, assistant professor, modern foreign language and global studies,
- Carol Kleinjan, senior secretary, animal and range sciences
- Angela Gebhart, undergraduate student, animal science
2013
- Karla Trautman, associate director, ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ Extension Service
- Dr. Patricia Johnson, professor, Department of Natural Resource Management
- Betty Nelson, senior secretary, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
- Bonnie Junker, graduate student, human sciences
2014
- Administrative and professional staff- Robin Salverson
- Faculty member Laura Diddle
- Civil service- Virginia Coudron
- Student - Ashley Potter
2015
- Administrative and professional staff - Lindsey Gerard
- Faculty – Meredith Redlin
- Civil service – Linda Fawcett
- Student – Claire Evans
2016
- Administrative and professional staff - Charlotte Davidson
- Faculty - Teresa Seefeldt
- Civil service - Christina Thurston
- Student - Madelin Mack
2017
- Administrative - Jane Christopher-Hennings
- Professional staff - Dianne Nagy
- Faculty - Crystal Levesque
- Civil service - Veronica Shriver
- Student - Karla Rodriguez-Hernandez
2018
- Administrative - Jane Mort
- Professional staff - Janet Johnson
- Faculty - Lacey McCormack
- Civil service - Michelle Leeds
- Student - Semehar Ghebrekidan
2019
- Administrative - Suzanne Stluka
- Professional staff - Maria Kalyvaki
- Faculty - Amber Jensen
- Graduate student - Susan Kroger
- Undergraduate student - Sydney Swenson
2020
- Administrative - Kas Williams
- Professional staff - Marjoanne Thompson
- Faculty - Christine Stewart
- Civil service - Linda Quade
- Student - Leah Hendrickson
- Ally Award - Brookings PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays)
2021
- Organization Award - Brookings Human Rights Commission
- Dr. April Brooks Scholarship - Katrina Gilbertson
- Individual Award - Jamie Sly