CSI Announces General Education Teaching Awards
Monday 2026-05-18
TWIN FALLS, ID – The College of Southern Idaho is pleased to announce the winners of the eighth annual General Education Teaching Awards, celebrating exceptional teaching for non-majors. Faculty were nominated based on evidence of exemplary teaching, creativity in course design and implementation, and excellence in translating disciplinary methods of inquiry to non-majors. General education courses expose all College of Southern Idaho students, regardless of major, to a range of disciplines outside their specific area of study. General education courses make students into better citizens with broad perspectives on an ever-changing world.
Written Communication Integrative Skill: Instructor Dr. Nicholas Cooley
Dr. Cooley’s pedagogical philosophy is deeply rooted in the belief that every student possesses innate intellectual potential. His breadth of knowledge informs his teaching, allowing him to bring a rich, interdisciplinary depth to the classroom. He is a scholar-teacher who transforms the “street-smart” energy of our students into sophisticated, rhetorically grounded intellectualism.
Oral Communication Integrative Skill: Adjunct Instructor Christy Bowman-Lantz
Christy’s commitment to her communication students is inspiring. Recurring high enrollment in her courses speaks to her ability to connect with her students. She is an exceptional instructor, and her teaching is working to create students who are better equipped to navigate the vast world or communication with a critical eye, every day. She is making a difference in the lives of her students, and it shows.
Mathematical Ways of Knowing: Professor Christalyn Waitley
By emphasizing critical thinking, logical reasoning, and perseverance, Chrissy transforms her mathematics classroom to produce resilient students. Her courses are not merely about formulas, but about building universal skills for their professional futures. Through collaboration and clear communication, she ensures that students graduate from her courses capable of articulating complex ideas to diverse audiences, which is becoming more necessary in the modern workforce.
Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing: Associate Professor Dr. Burcu Seyben
Burcu has brought to our institution a valuable and unique world perspective that has enriched our campus and community. Her dedication to her students and the institution is reflected not only in her active participation in our efforts and initiatives, but in her implementation of those concepts directly in her courses. Students leave her classes knowing not only what they learned, but why they learned it and how it can apply to their future academic and professional careers.
Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing: Assistant Professor Justin Vipperman
Justin has the ability to meet his students enthusiastically, where they are, connecting them to the past via dynamic pedagogy that focuses on public history while linking the present with the past. Justin is also somebody who walks his talk, volunteering for statewide organizations that align with his personal mission and drawing on the work of these organizations in his teaching and with his students. His commitment to general education is extraordinary and valuable, and he is helping his students see themselves as part of a large historical moment where they get to choose their impact and participation.
Scientific Ways of Knowing: Professor Dr. Heidi Adams
Heidi is an educator who embraces developing active learning activities for her students. She has developed her classes to focus much more on the learning process than on the retention of facts. She constantly navigates the room and uses worksheets, games and other resources to present the chemistry content in a way that breaks it down and makes it more manageable for students. She provides thoughtful feedback to students and makes sure that this feedback is readily accessible.
Institutionally Designated Ways of Knowing: Associate Professor Rita Ruhter
Rita has made a lasting impact at the College of Southern Idaho over the years in the areas of health and wellness. Her current instructional work in wellness is consistently described as engaging, thoughtful, and meaningful, with a strong emphasis on creating a supportive learning environment and providing individualized, high-quality feedback to her students. Her courses are well-designed, purposeful, and encourage deep reflection. In addition to her teaching, Rita serves as the Dual Credit liaison for Wellness and leads by example within the department; modeling high- quality, student-centered instruction. Her care, hard work, and commitment to meaningful learning experiences make her a very deserving recipient of this recognition.
“General education courses are challenging to teach and these instructors go above and beyond to connect relevant, engaging content to a wide variety of students with a wide variety of majors and interests. A key part of that is how these classes offer students the durable skills that they will need in the workforce and beyond,” said Tiffany Seeley-Case, Vice President of Instruction.
Six of the winners will become the College’s nominees for the statewide Idaho GEM Innovative Educator awards, which also will include nominees from other colleges and universities in Idaho. The statewide awards will be announced in October at the State of Idaho General Education Summit.