Central Washington University Board of Trustees May 22, 2026 ACTION – 2026 Distinguished Faculty Awards
Since 1977, CWU has honored excellence in faculty teaching, service, and research or creative expression. The recognition, the highest honor for faculty at CWU, is embedded in the Faculty Code (Section III), which establishes awards for Distinguished Faculty and for Non-Tenure Track Faculty. Distinguished Faculty Awards are reserved for individuals who have, at a minimum, served for six years and have worked at least 135 WLU. The awardees are nominated by the Faculty Senate, which may choose not to make an award in any given category. The Board of Trustees authorizes nominations. Recipients of the annual Distinguished Faculty Awards in teaching, scholarship, and service receive a one-time $2,500 stipend. Recipients of the Board of Trustees Distinguished Faculty Award receive a one- time $5,000 stipend and one quarter release from teaching in the next academic year. The Board of Trustee award is given every other year. Distinguished Teaching Awards are given for teaching excellence, as demonstrated by breadth and depth of knowledge; clarity in methodology and organization of materials, and effective methods of presentation; continued scholarship and integration of scholarship into course work; assistance to students in understanding the value and relevance of the subject matter and course materials, both within the discipline and in a broader context. The following is this year’s recipient: Ms. Cassandra Koefod, Distinguished Non-Tenure Track Faculty Teaching Award, Department of Economics and Business Analytics. Ms. Koefod’s work at Central Washington University exemplifies what a teacher should be in ways that go beyond the classroom, gaining her consistent respect from both students and colleagues. Faculty code defines teaching excellence as demonstrating breadth and depth of knowledge; active engagement in the scholarly milieu that shows up in the classroom; effectively presenting materials; and continued assistance to students; in all these areas, Cassie Koefod meets and exceeds the requirements for the Distinguished Teaching Award. Ms. Koefod demonstrates depth and breadth of knowledge in teaching across quantitative and applied fields, showing a deep understanding of economics, statistical reasoning, and modern analytical tools. In 2025, she co-authored three publications in the field of economics, blatantly demonstrating her involvement within the field and a working knowledge of its academic discourse. (It is worth noting that, as a senior lecturer, Ms. Koefod is not necessarily expected to be producing publications or presenting at conferences; her academic engagement demonstrates her expertise, but it also indicates her passion for the subject and raises the bar for all teachers.) Moreover, she is active in her field outside of academia as a consultant, meaning Koefod continues to engage both as an academic and a practitioner, giving her a deep understanding of the workings of her field and the ability to provide real-world examples and datasets in the classroom. In other words, Koefod’s instruction is industry-informed and up to date with what is going on both inside and outside academia.
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