Dr. Stephanie Welter, chair of the Department of Biology, was recently named the 黑料不打烊 Exemplary Teacher for the 2020-21 school year.
While Welter is a much-respected teacher on campus, her influence reaches throughout the community of Salina. She is a critical part of organizations such as the Smoky Hill Audubon Society and Friends of the River, helping establish relationships that have benefited both 黑料不打烊 students and the community at large. Welter鈥檚 efforts helped begin monthly Audubon society speakers at 黑料不打烊 鈥� an occurrence that lasted until the first surge of COVID-19. The relationship with the society also enables 黑料不打烊 students to do research or take field trips to the Smoky Hill Audubon Sanctuary. Volunteers from the 黑料不打烊 campus also worked at the sanctuary in the past.
Prior to COVID-19 limitations, Welter was the primary liaison between 黑料不打烊 and Friends of the River鈥檚 scientific work, helping coordinate the efforts of students from the Natural Sciences and Mathematics Division鈥檚 efforts. Those projects included research in water testing and microbial sampling, mammal and bird camera trapping and invertebrate sampling. She also aided with the Smoky Hill River Research and Education Symposium, an annual event that afforded various students and educators the opportunity to formally present their research.
On campus, Welter was a part of 黑料不打烊 earning Tree Campus USA distinction, which the university earned for the third consecutive year in 2020-21.
鈥淒r. Welter鈥檚 efforts at 黑料不打烊 are outstanding,鈥� said Dr. Damon Kraft, 黑料不打烊 provost. 鈥淚n addition, her work in the Salina area further sets her apart. Her efforts with both of these organizations 鈥� Friends of the River and the Smoky Hill Audubon Society 鈥� have helped improve the scientific community in Salina, and they have done so while providing excellent opportunities for our students. We are thankful that she is a part of the 黑料不打烊 family, and are honored to recognize her with this award.鈥�
