Three faculty members were honored with Dean’s Exemplary Awards for their commitment to service, professional contributions, and teaching excellence.
The awards were announced during an April ceremony. Over 20 nominations were received, reflecting the wide range of talent on campus, said Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Kathy Wolfe.
“I’m so proud and honored to work among such an amazing group of faculty and staff,” Wolfe said.
Join us in honoring the 2025 award recipients!
Dean’s Exemplary Service Award
Associate Professor Richard Keithley is described by colleagues as someone tirelessly dedicated to his students and research. As a chemistry professor and chair of the Faculty Personnel Committee, Keithley embodies the characteristics of care, conscientiousness, collaboration, and candidness.
Nominators praised him as a model colleague who consistently goes above and beyond and who is, simply put, a joy to work with. “He cares about the college and students deeply,” wrote one colleague. “I cannot think of a more well-deserving individual for the exemplary service award.”
Keithley’s track record of leadership led to him being tapped to help guide Roanoke’s strategic planning process, and he’s now co-director of the plan’s goal to create an exceptional experience for on-campus residential students. In the classroom, he takes the lead in managing and maintaining the Chemistry Department’s instruments, ensuring students have access to high-quality resources.
The Dean’s Exemplary Service Award recognizes his exceptional dedication to serving others and his contributions to advancing the college’s mission.
Dean’s Exemplary Professional Life Award
Biology Professor and Director of the Center for Heath Careers Len Pysh is known for his commitment to mentoring student researchers and guiding them through original research projects — landing a substantial grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the process.
More recently, Pysh was instrumental in winning a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to help the college create innovative STEM-H partnerships with community leaders and employers. The grant allows the college to appoint eight faculty fellows and ten student assistants to pursue the work over a three-year period.
“What sets [Dr. Pysh] apart is that in elevating his own professional life he is elevating the professional lives of so many others,” wrote one nominator. “His work is creating opportunities here on campus for faculty and staff colleagues and for students, and also for community partners and for our region. Wins all around.”
The Dean’s Exemplary Professional Life Award recognizes his outstanding accomplishments, which contribute to the intellectual vibrancy on campus and exemplify a lifelong pursuit of growth and discovery.
Dean’s Exemplary Teaching Award
Associate Professor and Education Department Chair Jennifer McCloud is, in the words of one student, passion personified.
She tackles a wide range of classes, both within the education major and the INQ curriculum, and is known for her thoughtful and culturally relevant approach to subjects. Beyond that, she was described by multiple student nominators as a genuinely caring and inspiring role model.
“When taking my first class with Dr. McCloud, which also happened to be the first class I took for my major, I knew instantly that she was an amazing educator,” wrote one student. "She helped me accomplish things I never knew I was capable of.”
Her enthusiasm and dedication are evident from the first time you meet her, added another student. “Never in my life [did I see] someone so excited about a subject. I did not want to be anywhere else but in her classroom.”
The Dean’s Exemplary Teaching Award recognizes McCloud’s commitment to teaching and to helping her students grow as people through engaged learning and meaningful connections.