See also: Teaching, Research Excellence Award winners for 2024-25
Each year, the deans from Campbell University’s various colleges and schools choose a professor or staff member who best exemplify the mission and highest ideals of faculty/staff excellence. The following were the Dean’s Award for Excellence winners for the 2024-2025 academic year:
Adult & Online Education
Daniel Simon
Adjunct Professor of Mathematics
Daniel Simon has been an adjunct professor of mathematics for Campbell University’s Adult & Online Education program since 2023. In addition to teaching, Simon is an executive leadership coach and a consultant for Christian education.
From Dean Nicole Winget: His passion for education is evident in his willingness to teach across various Adult & Online Education campuses, including participation in the Second Chance Initiative. Daniel’s ability to adapt his teaching methods to accommodate diverse learning styles is remarkable; he engages students both in and out of the classroom, fostering a supportive learning environment. His active participation in Campbell University events further demonstrates his dedication to enhancing the educational experience.
College of Arts & Sciences
Dr. Paula Parker
Professor of Exercise Science
Dr. Paula Parker, professor of exercise science, earned an Ed.D. in Sport & Exercise Psychology from West Virginia University. She joined the College of Arts & Sciences faculty in 2016.
From Dean Dr. Michael B. Wells: A tremendous amount of service is required of a department chair for the largest department in the College of Arts & Science. Dr. Parker does it well. This year she navigated many personnel changes and led significant curriculum revisions. Outside of the department, Dr. Parker continues to be a leader in campus health and wellbeing efforts. Dr. Parker is an active scholar of national prominence in an interdisciplinary field that spans mental health, athletics, and performance. She has authored multiple peer reviewed journal articles, made numerous presentations at conferences, and mentored many student researchers. She has been awarded two research grants.
College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Dr. Timothy J. Marks
Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical & Clinical Sciences
Dr. Timothy J. Marks is a respected Campbell University educator and researcher in microbiology, pharmaceutical sciences and interdisciplinary education. He holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology (2020) and a Professional Science Master’s in Microbial Biotechnology (2010) from North Carolina State University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Butler University (2003). His career reflects academic leadership, research innovation, curriculum development, and student mentorship, significantly impacting both students and faculty.
From Dean Dr. Jeff Mercer: Dr. Marks serves as Faculty Advisor for M1 MSPS students and Co-chair of the PCS Curriculum Committee, spearheading the integration of PharmD coursework into the MSPS program to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration. He actively mentors students, guiding research that leads to conference presentations and publications. His service on faculty committees, including the University Faculty Senate and Curriculum Committees, supports academic governance and student success. Dr. Marks’ dedication to education, research, and mentorship is shaping the future of students and reinforcing his role as a leader in his field.
Divinity School
Rev. Dr. Sarah Elizabeth Boberg
Assistant Professor of Christian Education
The Rev. Dr. Sarah Elizabeth Boberg is an assistant professor of Christian Education and project director for the Empowering Families for Spiritual Formation Lilly Grant. An alumna both of Campbell University and of the Divinity School, Boberg joined the full-time faculty in January 2024 after serving churches in North Carolina and Virginia, teaching as an adjunct professor at both the John Leland Center for Theological Studies and at Campbell University Divinity School, and serving as the project coordinator for Campbell’s Boundary Spanning Theological Education initiative.
From former Dean Dr. Andrew Wakefield: Dr. Boberg shines in the classroom. She inspires students with a passion for ministry with children, youth and adults. She brings a first-hand understanding of the challenges and needs of church-based ministry along with an appreciation for innovative ministry that extends beyond the church. Her infectious enthusiasm and good humor draw students in; her compassion and understanding create a safe space for students to wrestle with hard issues; her academic expertise and her pursuit and example of excellence encourage students to stretch and grow. She exemplifies the best of the scholar-practitioner who effectively equips students for Christ-centered, Bible-based and ministry-focused service.
Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Amy Hinkelman
Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
Dr. Amy Hinkelman earned her Ph.D. in microbiology, with research specialization in immunology, from the University of Kansas and completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Since joining the Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2016, she has consistently committed to academic excellence, curricular innovation and student success.
From former Dean Dr. Brian Kessler: In addition to her teaching and scholarship, Dr. Hinkelman provides exemplary institutional service through leadership on key committees related to curriculum development, research initiatives, interprofessional education, and student holistic support. Her tireless dedication to both the academic and professional development of students embodies the mission and values of Campbell University. She represents the highest ideals of faculty excellence at Campbell University.
Lundy-Fetterman School of Business
Dr. Karen Mishra
Department Chair, Business Administration
Associate Professor of Business Administration
Karen Mishra serves as an associate professor of business at the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business. Mishra earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Management from Albion College, her Master of Business Administration with a focus in Marketing from The University of Michigan, and her Ph.D. in Marketing Communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
From Dean Dr. Kevin O’Mara: Dr. Mishra has consistently excelled in a variety of roles since arriving onto the LFSB faculty. She is an outstanding teacher noted for her collaborative and engaging style. Her courses are sought out by students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Mishra utilizes a variety of innovative pedagogical techniques to successfully create an atmosphere of involvement, participation, and respect. Her impressively broad organizational knowledge allows her to thrive while teaching in marketing, management and leadership disciplines, which is invaluable to the LFSB program. Her considerable teaching skills are exceeded only by her ability as a mentor to students. Students gravitate to Dr. Mishra for her insights well beyond the classroom and beyond the semester. She has student mentoring relationships spanning years, even with students from her previous universities. Great teachers support their students. Dr. Mishra truly does.
Norman A. Wiggins School of Law
Jon Powell
Director of the Restorative Justice Clinic
Attorney Jon Powell serves as the director of the Restorative Justice Clinic. The program receives referrals from the juvenile justice system, juvenile court, Wake County Schools and the Capital Area Teen Court program. Powell joined the Campbell University law staff in 2003 after a successful career in criminal defense. Powell then joined the full-time faculty a few years later. Powell is the first and only full-time director of the Campbell Law School Restorative Justice Clinic.
From Dean J. Rich Leonard: Professor Powell has made an indelible mark on Campbell University School of Law and the lives of its graduates. He has educated second- and third-year students in the Restorative Justice Clinic with compassion, grace, humor, and real-life experiences. In addition to his Restorative Justice Class, Professor Powell takes on an exceptional number of students in an independent study each semester and trains them personally in upperlevel restorative justice. Professor Powell has a remarkable gift in training future lawyers in the humanity of being a lawyer.
School of Education & Human Sciences
Dr. Karen Jeannette
Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Dr. Karen Jeannette has made an exceptional contribution as an assistant professor and program coordinator during her time at Campbell University. She has been part of the faculty in graduate and professional programs in the School of Education & Human Sciences at Campbell University for two years. Her efforts have transformed the experiences of many of our clinical mental health counseling students, as well as the clinical mental health counseling program, during these years.
From Dean Dr. Al Bryant: Not only did she enter a program being the new department chair, but the entire department for Mental Health Counseling would also be new. On top of these challenges, the accreditation renewal for CACREP (Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Educational Programs) would be coming up soon as the 2026 Accreditation cycle. She was not only up for the challenge but surpassed expectations. I have collaborated with many previous professors of the Mental Health Counseling Program for the past 30 years. Her resolve in meeting challenges has been as good as any I have worked with.
School of Engineering
Dr. Ana Rynearson
Assistant Professor of Engineering
Dr. Ana Rynearson is an assistant professor of engineering who teaches first- and second-year engineering courses, including our introduction to engineering applications course and lab which she developed. Outside of class, Rynearson is faculty advisor for the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Student Chapter. Rynearson earned both her B.S. and M.E. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology and her Ph.D. in Engineering Education from Purdue University, where she held several prestigious fellowships.
From Dean Dr. Jenna Carpenter: Dr. Ana Rynearson is a nationally recognized leader in Engineering Education research. She has been the Pl or co-Pl on three National Science Foundation grants, including a prestigious NSF Career Award, as well as two Kern Family Foundation grants. Her research has focused on topics including student retention, student mentoring, and supporting academic decision points for students. She has involved several Campbell undergraduate research assistants in her work, as well. In addition to publications of her research, she has delivered many workshops to further disseminate her work. Dr. Rynearson has also held national leadership roles in the Educational Research and Methods Division of the American Society for Engineering Education.
Wiggins Memorial Library
Jennifer Seagraves
Instructional Pedagogy & Curriculum Materials Librarian
Jennifer Seagraves, instructional pedagogy and curriculum materials librarian, has been a member of the library faculty since September 2021. Seagraves is the librarian responsible for establishing the Teaching Resource Center (TRC), a learning space for faculty to explore pedagogical best practices through workshops, books on the subject, and book clubs.
From former Dean Sarah Steele: Jennifer is an active learner herself, always sharpening the tools in her instructional tool belt, through participation in the POD Network and participation in the Annual Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy. Relationship rich education is the defining nature of Jennifer’s interactions with campus colleagues and students. She has collaborated with faculty and departments across campus to develop the TRC workshops. She is also known for her collaborative nature among library colleagues.