Employee of the Year

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARD

The Employee of the Year Award is for an administrative faculty member who embodies Mines’ mission, produces quality work, and consistently displays characteristics valued and appreciated through their every-day job expectations.

Nominations for 2024 will be accepted in the Spring Semester.

dr. megan sanders
Trefny center, senior assessment associate

Megan earned a PhD in Educational Psychology from the Ohio State University. In her role at the Trefny Center, she collaborates on assessment and education research across all levels of the institution, from working with faculty on classroom-based research to collaborating on campus-wide teaching and learning initiatives. Before coming to Mines, she worked in the teaching centers at both Ohio State and Carnegie Mellon University.

Recognition: Megan is a vital part of our Trefny team and works collaboratively with leaders across campus to implement transformative teaching and learning at Mines. As a change agent, she has the energy and excitement to influence change as well as the knowledge, skills, and endurance to deliver real change. During the past five years, Megan has collaborated with Faculty Senate to develop a peer observation system; this is a common practice for most college institutions. The work has produced tools and protocols that have been piloted with 22 faculty instructors representing 12 departments. With Justin Schafer and Deb Carney, Megan has developed a three-year pilot that will train and provide an observation cycle for every Mines instructor. Her vision, leadership, and commitment continue to advance this work in a practical and sustainable way. Megan is also essential to our accreditation efforts. She co-chairs (with Vibhuti Dave) the Assessment Committee. She leads the accreditation efforts for non-Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) departments and supports ABET accreditation efforts. She was an essential contributor to the 2023 Higher Learning Commission (HLC) report; especially around Criteria 3 and 4. As Senior Assessment Associate – our only Assessment Associate – she played a key role in representing Mines at formal meetings during our recent HLC visit. Megan and Vibhuti have also organized a four-day summer workshop to give faculty teaching core curriculum an opportunity to come together and develop a plan to regularly assess the core. This work will lead to an authentic way to monitor and assess student learning related to the core. Megan engages in these assessment efforts with a smile on her face, questions that push institutional thinking, and an intentional plan for advancing teaching and learning at Mines. Megan deserves to be recognized as AFC Employee of the Year.