Best Teacher Awards

Haley Cole-Robinson

Haley Cole-Robinson

College of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Sciences

Haley Cole-Robinson serves as an instructor and meat judging coordinator in the animal sciences department. Born and raised in Cheyenne, Wyoming, she earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Wyoming, where she competed on the meat judging team and later served as the team’s assistant coach. She went on to pursue her master’s in agricultural sciences at East Texas A&M University, where she worked as the meat judging coordinator, agricultural outreach coordinator, and animal science instructor. These experiences nurtured her belief in the power of hands-on education to improve students’ critical thinking and decision-making skills while building discipline and leadership abilities. That philosophy informs her work as an educator at CSU, where she channels the guidance and encouragement she received from mentors and coaches into a commitment to help students find and pursue their passions.

“Haley is a true advocate for animal science education. She spends most to all of her summers working on recruitment plans for animal science and intercollegiate judging teams at high schools, 4H clubs, and FFA chapters all over the state.”

– Ethan Hanson, junior (B.S., ’26)

Meara Faw

Meara Faw, Ph.D.

College of Liberal Arts, Department of Communication Studies

Meara Faw’s teaching and research sit at the intersection of interpersonal communication and health. Faw received her Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Washington and joined the faculty at CSU in 2017. She credits her undergraduate experiences as a teaching and research assistant with inspiring her to become an educator. Rooted in the conviction that all people benefit from communication skills, she challenges students to consider how they can apply complex theories and ideas to their own relationships and actions. Her research focuses on the communication of social support and the communication experiences of informal caregivers. She co-founded the Wellness in Interpersonal Relationships and Communication Lab, which provides opportunities for undergrad and graduate students to experience life as a research assistant while growing skills and understanding of communication as a discipline and practice.

“Dr. Faw is not only an inspiration as an educator but also who she is as a person. She is incredibly passionate about the work she does and her love for her community, students, CSU, and research exudes inside and outside the classroom.”

– Olivia Berg (B.A., ’23)

Kimberly Jeckel

Kimberly Jeckel, M.S., Ph.D. (M.S., ’98; Ph.D., ’05)

College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences

Originally from San Diego, California, Kimberly Jeckel, M.S., Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the department of biomedical sciences, teaching undergraduate and honors courses in physiology and pathophysiology. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology at UC San Diego and completed a master’s degree and Ph.D. at CSU in nutritional sciences and biomedical sciences, respectively. Her past laboratory research focused on genetic regulation of placental and fetal development. Grateful for the opportunity to work as a scientist in academia, she finds joy in supporting students in their educational journeys by inspiring them to believe in themselves and find excitement in learning. In addition to teaching, she conducts educational research in science courses and works with honors students in the biomedical sciences, mentoring and directing their thesis projects.

“Dr. Jeckel is the most compassionate, inclusive, and dedicated professor I have ever had at Colorado State. She goes through every lecture, interaction with students and colleagues, and meeting with an open heart and so much care.”

– Kiley McCarthy, senior (B.S., ’25)

Kevin Kuhnen

Kevin Kuhnen, M.B.A. (B.S., ’06; M.B.A., ’17)

College of Business, Department of Marketing

After earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2006 and M.B.A. in 2017, Kevin Kuhnen returned to the College of Business in 2019 as a lecturer in the marketing department. Drawing on deep experience in private sector sales for Fortune 500 companies and medical startups, he teaches professional selling and the marketing capstone, among other courses. Dedicated to inspiring students through real-world opportunities, he co-founded the CSU Sales Center and helped it grow into the largest professional student club on campus. Asked to pick a defining career moment, he cites a pandemic-era virtual class where a student asked to share a video he presumed was related to their discussion. Instead, she shared video of Kuhnen’s childhood hero, St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Ozzie Smith, thanking him for the impact he was making as an educator during that difficult time.

“As the faculty adviser for the Sales Club, Kevin takes his commitment to the next level. He travels around the country, ensuring students have access to national conferences, sales competitions, and opportunities to network with professionals. He doesn’t just teach us about sales; he opens doors for us to experience the real world and build connections.”

– Jessica Tanis, senior (’25)

Elodie Vigneron

Elodie Vigneron, M.B.A., P.M.P.

College of Health and Human Sciences, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition

Elodie Vigneron is a seasoned event planning and management professional with experience in academic and practical settings. For the past three years, she’s taught an event planning class for the hospitality and event management program. She also works full time as special event lead specialist for the city of Fort Collins, where she guides event producers through the permitting process. Vigneron attended CSU as an exchange student from France while earning her bachelor’s degree in leisure and tourism management from Blaise Pascal University. She also holds a master’s degree in sport and tourism management. Vigneron has fond memories of her CSU experience and returned to serve as director of stadium events at Canvas Stadium. That position provided opportunities to mentor hospitality management students which, in turn, led to her teaching position. As an educator, she’s grateful for the chance to witness and contribute to her students’ growth and transformation.

“As team leader of my event group, I always felt that I could go to Elodie if I needed to, but I rarely did because she made me trust myself so much that I wasn’t scared to make decisions. By the end, I successfully led a team to plan and execute the College of Health and Human Sciences’ Dean’s End of the Year Award Ceremony and reception.”

– Emma Hall (B.S., ’23)

Steven Weiss

Steven Weiss (B.A., ’78)

College of Liberal Arts, Department of Journalism and Media Communication

Steve Weiss has more than 30 years of experience working as a television reporter, host, and producer in various television markets and has worked on programs for ESPN, FOX Sports, PBS, and MSNBC. He got involved with the journalism and media communication department first as a guest speaker and capstone project reviewer, and then as an adjunct instructor in 2010, which led to a full-time master instructor position. He teaches classes in video production and writing, advises a student live-event production company called Ram Productions, and helped launch Ram+, CSU’s new student streaming platform.

Weiss is constantly inspired by the excitement and enthusiasm of JMC students. He always keeps his door open and is happy to share advice with anyone who needs help preparing for a meaningful career they’ll feel passionate about.

“When a person leads with more than words, their lessons stick with you through a lifetime. It is rare for a person to be as highly intuitive and adaptable as Steve is. His genuine support, especially in his teaching, is incredibly inspirational.”

– Jessica Bruner (B.A., ’14)