Sioux City, IA – Morningside College presented its 2019 Sharon Walker Faculty Excellence Awards to Shannon Claxton, assistant professor of psychology; Greg Guelcher, professor of history; and Leslie Werden, professor of English.

Shannon Claxton joined the Morningside faculty in 2015. She teaches courses in social psychology, personality, and research methods. Claxton received her B.A. from Cornell College and M.A. and Ph.D. from Kent State University.

Greg Guelcher came to Morningside in 1996. He teaches courses in Asian history, 20^th-century world history, Middle Eastern history, and disciplinary writing. Guelcher earned his B.S. at the College of Wooster and M.A. and Ph.D. at the University of Illinois.

Leslie Werden has been part of the Morningside faculty since 2006. She teaches first-year writing courses, public speaking, and persuasive writing. Werden received her B.A. from the University of Minnesota, M.A. from Winona State University, and Ph.D. from the University of North Dakota. 

The recipients, selected from a field of applicants by a panel of three outside evaluators, will each receive a $10,000 honorarium and $2,000 to use for faculty development. Morningside alumni Jim and Sharon Walker established the Sharon Walker Faculty Excellence Awards in 2003. Criteria for selection include teaching excellence, effective advising, scholarship and service to Morningside College. The awards are based upon the accomplishments and activities of a faculty member during the previous academic year.

Shannon Claxton

Greg Guelcher

Leslie Werden