Dr. Megan Hess has been voted one of three 2019-2020 recipients of the ODK Gold Chalk Award, which is voted on by students each year to recognize outstanding faculty members.
Hess, who is beginning her 17th year as a Central Methodist University faculty member this fall, spends most of her time in an administrative role as the Division Chair for Health Professions, but she teaches a few classes each semester and does all she can to prepare students for the next chapter of their lives.
“I love working with students,” she said. “I want them all to be successful, and I feel that our Freshman Experience program gives many the extra boost they need to launch into independent adulthood, at least in the academic setting.”
Hess called the award the “crowning achievement” of her tenure as a Central faculty member because of the student voting aspect.
“It tells me that I do make and have made a difference and that the efforts I put into helping them adjust to college life is appreciated,” she said.
With this year and one more to go until her anticipated retirement, Hess is looking forward to continuing to provide support for students, especially under the unprecedented circumstances of returning to school during a pandemic.
“The challenges presented to us all by COVID make this year even more important when you consider the magnitude of the adjustments and the potential for threats to well-being that our students will be facing,” said Hess.
The Gold Chalk Award, previously the Harold Momberg Award, is awarded annually by Omicron Delta Kappa Central Methodist Circle, CMU’s chapter of the national leadership society.