Janet Andersen Award

Janet Andersen

Janet Andersen was a beloved member of the Hope College Mathematics Department, and former director of the Midstates Consortium, whose interdisciplinary emphasis in education and research had a large influence on science and mathematics education at Hope and beyond. Unfortunately, she died in an automobile accident in 2005. Established in 2008, the Janet Andersen Award honors her memory. Each year, faculty members from Consortium schools who exemplify Janet’s outstanding work in undergraduate education and research are nominated by faculty colleagues, or administrators from their own school. Deans and Department Chairs are encouraged to recognize the outstanding faculty in their programs by nominating them for this award. At its annual spring meeting the Midstates Executive Committee selects a nominee having a background aligned with the Biological and Psychological Sciences and another with a background in the Physical Sciences, Math and Computer Science. The Janet Andersen awardees are honored at our autumn undergraduate research symposia where they give a lecture on a subject of their chosing.

A nomination package should include the nominee’s CV and a nomination letter outlining the nominee’s achievements in mentoring research students and in teaching. This material should be sent by email to Midstates director Ed Hansen (midstatesdirector@gmail.com).

  • 2024 Janet Andersen Award Recipients

    Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science

    Dr.  Kenneth Brown, John H. and Jeanne M. Jacobsen Professor of Chemistry, Hope College

    The nomination letter for Dr. Brown’s award noted that he is an outstanding teacher-scholar who excels at all aspects of his job.  He has had an active research program at Hope College which has resulted in 19 papers with 40 undergraduate co-authors in the last 25 years.  His mentoring of undergraduates has extended beyond Hope College.  He led a six year long project, funded by the National Science Foundation, which provided summer research experience for community college students from the City Colleges of Chicago, many of whom were from underserved communities. He has used his expertise in analytical chemistry in collaborative interdisciplinary research projects with researchers from many different fields.  One noteworthy recent example is his collaboration with colleagues from colleagues at Valparaiso, Purdue, and Notre Dame in the formation of the Northern Lake County Environmental Partnership with the goal of pursing environmental justice for communities in that area. In addition to an exceptional research mentor Dr. Brown is a beloved class room teacher.  As his nomination letter points out nomination letter “Above all, students appreciate his unwavering support for their personal development and success. As a testament to his impact on students, Prof. Brown was recognized with a divisional “Mentoring, Advising, and Teaching” award in 2010.”

    Biological Sciences and Psychology

    Dr.  Shane Heschel, Associate Professor of Organismal Biology and Ecology, Colorado College  

    Dr. Heschel embodies the legacy of Janet Andersen in exemplary teaching, an active undergraduate research program, and a strong record of service to both Colorado College and the Midstates Consortium.  He has maintained an active undergraduate research program since coming to Colorado College in 2005 having published 12 research papers with undergraduate co-authors involving a total of 35 students in plant ecophysiology.  As chair of his department and student advisor, Shane has carried a heavy service load at Colorado College and has still found time to take a very active role in the affairs of the Midstates Consortium as a campus representative from Colorado College.  As a testament to his teaching, his nomination letter contained numerous enthusiastic comments from students of which the following is a typical example: “He’s just amazing in every way as a professor.  He really truly gets to know his students and tries so hard to accommodate them in every way and help them do as well as possible in the class. He cares so much about the class, the material, and the students, and is my favorite professor at CC.”