2023 Distinguished Faculty Award Recipients Honored

Each year, faculty members are honored for their commitments to teaching, service, and adjunct teaching as a result of nomination by students, faculty, and administration. This year, there were 29 faculty nominated for one or more of the awards.

Each faculty member is passionate about their field of expertise and is intentional about integrating faith into the classroom. 

Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching: Holly Kibler

“Professor Kibler has been helpful every step of the way throughout my nursing career. You get a glimpse of her love for her students with every class she teaches. She goes above and beyond to make sure that the students in her class are learning, and she always goes the extra mile when someone is struggling. She is one of the nicest people and she truly shares her faith in God with all of her students. I do not think there is another professor who deserves it more. She has made my time at Malone one that I will never forget and she has helped me become the nurse that I am today.”

Distinguished Faculty Award for Service: Kara Kaelber

“Dr. Kaelber has been serving actively on the Faculty Senate, as well as on two very busy committees, namely Promotion and Tenure & Assessment. Her contribution in each one of these roles is appreciated by her peers and has made a significant difference in line with the vision for Malone stated by its new president. Additionally, Dr. Kaelber has been a leader within the Counseling and Psychology Department at a time of several important changes in the Psychology program development. Thanks to her diplomatic, visionary, and purposeful leadership, the Psychology faculty have been able to collaborate and put together new academic programs that are expected to flourish beginning in the fall semester of 2023. She has provided great ideas and coordinated the input from faculty to weave a proposal that is currently on the wheel. Her servanthood leadership is both Christ-like and effective!”

Distinguished Faculty Award for Adjunct Teaching: Marva Hoopes

“Marva has served on a special adjunct contract for 10 years now.  She has especially ministered to female students in the department by mentoring them through the challenges of being a female going into the ministry field, as Marva has.  She has students in her home often and serves the department even more so than many full time faculty.  She also started our Certificate in Practical Ministry program, which has strengthened our denominational ties.  Marva will retire after this semester, and this would be a wonderful and rewarding send off for all of her many labors.  I will miss her greatly as a department colleague.”

Learn more about these awards and view a list of previous recipients here.