CWU celebrates Distinguished Faculty Class of 2025

Each academic year, Central Washington University’s Board of Trustees (BOT) recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, and service through the Distinguished Faculty awards.

The Distinguished Faculty Awards Screening Committee receives nominations and letters of support from within and beyond the CWU community in order to pass on recommendations for the awards to the BOT. The Board of Trustees Distinguished Faculty Award is given every two years, while the other four awards are handed out annually.

This year’s nominees were unanimously approved at last week’s BOT meeting:

Dr. Susan Kaspari — Board of Trustees Distinguished Faculty Award

Dr. Susan Kaspari’s work has touched all corners of campus during her 16 years at CWU. The longtime Geological Sciences professor has mentored more than 65 student projects and served as primary project advisor for 11 master’s students and 23 undergraduates. As a result of this deep engagement, her students often go on to author peer-reviewed journal articles, give conference presentations across the globe, and excel within their fields.

“All of Dr. Kaspari’s support letters speak to her passion for her subject and student learning, her impact on teaching and learning, her care and compassion, her scientific expertise and excellence, her collaborative and collegial attitude, the innovation in her teaching, her overall commitment, determination, leadership, and advocacy for sustainability and for students,” the 2025 CWU Distinguished Faculty Awards Screening Committee’s recommendation letter reads.

Dr. Kaspari’s passion extends to her scholarship, where she puts emphasis on turning observation into action. Her research has appeared in prestigious publications like the Journal of Geophysical Research, The Cryosphere, and more.

Dr. Kaspari has demonstrated her commitment to service in a number of roles. She currently serves as Director of the Environmental Studies department and has been involved in securing sustainability certifications for a number of on-campus buildings. She is also a key contributor on CWU’s Climate Action Plan and she continues to advocate for those efforts locally and state-wide.

Dr. Patrick McCutcheon — Distinguished Tenure Track Faculty Teaching Award

For more than 25 years, Dr. Patrick McCutcheon has provided exceptional education, scholarship, and mentorship to both his students and his peers within the world of archaeology.

“Students frequently praise his ability to make complex topics accessible through real-world examples and hands-on learning experiences,” Dr. McCutcheon’s recommendation letter reads. “His teaching evaluations consistently score highly, reflecting his high-quality instruction. Students describe Dr. McCutcheon as passionate, knowledgeable, and supportive, often noting that he genuinely cares about their learning and success.”

Dr. McCutcheon’s work has been published in respected journals and achieving leadership roles within the field. His own contributions to that field are many, with 79 co-authored publications. He brings this deep dedication to research with him into the classroom.

“For his constant and tireless dedication to teaching and mentorship at all levels, we wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Patrick McCutcheon for the Distinguished Tenure Track Faculty Teaching Award,” the recommendation letter continues. “His legacy at CWU and within the field of anthropology is undeniable, and this recognition would be a fitting tribute to his lifelong contributions to teaching and mentorship.”

Matt Martinson — Distinguished Non-Tenure Track Faculty Teaching Award

Senior Lecturer Matt Martinson of the English department and the Douglas Honors College has been teaching at CWU for 11 years. It has become clear that the passion he brings to his work has formed the cornerstone for many transformative college experiences for his students.

Through classes such as “The Art and Science of Living a Good Life” and assignments like “The Aesthetics of Ugliness,” Martinson encourages critical thinking and engaged discussion in his classroom. His students recognize the effort through glowing reviews.

“A word that comes to mind when I think of Matt’s classes is ‘unlimited’ because that is how I felt when it comes to producing work in his class,” one student said. “No question was too big to tackle because Matt encouraged us to ask and answer the difficult but important questions.”

For his efforts in enhancing his students’ education both inside and outside the classroom, Martinson was presented with the GNAC Faculty Mentor award in 2024. The committee noted his consistent support for his students in their letter to the Board of Trustees.

“Professor Martinson’s commitment to teaching is impressive,” they wrote. “He is a faculty member in the highest tradition. The committee commends his accomplishment, and recommends him for this year’s Distinguished Non-Tenure Track Faculty Teaching Award.”

Dr. Timothy Beng — Distinguished Faculty of Scholarship/Artistic Accomplishment Award

Dr. Timothy Beng has published 26 peer-reviewed research articles in rigorous journals, including the Royal Society for Chemistry, since joining CWU in 2015, adding to his long and distinguished record of accomplishment.

“A remarkable observation regarding Dr. Beng’s research is how he integrates, involves, and lifts students to higher levels of inquisition and research accomplishments,” the committee wrote. “With dozens of student papers published and dozens of student presentations at regional and national scientific conferences, he has earned over 30 research awards for students here at CWU.”

Dr. Beng’s integration of teaching and mentorship into his research exemplifies CWU’s mission of creating access and opportunity for students from all backgrounds. He has received letters of support for this award from university colleagues, private sector/industry leaders (e.g., Pfizer, Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Institute), regional high schools, major R1 institutions and students alike, all in complete agreement about his outsized impact in the field.

Dr. M. Eliatamby-O’Brien — Distinguished Faculty Service Award

In their time at CWU, which started in 2017, Associate Professor of English Dr. M. Eliatamby-O’Brien has emerged as a leader in service across multiple local, campus, national, and international levels. Their service is a continuation of their work at Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia, and the National University of Singapore.

Of particular note is Dr. Eliatamby-O’Brien’s support of the LGBTQ+ community in the Pacific Northwest through storytelling and leadership. Their NSF-funded Transrural Lives project digitally archives the stories of the rural transgender community to spread understanding and awareness.

Tylene Carnell, the founder and former Director of Helen House — Kittitas County’s safe place for LGBTQ+ youth — wrote of Dr. Eliatamby-O’Brien’s dedication to this work in a letter of support for the award.

“M. was a major partner and collaborator in creating and later facilitating … (the) capture (of) the lived experiences of trans elders with strong connections to rural Washington, capturing their stories of survival, transition, love and relationships, and everyday life shared through storytelling recorded vignettes passed on to LGBTQ+ youth in rural Washington State and beyond.”

The impact of Dr. Eliatamby-O’Brien’s service can be felt across CWU’s campus, and indeed across the entire Pacific Northwest.