SCTCC Biology instructor Jennifer Evens has been named a 2023 Outstanding Educator by the Minnesota State Board of Trustees.
Evens has been at SCTCC since 2008, when she started as an adjunct instructor while also working in industry.
“In academia I found I could share my own industry experience and guide students to take their own life experiences and cultures into account in where they want to go with their academics,” said Evens. “It is important to me to help students put tools into their academic toolkit that they will be able to use out in industry and daily life.”
With Evens’ involvement in SCTCC’s Equity by Design and the Cultural Fluency Council, she has been able to integrate equity and inclusion into her teaching and designs activities where students learn by doing.
The Minnesota State Board of Trustees Awards for Excellence acknowledge and provide recognition for professional achievement of the college and university teaching and service staff across the system. The primary criteria for the award are teaching skills that are inclusive, learning-centered, and collaborative. The awards cement the commitment to high-quality instruction that prepares students for professional, scholarly, and civic lives.
Evens will be formally honored at a luncheon on April 19.