Christine DeVries
DeVries, associate professor of chemistry, will be honored Thursday, March 29, at 11:45 a.m., in the Hagemann Castle Room, during the Faculty and Staff Appreciation Event hosted by the Wartburg College Student Senate. Other honorees include Lorinda Sheeler, associate professor of public health, Advisor of the Year Award; Krystal Madlock, director of multicultural student services, Outstanding Administrative Staff Award; and Steve Foelske, cleaning staff, Outstanding Non-Administrative Staff Award.
“We know that every student is changed by their experiences, especially those relationships developed with faculty and staff at Wartburg. We expect that the cumulative effect of these relationships is that we challenge and nurture students for lives of leadership and service as a spirited expression of their faith and learning,” DeVries said. “I am glad that the Chellevold award brings attention to these positive relationships and the concern we all carry for the Wartburg community. I am proud to serve as a representative of all the faculty who build meaningful relationships with students every year. I could not meet the college mission alone—this is a group effort that warrants accolades for all the staff and faculty.”
One student nominator wrote of DeVries, “If you were to walk into a general chemistry course at Wartburg, it would be near impossible to miss the enthusiasm that Dr. DeVries has for challenging and educating the next generation of scientists. Her positive energy incites passion for chemistry into young students despite the notorious difficulty of many of the chemistry concepts she teaches. Through creating an interactive learning environment, Dr. DeVries allows students to learn together.”
The Chellevold award honors the late John O. Chellevold, a longtime Wartburg mathematics professor and administrator. It was established by one of his former students, the late Ross Nielsen, a 1939 Wartburg graduate who went on to a distinguished teaching career at the University of Northern Iowa and credited Chellevold as his inspiration.
Student nominators said that in addition to being a professor, Sheeler, who was brought to Wartburg to develop the public health program, “has been a game-changer when it comes to ensuring that incoming and current students are aware of (public health) program requirements.”
Madlock’s nominators called her a “voice for all her students,” following with “she shows dedication and positivity for everything she does and doesn’t look back.” Foelske’s nominators said he is always “kind and understanding” and “adds to the friendly environment on campus.”