Spring/Summer 2026

Faculty Excellence Pomeroy Awards for Each spring, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) gathers to honor outstanding faculty members during the Pomeroy Awards for Faculty Excellence Ceremony. Several faculty members were recognized this year for their outstanding achievements. “Today is the day to honor faculty members who have chosen to aspire higher each day, either in the classroom with teaching, research and scholarly work within a professional discipline or serving others and our communities,” said Janet Clark, provost/executive vice president for academic affairs. “Your leadership and excellence inspire us all.” The faculty members who were recognized this year include:

2026 Pomeroy Award for Faculty Excellence in Teaching

Keeley Cleghorn, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Science and Mathematics • Nominator described her as someone who meets students where they are, responding meaningfully to their feedback and creating learning environments that foster a sense of belonging, confidence, engagement and intellectual growth • Works to make biology relevant and interesting by emphasizing connections across the discipline—linking micro-level processes to macro-level phenomena • Use of assessment demonstrates a student-centered approach. She has strengthened her teaching through intentional use of both formative and summative assessments, providing students with timely feedback that supports continuous learning. Her teaching evaluations from students consistently indicate that she is an effective instructor.

Cleghorn with Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Janet Clark, Ph.D.

2026 Pomeroy Award for Faculty Excellence in Scholarship

2026 Alumni Faculty Leadership and Service Award

Chris Delnat, Ph.D., RN Director of Undegraduate Nursing and Associate Professor

Robert Vandermolen, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Mathematics

• Served as President of the Faculty Assembly, Chair of the Curriculum Committee and lead faculty member for the mathematics program • Led significant curricular initiatives in mathematics, developed a new major in computer science and designed the full curricular map for a new collaborative engineering program • Recently chaired the Accountable Governance Subcommittee for the College’s strategic plan and served on the AESR committee focused on assessing the sustainability of SMWC’s academic majors • A student nomination said he “creates an environment where students feel confident in their work and encourages us to step outside of our comfort zones and try new things without fear of failure” and “supports and encourages us to believe in ourselves and our abilities.”

• Created a Woods Core capstone course in global health that strengthened the Woods Core curriculum and ensured students engage critically with global and systemic health challenges • Delnat has numerous presentations and publications at the regional and national levels • Sole author of a peer-reviewed article published in the Journal of Nursing in 2025, a nationally recognized outlet and author of other scholarly works addressing pressing issues such as health inequities and the justice gap, with publications appearing in the ISNA Bulletin, the official quarterly publication of the Indiana State Nurses Association • Served as keynote speaker for a local chapter of Sigma Theta Tau – the international honor society for nursing – and presented her research at the 46th Biennial Convention of Sigma Theta Tau International Keeley Cleghorn, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Science and Mathematics • During her tenure as Assessment and Program Review Committee Chair, Cleghorn steered the committee through uncertain waters and stepped in to get the job done • She attended the IU Assessment Institute and shared her knowledge with others • Her leadership has helped to formalize a culture of assessment at The Woods that always strives to support faculty and academic programs to become the best possible version of themselves • Committee member said her teaching “communicates a powerful message to students that biology is not beyond their reach. Her dedication, responsiveness and belief in students foster a supportive environment where learners feel capable, challenged and encouraged.”

Vandermolen with Vice President for Advancement, BJ Riley ’16, ’23MLD, ’24MBA

Delnat with Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Janet Clark, Ph.D.

2026 Excellence in Assessment Award

2026 Outstanding Adjunct Instructor Award

Kathleen Pickrell Adjunct Nursing Faculty Member

• Consistently engages with the Faculty Resource Center, reflecting a genuine dedication to lifelong learning • Actively seeks opportunities to strengthen her teaching, learning and technology skills • Nomination noted her openness to innovation is evident in her engagement with tools like artificial intelligence, and encouraging students to use these tools as meaningful learning resources • Her nomination also spoke of her contagious enthusiasm for teaching and creating an environment where students feel motivated, supported and inspired

Cleghorn with Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Janet Clark, Ph.D.

Pickrell with Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Janet Clark, Ph.D.

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