John_Lankow-web.jpgAssistant Professor of Biology John Lankow was named Mayville State University Teacher of the Year for 2012-2013. The award was presented to Mr. Lankow at the annual Academic and Student Senate Awards Program held at Mayville State University on Saturday afternoon, May 4, 2013.

Willing to try new approaches, Lankow has been a pioneer in the development of online science courses for Mayville State. He first developed a niche with the anatomy and physiology sequence, offerings that have been very well-received, and he has delivered these courses to students around the world. He has recently been working on development of other online offerings such as microbiology.

Lankow retired at the end of the spring semester, after 20 years of service at Mayville State University. John and his wife Nancy, who assists with the online anatomy and physiology courses, will enjoy retirement at their Minnesota lake home, but they are not really finished at Mayville State quite yet. They will both continue to teach online courses in an adjunct capacity.

Other nominees for Mayville State’s 2012-2013 Teacher of the year were Dr. Carolyn Baker, Mike Bakken, Dr. Mitzi Brunsdale, Andrea Dulski-Bucholz, Robert Johnston, Dr. Dalton McMahon, Dr. Paul Meartz, Dr. Robert Miess, Kelli Odden, Dustin Olson, Jeff Sieg, and Fred Strand.

Each year, all Mayville State students are asked to make nominations for the Mayville State Teacher of the Year Award. The Student Senate meets to review nominations, then nominees are asked to complete a questionnaire. A short interview session is subsequently held with each of the nominees. Selections are made by weighing the student nominations, information submitted on the questionnaire, and information gleaned in the interview process. The final selection must be approved by a 2/3 majority vote of the MSU Student Senate.

Mayville State Teachers of the Year receive an engraved plaque and also have their names added to a plaque that is displayed in the Mayville State University Campus Center.