On March 26, Southwest Minnesota State University recognized employees who achieved work anniversary milestones and those who are or have retired in the current academic year between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.

Each year, SMSU celebrates individuals who have reached 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of service. The contributions by the years-of-service honorees come to over 760 combined years of service to the University. This year’s employment milestones include:

40 years: Mary Mortland

35 years: John Alcorn, Pat Daniels,Gerald Toland

30 years: Donald Bethune, Susan Jones

25 years: Vaughn Gehle, Jane Larsen, Jefferson Lee IV, Shushuang Man, Mike Munford, Christine Olson,Kristi Petersen, Wije Wijesiri, Tanya Yerigan

20 years: Brittany Krull, Nadine Schmidt

15 years: Toni Beebout-Bladholm, Lori Engebretson, Pam Gladis, Jenifer Goblish, Mu-wan Huang, Alan Matzner, Monica Miller, Allison Monson, Heather Rickgarn, Tory Schreurs

10 years: Tyler Boddy, Gustavo Condezo, Jason Harvey, Erin Kline, Derek Klinkner, Lee Louwagie, Cory VanDeVere, Julie Walker

5 years: Ellie Ahmann, Adam Alford, Becky Bastian-Bock, Charles Bingen, Timothy Farrell, Shelby Flint, Laura Koenig, May Lee Moua-Vue, Kirk Nauman, Tony Nubile, Jon Payne, Amy Schmiesing

Two years: Vickie Abel, Charles Alexander, Samantha Antony, George Bass, Grayson Benedict, Jacob Benson, Kris Boedigheimer, Abbie Boelter, Hillary Buysse, Christopher Cauwels, Shawna Ehlenbach, Jennifer Flowers, Paul Freeburg, Hanna Geistfeld, Maddy Groff, Karen Gruhot, Tracy Hadler, Lori Hebig, Paige Janka, Kala Kopitski, Rachel Krall, Pam Martinson, Christopher Metz, Laura Mueller-Anderson, Melisa Nubile, Laura O’Rourke, Jeremy Reed, John Rickgarn, Caitlyn Sanow, Maureen Szerlip, Benjamin Tokheim, Matthew Vahlsing

In addition to the work anniversaries, SMSU marked the retirement milestone for several long-time employees. The combined years of service given to SMSU by the eight individuals retiring in the 2024-25 academic year equals almost 200 years.

Retiring/retired: Michelle Beach, Patricia Brace, Sharon Buysse, Scott Ewing, Vaughn Gehle, Susan Jones, Jeffrey Kolnick, Patricia Linehan

Senior adjuncts are also being recognized. These individuals have served in adjunct faculty roles for 10 semesters or more and have an active assignment in the current year.

Senior adjunct: Chad Anderson, Heather Anderson. David Barrett, Timothy Buysse, Katie Clarke, Amy Demmer, Heather Earl, Shannon Fiene, Gregory Finck, Jenna Folkerts, Melanie Gatchell, Joan Gittens, Patricia Hand, Erin Herman, Laura Hoffman, Valerie Hooper, Sandra Hruby, Timothy Jacobson, Kathryn Jones, Margaret Kaiser-Woodward, Peter Lothringer, Mary Malam, Jeannie Mayer, Debra Munsterman, Robert Myers, Danae Nelson, Holly Nester, Amanda Pederson, Reid Perry, Lloyd Petersen, Nik Proehl, Laura Roelike, Britt Samson, Molly Scheidt, Kristen Seeger, Molly Simon, Sherwin Skar, Gregory Spath, John Sterner, Beth Steuck, Melanie Stier, Susan Strautz, Deanna Suby, Jim Tabaka, Richard Toso, William Toulouse, Valorie Tuff, Troy Urdahl, Wendy Van Batavia, Chelsea Van Roekel, Diana Veenstra, Jacqueline Ward, Heather Webskowski, Daniel Westby, Lisa Wilson, Gordon Woodward, Lon Wright, Diane Wright

The total years of service by all individuals recognized this year comes to roughly 1,120 years. SMSU and the entire Mustang Family are grateful for the dedication and contributions made by these employees.