Wada named 2015 Nebraska State College System Teaching Excellence Award recipient

Wada joined CSC as an assistant professor in 2007. Since that time, he has become an associate professor and is currently the chair of the justice studies department. The NSCS award is presented annually to one full-time faculty member who demonstrates excellence in teaching, service, and leadership across the NSCS, which includes Chadron, Peru and Wayne State Colleges. Recipients of the individual college awards are finalists for the NSCS Teaching Excellence Award. Wada was selected as the CSC Teaching Excellence Award recipient this past spring.

NSCS Chancellor Stan Carpenter said, “The teaching excellence award represents a cornerstone on which the mission of the NSCS is built: providing a quality education that makes a difference in the lives of our students, their families, and their communities. And, it is Wada’s dedication and commitment to his students, CSC and teaching excellence which best embodies our mission.”

The NSCS Board has awarded the NSCS Teaching Excellence Award since 1986. Each college nominates one candidate for the award. The 2015 college awardees also included Dr. Richard Clopton from Peru State College and Dr. Barbara Engebretsen from Wayne State College.

Upon receipt of the nomination material, the NSCS Academic and Personnel Committee evaluates the three nominations and then recommends one candidate to the full board. The board met in April and selected Wada as the 2015 recipient of the System’s Teaching Excellence Award. Wada’s award includes a desk plaque and a $3,000 stipend which will be provided by the CSC Foundation. He will be recognized during the NSCS Board of Trustees meeting hosted at CSC Sept. 10-11.

In his letter of nomination, the dean of liberal arts Dr. James Margetts described Wada’s style of teaching as dynamic and engaging with high energy classroom presentations.

Margetts also noted Wada’s commitment to volunteerism. Margetts said, “He seems to be everywhere, whether it is serving the traditional finals breakfast, supervising student and faculty volunteers at the annual The Big Event, or advising a student organization such as Student Senate.”

Wada has taught a variety of courses during his tenure at CSC, including courses in criminology, youth crime and gangs, forensic studies, introduction to policing, along with courses in the criminal justice studies honors program. Wada has also traveled with students studying in London and to conferences at both the regional and national levels.

“When students and their families visit Chadron State College, they immediately recognize the dedication to student success not only from faculty members, but from the administration and staff as well. The reality is that I learned how to be an effective faculty member from watching how my colleagues operated. I was also given the freedom and resources to incorporate high impact teaching practices into the classroom with the support of the Dean, Vice President and President. As such, the Teaching Excellence Award is more representative of the quality of the Nebraska State College System and specifically the faculty, administration, and staff of Chadron State College,” Wada said.

In her letter of support, professor Tracy Nobiling, a colleague in justice studies said Wada is an exceptional teacher.

"I have witnessed first-hand his dedication to the field of criminal justice education, his devotion to students, his preparation and his willingness to do what it takes in order to encourage students to be academically successful and reach their full potential,” Nobiling said. She also included praise for Wada’s commitment to research and professional development.

Wada earned a bachelor's and a master's degree in criminal justice from Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, and a doctor of philosophy in higher education administration from Washington State University in Pullman.

—NSCS Office