CSC honors employees at annual event

The nominees for the Teaching Excellence award were Dr. Gary Dusek, Dr. Kurt Kinbacher, Dr. Rachelle Rider, and Dr. Dawn Brammer, who received the award.

The retirees were Dr. Matthew Evertson, Shellie Johns, Nancy Knaub, Valinda “Val” Malone, Dr. Kim Madsen, and Dr. Mike Vogl.

Years of Service

40 Years

Ann Burk

25 Years

Roberta “Bobi” Johnson

20 Years

Laura Bentz, MA, MFA

Keith Crofutt

Sherrie Emerson

Pat Mracek

15 Years

Randy Doescher

Melany Hughes

Eric Roberts

10 Years

Tom Ahrens

Dr. Kimberly Cox

Morgan Cullan

Brad Gaston

Amanda Lewin

Dr. Erin Norman, RDN

Alva Roberts

Andrew Schrader

SuAn Schreuder

Austen Stephens

Terrie Wood

5 Years

Brandon Bannan

Daphne Bishop

Dustin Blood

Dallas Cafferty

Steven D. Cravey

Adam Fette

Jason Frahm

Jordan Haas

Dr. Joanne Hayes

Naomi Johnson

Jeffrey Kiiskila

Greg Krotz

Chantel Merchen

Keri Norman

Micah B. Smith

Retirees

Evertson retired as Professor in May 2024 after more than two decades teaching courses in writing, composition and literature in Chadron State College’s English department.

A native of Rushville and graduate of Kimball County High School, Evertson earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He joined CSC as a writing instructor in 2001 while completing his dissertation at Arizona State University. He earned his PhD in 2003 and became full professor in 2011.

Evertson chaired the English department from 2011 to 2014 and was coordinator of the Essential Studies Program from 2014 to 2018. He directed the college creative writing program for two years and served as chair of the Department of Justice Studies, Social Sciences and English in 2020-21.

“I really enjoyed our hard-working and devoted students at CSC, and their enthusiasm about some subjects I taught focused on regional writers and Native American literature,” Evertson said.

In addition to many writing-focused courses, Evertson developed literature classes and created and taught Essential Studies courses, including Home on the Range, an Essential Studies class he co-taught with Dr. Teresa Frink in Applied Sciences. Evertson said the course was a favorite.

“I learned so much from (Dr. Frink), the students, and the course content,” he said.

Evertson joined the board of the Mari Sandoz Society in 2004 and is now a member of the executive committee. He helped create the Story Catcher Writing Workshop, which occurred each summer for 12 years and now continues at Western Colorado University, where Evertson is a professor of literature.

Evertson and his wife, Brenda Lanphear, are enjoying the new experiences of living in a mountain town and exploring the American Southwest region. Lanphear is also an English instructor at Western Colorado and will direct the campus writing center next year.

Evertson’s son Jacob is a UNL graduate now teaching reading in Lincoln. His daughter Julia, also a UNL graduate, works in advertising and public relations, and stepson Austin serves with the Nebraska National Guard in Omaha.

Johns began her career at Chadron State College in October 1993 and dedicated more than 30 years to serving the institution in various roles. Johns started her career in Admissions before moving to Financial Aid and the Business Office, where she cross-trained in Human Resources and payroll. She concluded her career at CSC as the Coordinator of Conferencing. In this role, she organized numerous campus events, including assisting with the Galaxy Series and Scholastic Contest.

Throughout her time at CSC, Johns was actively involved in the Support Staff Association and Professional Staff Association, serving in several leadership positions.

Some of her most memorable moments include overcoming unexpected challenges, she said. One such moment involved arranging transportation for student competitors on their way to a scholastic competition when their bus broke down. With the assistance of the National Guard, she arranged for the students to be transported to campus. Though the students were wet from the rain and too late to take their tests, Johns found them some dry clothes and even arranged an adjusted testing schedule, allowing many to compete. Additionally, Johns secured a mechanic to fix the school’s buses, ensuring the students could return home that evening.

Johns’s roots at CSC go deep. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Chadron State while working full-time and raising her family with her husband, Jeff. Their daughter, Samantha, is currently attending CSC, and their son is pursuing an education in diesel mechanics and welding at Sheridan College.

“CSC is home, it’s always felt that way,” Johns said.

Johns will continue to make an impact at Chadron State College as she transitions into retirement, working with Fresh Ideas as an Assistant Director.

Knaub, a native of Chadron, started as a custodian at Chadron State College in July 2011. She worked in Andrews and Kent Halls and High Rise until she took a break in 2017 to care for her mother. When she returned in 2019, she worked in Memorial Hall, Math Science Center of Innovative Learning (COIL), Brooks, Crites, Sparks, and Miller Halls until she retired March 1, 2025.

Her father worked on the railroad, and her mother, Alice Serres, worked as a custodian in Memorial Hall when Nancy and her siblings were teenagers.

“I’ve trained numerous custodians and worked in each building on the campus,” she said. “I’ve seen a lot of former students like Austen Stephens who are employees working here now. It’s neat to see that.”

In October 2013, when Winter Storm Atlas downed power lines and broke dozens of trees on campus, Knaub worked with her coworkers to restore normal operations.

She has helped when cold weather has frozen pipes, causing water problems in several buildings, and when heavy rain flooded the basement of Crites Hall during a renovation project.

Knaub helped with the annual group effort each May, affectionately referred to as Spring Fling. All custodians usually assigned to their own buildings gather in teams and clean the residence halls after CSC students leave and before summer athletic camps for high school students begin. During the summer, Knaub and her co-workers also clean the residence halls between camps.

In retirement, Knaub plans to move to Scottsbluff, where she will be closer to most of her children and grandchildren.

Malone started as a custodian at Chadron State College on Jan. 2, 2002.

Before joining the staff at CSC, she worked at various locations within Chadron and at Chadron State Park.

Between her years as a student and an employee, Malone said she knew five CSC presidents.

She worked four hours in Burkhiser and four hours in Math and Science. When a co-worker experienced an injury, Malone filled in and was hired full-time in Burkhiser, where she worked until she retired in early January 2025.

Malone, who attended many football and basketball games with her son, enjoyed congratulating the players when she saw them in the halls of Burkhiser. She also enjoyed attending plays in Memorial Hall.

“When I came here from Lusk as a student, my kids, Darrell Brott and Christina Brott, were running around with me as I got signed in. That was 1990, and it took me five years to graduate,” she said.

Malone double majored in criminal justice and psychology and minored in business. Between classes, she often ate in the Student Center and met several friends there.

Attending CSC was continuing a family tradition for Malone. Three of her uncles also attended CSC. They are Delbert Smith, Frank Smith, and James Smith.

Her retirement plans include working in her yard and house, camping, and fishing at Box Butte Reservoir.

Madsen’s retirement in May 2025 will bring to a close a distinguished four-decade long career as instructor and faculty member in the Family and Consumer Sciences department at Chadron State College.

A lifelong resident of Dawes County, Madsen completed her bachelor’s degree at CSC in 1972. After her three children had entered school, she returned to earn a Master’s in Vocational Education in 1985, and began teaching courses for Child and Family Studies and other FCS degree programs.

Four years later Madsen became director of the college’s Child Development Center, where she incorporated the live laboratory experience into her FCS and Early Childhood Education courses. She also helped launch CSC’s annual Early Childhood Conference.

In 1994, Madsen began working on an advanced degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln through distance learning classes, monthly seminars and in-person summer sessions in Lincoln. She completed a PhD in Educational Administration, Curriculum and Instruction at UNL in 1996.

During Madsen’s 24 years as director, the Child Development Center received national accreditation and developed one of the few nature-based outdoor learning environments for children in Nebraska. As instructor she has taught more than 25 different courses at Chadron State, including face-to-face, blended, and online classes. She was one of the first CSC faculty members to develop and teach a First Year Inquiry course and has implemented community service projects into each of her classes.

“It has been my pleasure to grow both personally and professionally doing what I enjoy,” Madsen said. “I look forward to each opportunity to learn something new and then share it with others.”

Madsen and her husband, John, have been married for 55 years and live on their ranch southwest of Chadron. They have three children, all Chadron State College graduates, and seven grandchildren. In retirement she looks forward to enjoying the rural lifestyle, travel, spending time with family and friends, and quilting.

Vogl, an Associate Professor of Mathematics, is retiring after a career spanning more than 30 years at Chadron State College. Vogl began his teaching career at CSC in 1993 as an adjunct instructor. In 2000, he transitioned to a full-time faculty role, teaching as an Assistant Professor through 2006. Vogl returned in 2007 to continue teaching in the Math Department.

Throughout his time at CSC, Vogl taught a variety of courses and became known for his dedication to financial literacy education. His First Year Inquiry course, A Better You – Through Financial and Physical Health (FYI 169K), was well received among CSC students. The class’s popularity led him to develop a workshop designed for a broader audience, including the faculty, staff, and community.

Vogl also participated in Frontier Talks, a student-led speaker series modeled to resemble TED Talks. The series of presentations was arranged by students in Professor Josh Ellis’ class Weight of the Nation (CAP 469D).

Beyond the classroom, Vogl regularly engaged with students in discussions regarding financial literacy and success, equipping them with the knowledge to build a strong fiscal future.

“I’ve always enjoyed teaching at CSC,” Vogl said, “The joy comes from being in the classroom and building a relationship with my students.”

During his retirement, Vogl plans to travel extensively and spend time with his friends and family.