SMSU Celebrates Employee Milestones

Published Wednesday, March 26, 2025

The 25-year milestone group in attendance is pictured (l-r): Jefferson Lee IV, Mike Munford, Vaughn Gehle, Kristi Petersen, Jane Larsen, and Wiji Wijisiri

On Wednesday, 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 8 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 more than 1,150 years. SMSU and the entire Mustang Family are grateful for the dedication and contributions made by these employees.

To join the Mustang Family, check out the current employment opportunities! Contact the SMSU Human Resources Office at 507-537-6208 or visit https://www.smsu.edu/administration/humanresources/index.html