K-State professor has stayed engaged with Alumni Association through awards and participation in programming
Lisa Wilken ’03 is well regarded for her teaching style.
She joined K-State's faculty in 2012. Throughout her career at K-State, Wilken has been dedicated to enhancing the educational experience of students by facilitating student success as an academic, career and research adviser; integrating high impact learning activities and innovative teaching strategies; developing strong relationships with students within and beyond the classroom; and actively serving her department, the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, and K-State. She has supervised graduate and undergraduate student researchers; led course and curriculum development for the Biological Systems Engineering and Agricultural Technology Management programs; and served in national leadership roles.
“I remember when I first started here; I attended the new faculty orientation, which featured an overview of the faculty awards offered at K-State,” she said. “I remember looking at them and thinking those would never be attainable for me. As I look back and reflect, I feel quite honored to even be considered for such awards.”
As an associate professor of biological and agricultural engineering, she has been honored for her approach to teaching at the college, university and national levels. Among her honors include the K-State Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching; University Distinguished Faculty Award for Mentoring of Undergraduate Students in Research; two Presidential Citations from The Institute of Biological Engineering for exemplary service; and the Ron and Rae Iman Award Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching from the K-State Alumni Association.
“Teaching is very important to me,” Wilken said. “I did my undergraduate education here and had phenomenal teachers when I was a student. I went to grad school at Texas A&M University but when I came back, that's one thing I brought with me – how important and strong the teaching program was and I appreciated the emphasis Kansas State placed on teaching. It was quite an honor and it's very special to be recognized for that type of award, especially as an alumnus.”
Wilken is the first woman to receive the Iman teaching award. However, she is joined by past recipients, such as a former professor, who left a significant impact on her undergraduate education and several other colleagues whose work she admires.
“It has been really special to be a part of that community of not only the people who have won the award on both the teaching and research side but to have the opportunity to meet the family who sponsors this award and shares in their passion for K-State by supporting excellence in teaching and research,” Wilken said.
Wilken said the recognition provides renewed enthusiasm and validation of the work she does.
“Sometimes the days are long,” she said. "And sometimes I wonder, ‘Am I really making a difference at the end of the day?’, I care deeply about my students and not only teaching them, but facilitating their success and helping them along in their educational journeys.”
Wilken has stayed engaged with the Alumni Association a variety of ways. She is a member of the Alumni Association, regularly attends campus events at the Alumni Center, and enrolls family members in the Junior Wildcats Club. She also served on the presidential search committee which brought Richard Linton to campus along with several current and former members of the Alumni Association’s board of directors. Through her work as the assessment coordinator for the Biological Systems Engineering Program and the program’s advisory council, she regularly works with the Alumni Association to obtain feedback from alumni for continuous improvement of academic programs.
“I think the Alumni Association is a phenomenal resource and its partnership with the university is a key element to building strong academic and research programs and maintaining our K-State family and its unique culture. It's wonderful that the Association supports faculty and the campus community through awards in research and teaching. It's a great community of awardees that is truly wonderful to be a part of.”