(Posted May 28, 2024)

Acting President Lauren Bowen, left, and Acting Provost Dom Peruso, right, congratulated four Juniata College faculty members, from the left, Matt Beaky, professor of physics; Katie Hildebrand ’01, assistant professor of education; Alison Fletcher, W. Newton & Hazel A. Long Professor of History; and Jared LaGroue, instructor of communication; who were honored with distinguished teaching and service awards.

Acting President Lauren Bowen, left, and Acting Provost Dom Peruso, right, congratulated four Juniata College faculty members, from the left, Matt Beaky, professor of physics; Katie Hildebrand ’01, assistant professor of education; Alison Fletcher, W. Newton & Hazel A. Long Professor of History; and Jared LaGroue, instructor of communication; who were honored with distinguished teaching and service awards.

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Four Juniata College faculty members were honored with distinguished teaching and service awards during the annual Awards Convocation.   

Jared LaGroue, instructor of communication; Katie Hildebrand ’01, assistant professor of education; Matt Beaky, professor of physics; and Alison Fletcher, W. Newton & Hazel A. Long Professor of History, were honored for their work.   

Fletcher was named the 57th recipient of the Beachley Award for Distinguished Teaching, and Beaky was honored with the 35th annual Beachley Award for Distinguished Academic Service. Hildebrand received the 29th Henry ’57 and Joan Gibbel Award for Distinguished Teaching (for faculty members with fewer than six years of service). LaGroue was awarded the third annual Eagle Advising Award, which is awarded to a faculty or staff member who has served as an adviser for at least three years.   

Award nominations are received from students, faculty, administrators, alumni, and trustees. The selection committee includes the college president, the college provost or senior academic officer, the student government president, and typically, the three most recent award recipients make the final selections.   

Fletcher came to Juniata in 2007 from Kent State University, where she was an assistant professor of history. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Bryn Mawr College in 1995 and a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in history at Johns Hopkins University.    

Students shared that Fletcher pushes them to think in unique and creative ways, always asking them to expand their original thoughts. Known as a good listener, tough grader, and brilliant analyst of complex texts, she inspires students to think critically. She is recognized for her curiosity and desire to learn alongside her students while contributing to the creation and growth of new programs at Juniata.    

Beaky came to Juniata College in 2011 from Truman State University in Missouri, where he was a member of the Physics Department and director of the Office of Student Research. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a Ph.D. in physics from Ohio State University. 

His body of work attests to his dedication to the well-being of his department, the college, and the community. He has created faculty-led study abroad courses, provided countless mentored research opportunities and advised many students. He also actively engages with the broader community through observatory nights, public lectures, and informative interviews with media partners.      

Hildebrand joined the Juniata faculty in 2021 from Penn State University, where she was a teaching faculty member. After earning her bachelor’s degree in special and elementary education from Juniata in 2001, she worked as a special education teacher for several years. She completed her Ph.D. in special education at Penn State University.   

She is described as contemporary, adaptive, intelligent, and passionate, with a genuine love of teaching. Her commitment to students extends beyond the classroom to the people they are, how they learn, and their aspirations and goals. Her colleagues lauded her, attesting to the model she provides as a teacher as she prepares future teachers.    

LaGroue joined the Communication Department at Juniata in 2017, previously serving as an instructor of record at Penn State University. He completed a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications and television production, a master’s degree in communication and media studies at Pepperdine University, and a Ph.D. in mass communication and social thought at Penn State University.      

Colleagues and students cited his responsiveness, accessibility, and ability to break down complex academic concepts into digestible information. Students lauded his commitment to providing resources and support outside of curricular matters, aiding in study abroad, campus employment, and other concerns outside of the classroom.    

These annual awards are an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the collective work of faculty and to honor how they advance the mission of the liberal arts. The Gibbel recipient will speak at the opening convocation this fall to the first-year class, and the Beachley recipient will be the keynote speaker at next year’s spring awards convocation. Faculty members are integral in providing an engaging, personalized educational experience, empowering students to develop the skills, knowledge, and values that lead to a fulfilling life of service and ethical leadership in the global community.   

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.