ALMA — Hyun Kim and Justin Rito ’08 are the 2025 recipients of the Andison Awards for Excellence in Teaching, while Eric Calhoun and Brianna Harfmann ’11 have received this year’s Barlow Awards for Faculty Excellence.

In other faculty recognitions, Karen Ball and Kristin Olbertson were awarded the Charles A. Dana Professorship and Liping Bu was awarded the Reid-Knox Chair of American History.

The Andison Awards, made possible by a gift from the late trustee Thomas Andison, recognize excellence in teaching through pedagogical innovation, creative activities with students, and superior teaching. Faculty members nominate their colleagues for the award, and the president selects the recipients, who each receive a $1,000 cash grant to support their scholarship.

Kim, an associate professor of integrative physiology and health science (IPHS), began her career at Alma in 2016. She has a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, as well as a master’s degree from the State University of New York and a doctoral degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research interests are based on epidemiological and socioeconomic approaches in the topic areas of chronic conditions, health behaviors and social disparities among population groups.

Rito is an assistant professor of music whose career at Alma began in 2023. He has a bachelor’s degree from Alma College, as well as master’s degrees from the University of Western Ontario and Central Michigan University, and a doctoral degree from Michigan State University.

The Faculty Barlow Awards, made possible by a gift from Joel Barlow, a 1929 Alma graduate, recognize faculty members for excellence in teaching, scholarly or creative work, and college and community service. Recipients are nominated by faculty, administrators, alumni and student Barlow Trophy nominees. The president selects the awardees, who receive $1,000 cash grants.

Harfmann is an associate professor of IPHS. Hired in 2017, she has a bachelor’s degree from Alma College, as well as a Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Kentucky. Her expertise is in circadian rhythms and skeletal muscle glucose metabolism. Calhoun is an associate professor of biology whose career at Alma began in 2008. He has bachelor’s degrees in biology and chemistry from Truman State University, as well as a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the Mayo Clinic Graduate School.

The Charles A. Dana Professorship was established in 1972. The primary consideration for selection is a record of innovation in teaching, program formulation, and engaging students and colleagues in the academic endeavor and potential for continued innovative contributions to the college and its programs.

Ball, a professor of IPHS, has taught at Alma College since 1995. She has a bachelor’s degree in exercise and health science from Alma College, as well as a Ph.D. in physiology and biophysics from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Olbertson, a professor of history, has taught at Alma College since 2006. Her teaching and research interests include U.S. history through the Reconstruction era, as well as and U.S. legal, constitutional and women’s history.

The Reid-Knox Chair of American History was established in 1992 in recognition of faculty excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. The gift to create the named chair was given by Annie Reid Knox, in memory of her late husband Frank Knox, a member of the Class of 1908 who was Secretary of the Navy under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Bu has taught at Alma College since 1999. She has a bachelor’s degree from Beijing University, a master’s degree in applied history from Carnegie Mellon University and a Ph.D. in history and policy from Carnegie Mellon. Her teaching and research interests include American international relations and cultural diplomacy, educational exchange and knowledge circulation, public health and modernization.

Both the Charles A. Dana Professorship and the Reid-Knox Chair of American History are awarded for 6-year terms.