Friends University announced the winners of the W.A. Young Excellence in Teaching Award and the Jan LaFever Award for Adjunct Teaching during the 2016 Commencement Ceremony May 7. Our congratulations go out to the following faculty award winners.
Dr. Chris Habben, professor of Marriage and Family Therapy, Lenexa site program director and clinical internship supervisor, received the W.A. Young Excellence in Teaching Award. Chris joined Friends University in 2001 and is known for his passion for teaching and his enthusiastic and full involvement within his profession. He challenges students in the classroom and validates their learning experiences. He inspires his students to believe in themselves and the knowledge they have acquired. His students describe him as a man who is gracious and kind and lives his faith.
Tim Shanfelt, adjunct faculty, received the Jan LaFever Award for Adjunct Teaching. Tim received both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Friends University and has taught for many years as an adjunct at Friends. He began his long and successful career at Koch Industries in 1997. He is described as an enthusiastic and compassionate instructor who encourages students to share ideas and learn from each other. He enjoys taking complex concepts and helping students understand and apply them. He constantly works to improve his classes by trying new teaching methods and focusing on helping his students become better people.