Outstanding Faculty Leadership Award

The Outstanding Faculty Leadership Award recognizes a WWU faculty member* who has made outstanding and impactful efforts that have enriched the intellectual vitality of the campus and/or the broader community. This work may include service to the University, to service-learning programs, to outreach programs to the local and broader community, and service to the profession. 

*Please Note: Only Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, or Professors are eligible for this award. (Instructors, Lecturers, Senior Instructors are not eligible. Please check the staff directory for faculty titles.)

Nominations for the 2026 Outstanding Faculty Leadership Award are now CLOSED. Thank you to those that took the time to nominate a faculty member for this award!

Selection Criteria

Only Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, or Professors are eligible for this award. (Instructors, Lecturers, Senior Instructors are not eligible, please check the title of your nominee before submitting.)

Faculty member whose leadership skills have enriched the intellectual vitality of the campus and/or the broader community.

Nominees will be asked to provide the following materials in order to be considered for this award:

  • A cover letter describing your leadership activities (maximum 3 pages).
  • A current vita.
  • Materials related to outstanding leadership contributions while at Western.
  • The candidate will solicit up to five letters of support. The letters should register the impact of the candidate’s leadership activities. 

Award/Recognition

The award recipient will be presented with a Western medallion award at the Celebration of Excellence Awards in May. The recipient will also receive a payment for $1,000, made possible by the Western Washington University Foundation. (Please note: for each payment, the University also contributes approximately $421 for tax related deductibles plus benefits for a total expenditure of approximately $1,421 per award).

Award Administration

College of Business and Economics Dean's Office, Angela Andreassen, Operations Manager

Nomination Process

Nominations for the Outstanding Faculty Leadership Award are now CLOSED. Students, alumni, faculty, and staff members could nominate faculty members (Professors, Assistant Professors, or Associate Professors, from the colleges listed above) for the Outstanding Faculty Leadership Award by the January 23, 2026 nomination deadline.

2026

Professor Roeloffs wearing a white oxford shirt, navy blazer, and an award medallion

Matt Roelofs - Economics

Matthew Roelofs is a professor in the Department of Economics and the long-serving chair of the United Faculty of Western Washington (UFWW) Bargaining Team. A member of the team since its inception in 2006 and chair since 2017, Roelofs has led the faculty through multiple contract reopeners, full-scope bargains, and a critical COVID-era extension. As lead strategist and primary spokesperson, he specializes in synthesizing diverse faculty perspectives into cohesive priorities, building consensus and bringing an eye for creative problem-solving to high-stakes negotiations.

Under Roelofs’ leadership, these efforts have yielded transformative results, including significant salary increases and advancements in professional development, parental leave, and support for non-tenure-track faculty. These achievements are complemented by his three terms as chair of the Department of Economics, where he has prioritized student well-being and departmental community. Roelofs believes that supporting faculty through competitive compensation and supportive working conditions is essential to recruiting and retaining excellent educators and scholars. Beyond campus, he has held leadership roles with the Bellingham Mountaineers and 4th Corner Fly Fishers. When not in the office, Roelofs is often found on a ski slope, a mountain bike trail, or knee-deep in a trout stream.

Past Awardees

1 awardee(s) for this year

2025 Awardees

Dr. Grace Wang smiling and wearing a WWU award medallion

Grace Wang - Urban & Environmental Planning & Policy

Grace Wang is a professor in the Department of Urban & Environmental Planning & Policy and director of Western’s Sustainability Engagement Institute. She has demonstrated transformative leadership in bringing sustainability to the forefront of curricular initiatives on campus, such as the Sustainability Fellows, which trains faculty members across the university to infuse sustainability into their courses.

At the Sustainability Engagement Institute, Grace and her colleagues are devoted to the institute’s mission to develop educational opportunities and systems-change for a more sustainable, just future.  Grace was instrumental in creating the Sustainability Studies minor and supported the development of the certificate in Climate Leadership. On the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas, she co-led the development of a new degree program in Natural Resource Management. And on the Bellingham campus her work helped ensure WWU’s Sustainability Action Plan is a cornerstone of the university’s commitments to sustainability and equity. Outside of Western, Grace is a key partner in regional collaborations to advance sustainability in higher education. She is a dedicated, inspiring leader and mentor to students and faculty colleagues alike.