Maryville, Mo. – An assistant professor at Northwest Missouri State University has received the 2018 Governor’s Award for Excellence.

Dr. Katy Strickland, an assistant professor of music in Northwest’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts, received the 2018 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education Thursday during a ceremony with Lt. Gov. Mike Parson in Jefferson City.

The Governor’s Award is sponsored by the Missouri Council on Public Higher Education and presented annually to an outstanding faculty member from each of Missouri’s four-year higher education institutions. Northwest’s recipient is chosen from faculty members who receive the University’s Faculty Excellence Award for teaching. Northwest announced Strickland as its recipient of the Governor’s Award last August.

Strickland, who joined the Northwest faculty in fall 2013, also is the director of athletics bands at Northwest and began service last fall as chair of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts.