Dr. Amy Dolan of Britton has been named the recipient of the 2025 NSU Foundation Faculty Excellence Award, one of Northern State University’s highest honors for faculty achievement. The award was announced during the university’s spring commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 10, in Aberdeen.
Dr. Dolan currently serves as an associate professor of biology and the STEM outreach coordinator at Northern. She joined the university in 2013 and was promoted to her current faculty rank in 2024. The Faculty Excellence Award recognizes her sustained record of accomplishment in teaching, research and service to the university and the broader community.
At Northern, Dr. Dolan is regarded as a dedicated and effective educator. She teaches a range of biology courses, including human anatomy and physiology, gross anatomy and bioethics. Colleagues note her consistent efforts to improve curriculum design and student learning outcomes, including a recent overhaul of the anatomy and physiology sequence. She is known for maintaining high academic standards while creating a supportive environment that encourages student engagement and critical thinking.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Dr. Dolan has maintained an active research agenda, with recent work focusing on hematological and genetic analysis of western painted turtles. Her projects frequently include undergraduate collaborators, providing students with valuable hands-on research experience.
As STEM outreach coordinator, Dr. Dolan has significantly expanded the university’s engagement with area K-12 schools. She has developed and implemented science outreach programs that have reached thousands of elementary students throughout the region. Her efforts are widely credited with strengthening interest in science education and building community connections.
In a statement following the announcement, Dr. Dolan expressed appreciation for the recognition. “I am truly humbled to receive this award amongst such a phenomenal group of faculty colleagues,” she said. “Northern is a special place—one where the students are at the center of everything we do. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know so many great Northern students in and out of the classroom.”
