Mines Professor Honored with International Excellence in Science Education Award

The Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) organization recently awarded Lisa Kunza, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, Biology and Health Science at South Dakota Mines, and the director of the university's Center for Sustainable Solutions, with the Jean E. Simmons Award for Science Education Excellence.

The award, named after the organization's first honorary member and former president, recognizes Kunza's advocacy for STEM education, leadership and mentorship.

“Lisa is an education advocate, mentors undergraduate and graduate students, and is dedicated to public outreach and science communication," said Brooke Long-Fox, Ph.D., National Science Foundation (NSF) ADVANCE project coordinator at Mines and member of the GWIS Black Hills Chapter.

GWIS is an international organization with a mission to build a global community that inspires, supports, recognizes, and empowers women in science.

Kunza said she is honored to receive recognition and values her work on campus and in the community.

“We have incredible students, and I have been fortunate enough to be able to engage in supporting them to attain their career goals via their education at South Dakota Mines,” she said.

Kunza is also the principal investigator for the ADVANCE project, a program part of the NSF’s multifaceted strategy to increase diversity in the STEM workforce.

Lance Roberts, Ph.D., Mines interim president and co-PI for the ADVANCE project, said Kunza has been integral in increasing the representation and advancement of women in STEM.

“Dr. Kunza is involved with the community through her leadership roles and advocacy for women in academic science and engineering careers while facilitating collaboration with South Dakota Mines students, faculty and staff,” Roberts said. “She continually promotes women in STEM at all ages and across the entire community.”

Kunza’s teaching is multidisciplinary and valuable across multiple programs at Mines, Long-Fox said. In addition to her teaching efforts, Kunza, as director of the Mines Center for Sustainable Solutions, works closely with the local Military Advisory Coalition and supports collaboration with the Department of Defense and many other state and federal agencies.

The GWIS Black Hills Chapter was established at South Dakota Mines campus in 2017 with the goal to build a sense of community among graduate students that would cultivate support, collaboration and inclusion.