Buena Vista University Names Four Finalists for 2026 George Wythe Award
Buena Vista University named four faculty finalists Feb. 16 for the 2026 George Wythe Award; the winner receives a sabbatical and a $30,000 stipend, announced at BVU’s May recognition event.
1. Prof. Brian Pattie, Senior Instructor of Communication Studies
Prof. Brian Pattie appears on Buena Vista University’s Feb. 16, 2026 finalists list as Senior Instructor of Communication Studies and is one of the four faculty now competing for the George Wythe Award for Excellence in Teaching. BVU’s news release makes clear what is at stake: "The recipient of the George Wythe Award, which was endowed by the late Paul and Vivian McCorkle ’59, receives a sabbatical and a $30,000 stipend for faculty development. The winner will be announced at BVU’s Annual Faculty and Staff Recognition Celebration in May." The BVU excerpt provides only Pattie’s title; no further biographical or teaching-profile details were included in the available release, so the university’s communications office is the appropriate contact for Pattie’s full dossier, classroom highlights, or student testimonials.
2. Prof. Marian Riner, Program Director and Assistant Professor of Social Work
Prof. Marian Riner is listed as Program Director and Assistant Professor of Social Work and is a repeat name on BVU finalists rosters: local coverage from 2025 also listed Riner as a Wythe finalist. Prior reporting described Riner as "in her sixth year at BVU" with 24 years of social‑work experience and noted that she supports undergraduate students on campus in Storm Lake and through BVU’s online programs. That 2025 profile documented Riner’s campus work to develop Jane’s Closet in Swope Hall in March 2021 alongside the Student Association of Social Workers; Jane’s Closet "has helped hundreds of individuals and recently began serving Buena Vista County Head Start and Storm Lake Community School District in addition to children in the foster care system." The same prior coverage also records that Riner was awarded Faculty Member of the Year for 2021–22, a credential voters and colleagues often cite when judging teaching‑excellence awards.
3. Dr. Sarah Schlichte, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences
Dr. Sarah Schlichte, listed by BVU as an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences, is named among the 2026 finalists and is again a repeat finalist, having been included on the 2025 list. BVU’s profile material supplies background: "Dr. Schlichte, a 2017 graduate of BVU, is in her fifth year at BVU. As an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences, she takes great joy and pride in enlightening students about the wonders of human anatomy and physiology through interactive lectures and activities such as the cadaver lab. She is dedicated to working with students inside and outside of the classroom to help them learn the fundamental concepts of the human body and to help them develop and enhance their problem‑solving and critical‑thinking skills. She further enhances the student experience through her role in helping to plan, organize, and promote the Undergraduate Rural Medicine Education and Development (URMED) and Rural Health Fellowship (RHF) programs, as well as other internships, to foster and encourage", the BVU excerpt truncates here, indicating additional profile text is available in the full release. Schlichte’s URMED and RHF involvement links her classroom work to the university’s rural health pipeline efforts, a direct local impact for students pursuing clinical careers in Buena Vista County and beyond.
4. Dr. Karin Strohmyer, Professor of Education, Special Education
Dr. Karin Strohmyer is listed as Professor of Education, Special Education on BVU’s 2026 finalists list; the BVU excerpt shows an ellipsis after her title, signaling that her full biography appears in the complete press release. The 2026 selection committee is chaired by "Dr. Wind Goodfriend, Professor of Psychology and Assistant Dean, School of Liberal Arts," and "Dr. Goodfriend is joined by: Prof. Beth Blankers, Professor of Accounting and Assistant Dean, Harold Walter Siebens School of Business; Prof. Tim McDaniel, Assistant Professor of Mathematics; Dr. Lisa Bengtson‑Sheffer, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science and Kinesiology; and Dr. Jill Tussey, Associate Professor of Education," according to BVU’s announcement. For historical context on the process: a 2019 student‑news feature quoted Professor Jerry Johnson describing past mechanics of the Wythe competition, "faculty are nominated by students, staff, and other faculty members in the fall. Four faculty are then selected from the pool of nominations. The four finalists must then gather 10 letters of recommendation from alumni, faculty, and/or current students, which will then be reviewed by the committee." That procedural description comes from 2019 reporting and should be confirmed with BVU for 2026; the Feb. 16 release does not restate the nomination steps in the excerpts provided.
Local implications and next steps Each of the four finalists represents a distinct academic area at Buena Vista University, communication studies, social work, biomedical sciences, and special education, and the Wythe Award both recognizes teaching excellence and channels a concrete investment in faculty development through a sabbatical and $30,000 stipend. BVU will announce the winner at its Annual Faculty and Staff Recognition Celebration in May; residents and alumni who want to attend or follow the announcement should check BVU’s event calendar or contact the university’s communications office for the exact date and livestream details. Which of these faculty members has had the most impact on your time at BVU or in Storm Lake classrooms? Share your experience with the university communications office or bring it to the campus recognition event, local voices matter when institutional honors reflect community priorities.
Know something we missed? Have a correction or additional information?
Submit a Tip
