WMU’s Dr. Ashlyn Kuersten wins MAC Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success
KALAMAZOO, Mich.— The Mid-American Conference has named Western Michigan University’s Dr. Ashlyn Kuersten the overall winner of the 2026 Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success, recognizing her as the top honoree among 13 institutional winners across the conference. The announcement marks the seventh year the MAC has celebrated faculty whose work profoundly shapes students’ academic and personal development.
The award honors MAC faculty who strengthen student learning and engagement both inside and beyond the classroom. It celebrates educators who elevate learning through mentorship, inclusion and real-world experiences that prepare students for meaningful lives and careers.
“College is such a formative time for our students," Kuersten says. "I’m honored to be part of their young lives as they figure out what they want to do with their careers and how they’re going to get there.”
Kuersten, a professor of sociology, has a distinguished record of teaching, mentorship and program development, highlighted by her leadership in creating and advancing Experience-Driven Learning pathways for students. Also the director of the WMU Cold Case Program, which she founded in 2020 in partnership with the Michigan State Police, Kuersten engages students in hands-on investigative work that enriches their academic training and equips them for professional careers.
Kuersten says being recognized by Western Michigan University and representing the institution at the conference level affirms the heart of her work with students. “What happens both inside and outside the classroom is equally vital to student success and lifelong learning,” she says, noting that real growth occurs when students can apply their knowledge in authentic, real-world settings. She says teaching is most impactful when it is rooted in mentorship and connection. “One of the most powerful elements in fostering a commitment to lifelong learning is helping students feel supported by mentors who are genuinely invested in their success.”
The Cold Case Program trains WMU students to assist police detectives with unresolved homicide and missing-person cases across Michigan. Placing students alongside investigators, the program offers a look into public service, victim advocacy and the complexities of justice.
“This immersive experience of working side by side with detectives gives students firsthand insight into professional investigative practices and teaches them many things,” says Kuersten. “They see public service not as an abstract concept, but as a lived calling.”
Students gain confidence, she says, develop leadership skills and begin to see their future careers as avenues for meaningful community impact. Kuersten notes, “True growth occurs when students are able to apply that knowledge to real-world experiences.” Many continue to stay connected with mentors they meet through the program long after graduation.
Kuersten’s commitment to student learning has earned her multiple teaching awards, as well as competitive grant support from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Justice. Her research focuses on criminal law, and she is widely recognized for integrating complex legal concepts into accessible, high-impact learning environments.
Dr. Carla Koretsky, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Western Michigan University, praised Kuersten’s impact on students, noting that “Dr. Kuersten has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to student success and inclusion.” She emphasized that Kuersten’s influence extends far beyond the classroom, adding that “even more impressive than her classroom teaching is Dr. Kuersten’s development of service-learning and internship programs that have provided students with unique, hands-on learning opportunities.”
A nomination letter from Trooper Shelby Wilmot, now serving with the Michigan State Police, notes that Dr. Kuersten “stands unmatched—not only for her expertise in the field, but for the lasting impact she has had on my life and future.”
Wilmot credits Kuersten’s guidance with opening her eyes to a career in public service she had never imagined. “She consistently encouraged me to step far beyond my comfort zone, to engage meaningfully in the investigative process, and to consider how my skills and experiences could serve the public good,” Wilmot says, Kuersten’s “mentorship, encouragement and unwavering belief in her students’ potential” make her exceptionally deserving of the MAC Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success.
The Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success reflects the MAC’s commitment to a holistic student experience, one that values mentorship, applied learning and the creation of supportive academic communities. The award’s eligibility criteria are designed to highlight the many ways faculty contribute to student success across the conference. Each of the nominees represents a unique approach to fostering student growth throughout the collegiate journey.
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