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Culnan Faculty Recognition Endowment honors three ������ faculty with inaugural awards

Three faculty at ������ were recently recognized at the inaugural Culnan Faculty Awards. Established through the generosity of Mary J. Culnan ’66, the Culnan Awards honor faculty for exemplary contributions in experiential learning, mentorship, and teaching. This year’s awardees are Matthew Broda, Ruth W. and A. Morris Williams Jr. Endowed Associate Professor of Education; Katie Holt, Aileen Dunham Professor of History; and Anne Nurse, professor of sociology and anthropology. Each awardee received additional professional development funds to support their continued growth.

A political science major at ������, Culnan went on to earn a Ph.D. in business from UCLA and enjoyed a more than 30-year career as a college professor. She is now Professor Emeritus at Bentley University where her research and teaching interests included information privacy and security, and social media.

She established the Culnan Faculty Recognition Endowment to provide one or more awards each year to members of ������’s current faculty who are selected by a committee of their peers for their excellence and creativity. Whether innovating through their research, teaching, and mentorship, or by developing new activities or programs to benefit students and the College, the endowment seeks to recognize these important contributions. The three initial honorees were recognized in a ceremony on April 27:

One of Broda’s nominations stated that his “identity as an educator and scholar is fundamentally shaped by experiential learning.” This commitment is evident across his advising, mentoring, curriculum design, and teaching. Matthew’s innovative courses — from backpacking-based First Year Seminars to a game-design seminar connecting students with professional designers — immerse students in purposeful, real-world learning grounded in best practice. Broda extends his impact through influential publications, conference leadership, and creative play-based learning initiatives. Collectively, his sustained leadership, generosity as a colleague, and deep commitment to student growth exemplify excellence in experiential education.

Holt is known for her sustained work integrating hands-on learning and intentional career development into her pedagogy in ways that deeply benefit students. A long-standing partner with ������’s Center for Advising, Planning, and Experiential Learning (APEX), Holt helps students connect their liberal arts education to meaningful, real-world internship experiences. Her work with the ������ Digital History Project exemplifies community-engaged scholarship, giving students authentic opportunities to apply historical methods to local projects with lasting public impact. Through continued leadership in workshops and learning communities, she generously shares her expertise with colleagues, reinforcing her sustained excellence and leadership in experiential education.

Nurse was recognized for seamlessly integrating community engagement, practical skill-building, and career readiness into her curriculum. Her commitment is evident through a long-standing partnership with a local juvenile correction facility in her Criminology course. She intentionally incorporates networking, career exploration, and professional skill development into every course, empowering students to translate their learning into real-world opportunities. Through both formal coursework and informal encouragement, Nurse inspires students to engage deeply with their community while preparing them for impactful, socially engaged careers.

Featured image: As Culnan Award winners Broda, Holt, and Nurse received additional professional development funds to support their continued growth.

Posted in Faculty, News on May 11, 2026.