DesAutels receives Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching

April 16, 2026-Dr. Lane DesAutels, associate professor of philosophy, received the Governor's Award for Excellence in Education during the annual Council on Public Higher Education Excellence (COPHE) Excellence in Teaching Luncheon in Jefferson City on April 7.

"MoWest is fortunate to have such a compassionate, intelligent and creative teacher as Dr. DesAutels," said Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, MoWest president and chair of COPHE, who emceed the event. "His courses make the very foundation of the university experience, bridging the humanities with the applied sciences. Students appreciate the welcoming discussion environment that he cultivates, creating balanced space for multiple viewpoints. This is especially important in his classes because they explore timely and sometimes contentious issues."

Dr. DesAutels has been a faculty member in the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities since 2016, and serves as director of the Bachelor of General Studies/Science and Technology degrees. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Puget Sound, Master of Arts from Western Michigan University and a Doctor of Philosophy from University of Maryland, College Park. He previously received the MoWest Award for Teaching Excellence and Academic Advisor of the Year Award.

The Governor's Award for Excellence in Education is given annually to outstanding teachers at each of the nine COPHE member institutions who challenge and motivate Missouri students to reach their maximum potential.

Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. MoWest is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.