Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE)
Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE)
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About

About the Center
The Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE) provides programs, services, and opportunities to support USMA faculty members' continued growth as educators, scholars, and leaders.
CFE programs and events include the Master Teacher Program, Teaching Improvement Presentations, Faculty Development Workshops, Project Management Professional Introductory Course, Issues in Higher Education Book Club, and more.
CFE Programs
The MTP is anchored in the belief that teaching and learning are inextricably linked - that faculty members are learners as well as teachers, and students are teachers as well as learners. Hence, the program is designed to be a learning experience for everyone involved. The primary goal of this interdisciplinary, two-year program is to help teachers develop the competencies and skills required to educate and inspire cadets. Through monthly discussion sessions, reflective writing, teaching workshops, and a capstone project, the program provides participants with:
- a framework for planning, implementing, and reflecting on teaching and learning activities
- the ability to review and assess one's own teaching and to revise it appropriately
- techniques for helping learners acquire important discipline-related skills and knowledge
- the ability to assess students’ learning
- advice on how to create a community of learners in their classrooms
Enrollment for the MTP begins each August during Reorganization Week. Contact the CFE for more information.
The Project Management Professional (PMP) Introductory Course is offered annually from January through the first week of March. This is a 15-lesson course which traditionally meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1630 to 1730 remotely. It is open to all individuals from the staff, faculty, and community members across West Point, USNA, USAFA, USCGA, USMMA and service members or GS employees with a DoD CAC interested in pursuing the PMP credential.
The Exploring Issues in Higher Education Book Club is for any faculty or staff member interested in exploring a wide variety of topics in higher education. The club meets one to two times per semester to discuss a chosen book.
The world of an academic faculty member has its own set of language and expectations, both explicit and tacit. USMA maintains a membership in NCFDD to provide faculty with additional opportunities to learn and grow. NCFDD is a consortium of more than 240 top colleges and universities committed to seeing their faculty grow and thrive. NCFDD membership includes online self-paced webinars for strengthening writing and communication skills, groups for keeping yourself on task and accountable, and opportunities for further intensive faculty development.
Signing up for NCFDD membership is free with your westpoint.edu email account and only takes a few minutes.
Center for Faculty Excellence Events
Visit the CFE Calendar of Events (login required)
Teaching Improvement Presentations (TIPs)
Presentations to help you hone your teaching skills and increase cadet engagement and learning.
Faculty Development Workshops (FDWs)
Workshops on topics related to scholarship, cadet development, faculty development, service, and faculty wellness.
Dean's Awards Ceremony
Celebrate the MTP graduates and Dean's awards winners in our annual awards ceremony.
CFE Leadership

COL Benjamin Wallen
Associate Professor & Associate Dean for Faculty Development
COL Benjamin Wallen serves as the Associate Dean for Faculty Development as part of the Dean’s Staff. He teaches two courses in the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering.

Dr. Stephen Finn
Director of Center for Faculty Excellence
Before becoming director, Dr. Finn worked in the Center for Faculty Excellence at West Point as associate director from 2009-22. Prior to coming to West Point, he taught philosophy at Seattle University for many years.
Awards
Annual Awards for Excellence
This award (donated by the Honorable Mahlon Apgar IV, former Assistant Secretary of the Army) was established to recognize, encourage, and reward faculty members at the academy by supporting teaching projects that improve cadet learning. For more information, please visit the CFE Sharepoint (login required).
Apgar Award Recipients
- 2023: COL Todd Woodruff, Dr. Lissa Young, MAJ Zachary Guyton, Dr. Lolita Burrell
- 2022: MAJ Missy Moorehouse, Dr. Patrick Baker, Ms. Kimberly Quell, COL Mindy Kimball
- 2021: MAJ Jonathon Morgan, MAJ Bryan Williams
- 2020: COL Andrew Hagemaster, MAJ John Dibble, CPT Tara Middlebrooks, Dr. Beth Wetzler
- 2019: MAJ Cathleen Barker, MAJ Jacob Capps, MAJ Gabriel Lucero, COL Corey Gerving
- 2018: MAJ Bond, MAJ Britt, MAJ Eljdid, MAJ Eslinger, and Dr Cornwell
- 2017: MAJ John Spencer, CPT Jake Miraldi, SFC William Rothrock
- 2016: LTC Christopher Korpela, LTC Mike Saxon
- 2016: LTC Christopher Korpela, LTC Mike Saxon
- 2015: MAJ Jason Garneau, Mr. Darring Griffin, Dr. Sherry Venere
- 2014: MAJ Matthew Cavanaugh
- 2013: MAJ Nathaniel Davis,MAJ Patrick Heim
- 2012: MAJ Katie Matthews, MAJ Andrew Pfluger
- 2011: MAJ Kent Park, MAJ Lee Robinson
- 2010: MAJ Aram Donigian, Mr. Jeff Weiss, MAJ Adam Chalmers, LTC Steven Hart
- 2009: MAJ Sam Abbott-McCune
- 2008: MAJ Victoria Campbell
- 2007: MAJ Raymond Kimball
- 2006: Dr. Gary Solis
- 2005: MAJ Christina Schweiss
- 2004: COL Scott Hampton, MAJ Jamie Efaw, MAJ Silas Martinez, MAJ Toya Davis, MAJ Samantha Breton, Dr. Peter Hanlon
- 2003: MAJ Reid Sawyer
- 2002: LTC Edward Naessens, Mr. Wayne Schepens, LTC Dan Ragsdale, COL Don Welch
- 2001: LTC Jerry Schumacher
- 2000: Dr. Morten Ender, MAJ Janet Chapman, MAJ Susan Lee-Kratz, Dr. Susan Tendy, Dr. Larry Butler, Mr. Lynn Fielitz
- 1999: MAJ William Methany
- 1998: Dr. Gregory Gassner
- 1997: CAPT. Vincent J. Tedesco III
- 1996: LTC Charles G. Powell
These awards recognize outstanding contributions to teaching by West Point faculty members. For more information about these awards, please visit the CFE Sharepoint (login required).
Dean’s Early Career Award (< 6 years) for Teaching Excellence Recipients
- 2023: MAJ Hannah Smith, Department of Social Sciences
- 2022: Dr. Kevin McMullen, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
- 2021: MAJ Logan Phillips, Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineering
- 2020: MAJ James C. Bowen, Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineering
- 2018: MAJ Scott Parsons, Department of English and Philosophy
- 2017: MAJ Steven Ferenzi, Department of Military Instruction
- 2016: MAJ Brodie Hoyer, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
- 2015: MAJ Scott Katalenich, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
Dean’s Mid-Career Award (6-15 years) Teaching Excellence Recipients
- 2023: COL Ben Wallen, Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering
- 2021: Dr. Brock Barry, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, and Dr Jeffry Coelho, Department of Physical Education
- 2018: Dr. Martha Gallagher, Department of Foreign Languages
- 2017: Dr. David Chris Arney, Department of Mathematics
- 2015: Dr. Ruth Beitler, Department of Social Sciences
Dean’s Career Award for Distinguished (> 15 years) Teaching Excellence Recipients
- 2023: Dr. Morten Ender, Department of Behavioral Science and Leadership, and Dr. Kenny McDonald, Department of Systems Engineering
- 2022: Dr. Scott Silverstone, Department of Social Sciences
- 2020: Dr. Clifford Rogers, Department of History
- 2016: Dr. Robert Tully, Department of English and Philosophy
These awards recognize outstanding contributions to scholarship by West Point faculty members. For more information, please visit the CFE Sharepoint (login required).
Dean’s Early Career Award (<6 years) for Scholarship Excellence Recipients
- 2023: Dr. F. Todd Davidson, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
- 2022: Dr. Ryan Limbocker, Department of Chemistry and Life Science
- 2021: LTC Andrew Pfluger, Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering
- 2020: Dr. James Cornwell, Department of Behavioral Science and Leadership
- 2019: Dr. Jennifer Hewit, Department of Physical Education
- 2018: MAJ Karoline M. Hood, Department of Mathematics
- 2017: Dr. Gregory Freisinger, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
- 2016: MAJ Patrick Sullivan, Department of Mathematics
Dean’s Mid-Career Award (6-15 years) for Scholarship Excellence Recipients
- 2023: Col Joseph Lindquist, Department of Mathematics
- 2021: Dr. Ozer Arnas, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, and Dr. Morton Ender, Department of Behavioral Science and Leadership
- 2020: Dr. Ted Hromadka, Department of Mathematics
- 2019: Dr. Aaron St. Leger, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- 2018: COL Michael J. Benson, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
Dean’s Career Award (> 15 years) for Distinguished Scholarship Excellence Recipients
- 2023: Dr. Michael Matthews, Department of Behavioral Science and Leadership
- 2022: Dr. Elizabeth Samet, Department of English and Philosophy
These awards recognize outstanding contributions to service and development by West Point faculty members. For more information, please visit the CFE Sharepoint (login required).
Dean’s Award (< 6 years) for Service and Cadet Development Recipients
- 2023: MAJ Kathryn Hedgecock, Department of Social Sciences
- 2022: CPT(P) Tara Middlebrooks, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership
- 2021: LTC Bradley McCoy, Department of Civil andMechanical Engineering
- 2020: Dr. Kayla Blyman, Department of Mathematics
- 2019: Dr. Colleen Eils, West Point Writing Program
- 2018: MAJ Yoon G. Dunham, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership
- 2017: COL Brad Wambeke, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering), and COL Daniel McCarthy, Department of Systems Engineering
- 2016: MAJ John Belanger, Department of Chemistry and Life Sciences
Dean’s Career Award (> 6 years) for Distinguished Service and Faculty Development Recipients
- 2023: Dr. Led Klosky, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
- 2022: Dr. Greta Bucher, Department of History
- 2021: COL Tania Chacho, Department of Social Sciences, and Dr. Gunner Tamm, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
- 2020: Dr. Thomas Sherlock, Department of Social Sciences
- 2019: Dr. Scott Silverstone, Department of Social Sciences
- 2018: COL Liam S. Collins, Department of Military Instruction
Grants
The Adam Talent Fund promotes teaching projects that improve cadet learning through the use of technology. Made possible by the George F. Adam Endowment (donated by Mr. and Mrs. George Adam, Class of ’68) in support of the Center for Faculty Excellence at West Point, Adam Talent Fund grants support innovation in teaching by assisting faculty in the acquisition of technology for use in the classroom and/or by providing support to faculty for conference presentations related to teaching with technology. For more information, contact the CFE.