Copiah-Lincoln Community College is proud to announce its recipient of the annual NISOD Excellence Award. The 2025 honoree is Co-Lin Natchez Campus Science Instructor and Academic Chair Denise Thibodeaux of Natchez.
Thibodeaux first began serving as an adjunct faculty member at the college in 2012 before transitioning to full-time instructor in 2018. During her time at Co-Lin, she’s been named Outstanding Faculty/Staff Member for the Natchez Campus and a William Winter Scholar. She also served as the director of the Southwest Mississippi Regional Science Olympiad from 2018-2023 and serves on the STEM Symposium committee.
“Mrs. Thibodeaux has been a valued member of the Co-Lin faculty for many years and is highly respected by her colleagues,” said Co-Lin Natchez Campus Vice President Dr. Pernell Goodwin. “Her commitment to student success is unwavering, and she consistently goes the extra mile to provide the support and resources they need to thrive. She truly exemplifies the qualities recognized by the NISOD Excellence Award and is more than deserving of this honor.”
Thibodeaux earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Delta State University and is currently pursuing a doctorate in higher education administration at the University of Southern Mississippi. Her many professional affiliations include membership with the National Science Teachers Association, the National Association of Biology Teachers, the Cornell Institute for Biology Teachers, and the Notre Dame ACE Collaborative for Academic Excellence.
NISOD’s Excellence Awards recognize men and women each year who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and contribution to their students and colleagues. In 1989, in connection with a University of Texas at Austin national study of teaching excellence, NISOD hosted its first ceremony honoring NISOD Excellence Award recipients. The response to that ceremony was so positive that NISOD began what has become the largest and most inspiring gathering that recognizes the contributions and achievements of community and technical college faculty, administrators, and staff.
Excellence Award recipients will be recognized during NISOD’s annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence, May 24-27, 2025, in Austin, Texas. Excellence Awards recipients receive a specially cast, pewter medallion hung on a burnt-orange ribbon. The names, titles, and colleges of all Excellence Award recipients are included in a special booklet that features congratulatory ads from many of the recipients’ colleges. In addition, presentations at the conference involving Excellence Award recipients are indicated in the Conference Program with a special icon.
“Recognizing those individuals who have contributed to student success and their colleges’ mission is something we look forward to doing each year,” said Dr. Edward J. Leach, NISOD’s Executive Director. “The extraordinary work of these men and women includes not only what they do for their students and colleagues, but what they do for the communities in which they live and work. We’re honored to be able to play a part in celebrating their achievements.”
About NISOD
The National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) is a membership organization committed to promoting and celebrating excellence in teaching, learning, and leadership at community and technical colleges. NISOD provides budget-friendly, high-quality, and faculty-focused programs and resources for community and technical colleges that want to make the most of their professional development dollars. For over 40 years, NISOD has aligned a wide array of benefits with the needs of our members, which explains why the American Association of Community Colleges named NISOD, “The country’s leading provider of professional development for community college faculty, staff, and administrators.” For more information about NISOD, visit www.nisod.org.
