Students Choose 2026 Instructors and Staff of the Year

Instructors of the Year

 Bhupinder Juneja, Senior Lecturer, Supply Chain & Operations

"One of the greatest stats instructors of all time hands down. He kept all of our classes interesting and engaging which allowed for a greater learning experience."

"He gets me motivated to learn Statistics using R every lecture. Keeps me engaged all 100 minutes and I am always excited to learn. He also believes in his students. Amazing professor and an even better human."

Matt Ladhoff, Senior Lecturer, Impact Lab

"Matt has been a tremendous support during my time at Carlson. He inspired me to face challenges with optimism and to be curious. He has a great spirit and makes those around him feel welcome."

"He created an impactful and interesting class. He created a space where people wanted to learn and participate. Matt has a passion for teaching students and going above and beyond to facilitate learning. He is a great resource outside of class as well."

Andrew Lainsbury, Senior Lecturer, Marketing

"He is a truly engaging lecturer, always tying in real-world concepts, experiences, and events into his lectures. He is also genuine in his interest in Carlson and students."

"He is able to explain marketing very well, and he knows his way around the curriculum. Although his exams are hard, they really test our application of our knowledge, rather than our memorization skills."

Jiao Luo, Associate Professor, Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship

"I am nominating Jiao Luo for instructor of the year because of her continuous dedication to helping her students get a fantastic introduction to the complex topics in strategy. She really goes above and beyond in making sure that the class is accessible to students."

"Jiao loves her classroom and is one of the best professors I’ve had. She makes sure her students are comfortable in the class and are understanding the material. She puts in so much work to make the class great, with interactive activities that truly make showing up to class fun."

Rand Park, Senior Lecturer, Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship

"He is an extremely passionate instructor. His excitement when teaching content for the course keeps students engaged and makes me want to come to class every day."

"He's so far the most engaging professor that I've had. He always presented class material in interesting ways that made me want to learn."

Jason Turkiela, Senior Lecturer, Finance

"Professor Turk is the most incredible professor and has changed my life academically and professionally. He is equally supportive and encouraging, as well as challenging and rigorous. Professor Turk has been the most influential mentor I have ever had."

"I have had multiple classes with Professor Turk, and every time I am amazed by his ability to make the class go beyond the curriculum. I enjoy having him as a professor and know that I am going to learn a lot, retain what I have learned, and apply it to my career. I can tell that he puts a lot of time and effort into his curriculum, and it helps bring the class to life."

Sarah Wojnicki Smith, Leadership Lab Program Director

"Sarah's transparency, enthusiasm, and investment in her students have made Leadership Lab one of the most meaningful classes I've taken. The diverse speakers she brings in, the thoughtfully designed assignments, and her commitment to knowing each student personally have pushed me to reflect on the kind of leader I want to be. Sarah doesn't just teach leadership, she models it. I am truly grateful for the growth she has inspired in me, and for making the journey fun along the way."

"She is genuinely one of the most engaged professors that I have ever had. She makes sure that we are actively growing in our leadership skills. I think that Sarah has taught me more about myself in the past 7 weeks than I have learned in my entire second year here at Carlson."

Staff of the Year

Jontue Austin, Senior Academic Advisor

"I want to nominate this person because they have made me feel comfortable, secure, and safe at Carlson. My journey and transition to Carlson has been joyful and welcoming because of Jontue."
 

"He is THE BEST academic advisor. I have no words to describe just how much he cares for his students. Jontue Austin is incredibly knowledgeable and kind, and he goes out of his way to help us figure out what we need to do when we have 10+ things to balance. He's always encouraging and supporting us with a smile on his face. Also, shoutout to him for all the work he does for THRIVE. He is truly amazing, and I am so grateful for him."

Ahna Rushmann, Academic Advisor

"Ahna goes above and beyond to help me navigate career/major paths during our advisor meetings. Provides an abundance of resources and options to help me feel confident moving forward in my academic journey."

"Ahna helped guide me through my last year of college with purpose and engagement, and was always open and available to chat."
 

Emileigh Stoll, Academic Advisor

"Emileigh is so caring, understanding, and always wants the best for the students of Carlson. She is extremely present in every conversation and makes the time to make sure you feel heard and understood."
 

"Something I value a lot in Emileigh is her honesty, but also her curiosity and willingness to explore new ideas with me. She has helped me feel so comfortable going to an advisor and seeking a second opinion, which I never would have done in high school. I also know that when I go to her, she is going to help me make my own decisions while also pushing me to consider things I might not have even known existed. I think she is a great example of what an Advisor here at Minnesota Carlson should be like."

Veronika Paprocka, Wellbeing Coordinator

"Veronika is consistently finding ways to support students mentally, physically and overall well-being. They are a strong advocate for all students."

"Love Veronika, they do such valuable work as wellness coordinator, so hardworking and dedicated to creating a safe environment for the students. I had the privilege of working with them both as a TA, and to plan BWeek this year, it's been an incredible experience the whole way through."