2026 Distinguished Faculty Award Recipients Honored
Malone University honored: Lori Kiefer-Davila, Brandi Noll, Cherie Parsons
Each year, faculty members are honored for their commitments to teaching, service, and adjunct teaching as a result of nomination by students, faculty, and administration.
Distinguished Faculty Award for Service: Brandi Noll, Ph.D.
“Dr. Noll exemplifies a servant’s heart through her leadership and commitment to others. She leads the education honorary Kappa Delta Pi and the Outdoors Club—revitalizing the latter—and launched a “teacher supply cupboard” to support alumni beginning their PK–12 classrooms.
Beyond campus, she serves her community as a member of the Canton Local School Board (2024–2027) and remains deeply invested in her church, First Christian Church of Malvern. Known for her accessibility, compassion, and dedication to teacher candidates, Dr. Noll’s impact extends well beyond the classroom, including leading a service-learning trip during Malone’s spring break in 2025.”
Distinguished Faculty Award for Adjunct Teaching: Lori Kiefer-Davila, M.Ed.
“Ms. Davila has pushed me and my classmates in ways I didn’t know possible. She helped me pass the hardest teaching test there is, has shaped me as both a student and teacher, and truly wants the best for us and goes the extra mile. She is tough on us because she knows we can go farther. She teaches with excellence and cultivates the heart and mind. I have never had a teacher like her who has pushed me past the glass ceiling I created for myself.”
Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching: Cherie Parsons, Ph.D.
“Dr. Cherie Parsons, is an accomplished teacher, scholar, and mentor at Malone and a deserving candidate for the Distinguished Faculty Award for teaching. She has faithfully taught GEN 100: The College Experience and GEN 460: Grief and Loss, and is a valued colleague whose commitment to students is evident, even in her regular travel from Columbus to serve the Malone community.
She challenges students to high standards with a spirit of love and laughter, creating classes that are both engaging and deeply impactful.”
Learn more about these awards and view a list of previous recipients at malone.edu/academics/office-of-the-provost/.