LEWISTON, Idaho – Two Lewis-Clark State College faculty members, Rachel Jameton and Jennifer Anderson, along with student Kiara Garcia and community member Elizabeth (Liz) Way are the four recipients of the college’s fourth annual Women’s Leadership Awards, which were announced earlier this month during the virtual LC State Women’s Leadership Conference, an event open to all.
The LC State Women’s Leadership Awards honor an LC State employee, a member of the community and a current LC State student who exemplify leadership in their field of expertise or workplace, serve as a role model to other women and girls, who give back to and are respected in the community, and who advocate for positive change to close the leadership gap for women. The winners are chosen by a selection committee consisting of community leaders and LC State personnel.
This year, event organizers decided to honor two LC employees, who were named co-winners of the award.
Jameton serves the director of the college’s Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and also is a half-time chemistry professor. Jameton started teaching at LC State in 2003 and took over as the CTL director when it was established in 2014. She established an advisory board to facilitate the overall vision and goals of the CTL, which supports the personal and intellectual growth of faculty in the pursuit of teaching excellence, inclusive practices, service, and professional development.
Jameton has assisted female faculty colleagues to enhance their instructional excellence through peer classroom observation, encouraging them to step up and serve on the CTL’s working board, and to provide campus presentations on their areas of expertise and interest. Jameton has also worked with the Center for Arts & History and the Lewiston School District on an after-school program for young women.
Jameton also works with Camp Invention, a summer science program, where she has provided an opportunity for young girls and boys to explore science in a fun and engaging way. She is one of the sponsors of the new Faculty Leadership Institute in a coordination role, and as the liaison with campus administration, sharing ideas, seeking input, and advocating for resources for this program.
A former Peace Corps volunteer, Jameton received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., and her doctorate in Chemistry from the University of Utah.
Anderson is an assistant professor of Publishing Arts and Creative Writing in the Humanities Division. She is the faculty editor for Talking River Review, the college’s literary publication, which allows for mentoring and leading students in hands-on practices. She advises her students through the process of designing the journal's website and getting works ready for publication.
Anderson also runs the Visiting Writer series and schedules the Stegner Lecture speakers. For these lectures, Anderson relies on the women in the Humanities Division or in her Publishing Arts class to present the speakers, as well as helping the students prepare a brief introduction and to read the guest speaker’s essays, poems, stories, or book. During the pandemic, Anderson has continued the Visiting Writers series and the Stegner Lecture via Zoom and YouTube, making sure that the community has access to these talks.
In 2019, Anderson received the Editors’ Prize at The Missouri Review for her essay, “The Trailer,” which is grounded in the LC Valley. Later this year, The Carolina Quarterly will publish Jennifer’s essay “Undulation.” She regularly publishes creative nonfiction in addition to creating unique and experimental documentaries with her husband, the latest an 8-hour exploration called “#monalisa.”
Additionally, she volunteers with Meals on Wheels in Lewiston.
Way is a nurse director at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston where among her several duties she oversees that discharge plans are in place before patients are released from the hospital. In her nomination form, she was commended for possessing “a willingness to continually learn, adapt and grow to best serve patients in the ever-changing world of healthcare. From her first day as a registered nurse, to being recognized by her peers, to being recognized across the larger enterprise by the organization’s leadership team, she is a well-respected nurse director. Liz exemplifies the behaviors representative of a high performing clinical leader.”
Working in the industry as an RN, Way returned to school at LC State and earned her BSN. She continues to put value on education, improvement and growth. In her daily role at St. Joe’s, she and her team are regularly working with new mothers and babies in need of social services, including teenage moms needing an additional layer of support.
Outside of work, Way volunteers on Wednesday night to provide food and ministry to children from struggling families in the community. She works with a team to minister to and mentor youth, providing a strong, positive female role model to young boys and girls. She has served on 10 mission trips and is a regional coordinator for missionaries with 75 different churches. From organizing charitable events that raise the funds needed to make the trips possible to digging latrines and providing medical care in third-world countries, Way provides the needed servant leadership that makes these trips possible.
The Rising Star Award goes to an LC student and Garcia is a senior in the Social Work program. She is an engaged student leader who is serving in multiple roles as an LC Work Scholars, Resident Assistant, President of the Native American Club, and as a member of the President’s Diversity Commission. She has served on several search committees for new professional level employees at LC State.
Away from campus, Garcia improved electronic communications for the LC Valley’s Resilience Coalition, and continues to make a difference serving others through Blue Mountain Heart to Heart, and several area food banks (both on and off campus). Erin Cassetto, who nominated Garcia and is the director of Student Employment at LC State, said because of Garcia’s involvement, she is able to demonstrate the ability to be involved on campus, work, and still be a successful student. Garcia shows how all of these extra activities fit together – connecting learning, life, her activities, and her future career as a social worker.
As president of the Native American Club, Garcia has been a role model for other club members and potential students. She has also worked with the campus and community attending LC State's Tribal Advisory meetings.