The University of Dubuque Inducts Michele McKinlay and Emily Vyverberg into Faculty Hall of Fame

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque inducted Michele McKinlay, MA, and Emily Vyverberg, PharmD, into its Faculty Hall of Fame for Excellence in Teaching and Advising on Thursday, April 10, 2025, during an awards ceremony at the Dubuque Golf and Country Club.

Established in 1996, the Faculty Hall of Fame for Excellence in Teaching and Advising recognizes UD's outstanding and distinguished faculty. McKinlay, assistant professor of English, received the 2025 John Knox Coit Prize, and Vyverberg, assistant professor of physician assistant studies, received the 2025 William L. Lomax Award.

"The Faculty Hall of Fame is one of my favorite traditions at the University of Dubuque, where we recognize outstanding faculty for their excellence in teaching and advising," said Debra Stork, PhD, interim vice president for academic affairs at UD. "This year's inductees exemplify UD's mission. Professor Michele McKinlay is a true servant leader with a heart for students. She mentors and inspires them to become excellent writers through her leadership in the research writing program. Professor Emily Vyverberg excels in making complex content in the physician assistant program accessible and engaging, as evidenced by her consistently high instructor scores. We are proud to honor these exceptional professors at the University of Dubuque."

2025 JOHN KNOX COIT PRIZE
Michele McKinlay, MA
Assistant Professor of English

Michele McKinlay, MA, is a first-generation college graduate with a passion for higher education.

"I am the first in my family to attend college, let alone graduate. As such, I recognize how challenging it can be, still, to find one's footing in higher education," she said.

McKinlay earned undergraduate degrees in anthropology from the University of Iowa and in English from the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). She completed her graduate degree in English literature at UNI.

While raising three children and engaging in Dubuque's art and theatre scene, McKinlay served as an adjunct instructor from 1988 to 2006 at Clarke University, Loras College, Northeast Iowa Community College, UD, and UNI. She has served UD since 2003, becoming a full-time instructor in 2006 teaching in the general education program and coordinating the undergraduate research writing course. Additionally, she was UD's World View Studies and Core coordinator from 2010 to 2013.

McKinlay, who joined UD's Department of English full-time in 2015, continues to weave her love of dystopian, young adult, children's, and gender studies literature in her courses. Through writing and literature, she empowers students to trust their responses when reading a story, encouraging them to be curious about the world while questioning everything. For McKinlay, the critical piece to her teaching philosophy is collaboration.

"I learn as much from my students as they, hopefully, learn from me. With literature, I encourage them to trust their response, so that's where I start: 'What do you think?' and 'How does this story make you feel?' With research writing, I hope students will question their sources of information and seek verifiable truths. I try to be as excited about the course content as I hope they will be," McKinlay said.

Outside of the classroom, McKinlay coordinates an annual trip to the American Players Theatre (APT) in Spring Green, Wisconsin, for Department of English students to attend a Shakespearean production

"Theatre has long been a part of my life. I studied theatre in college and devoted a number of years to community theatre as an actor and director. APT is a professional company well known for productions of Shakespeare as well as contemporary drama. For some students, this is their first opportunity to see Shakespeare live. For a few, this is their first theatre experience. We make a day of it, have lunch, and engage in lively discussions in Spring Green, Wisconsin. It's always a wonderful day," McKinlay said.

Her passion for higher education is fueled by her students.

"Many students are concerned about society and the environment and want to work toward a more equitable and just world," McKinlay said. "Their commitment to the future is inspiring."

McKinlay's family includes her children: Michael, Daisy (Ryan), and Lily (Zach), and two grandchildren, Miriam and Aaron.

2025 WILLIAM L. LOMAX AWARD
Emily Vyverberg, PharmD
Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies

Emily Vyverberg, PharmD, regularly draws upon her professional experience as a community pharmacist to help inform her teaching in UD's master of science in physician assistant studies program.

"My experience as a pharmacist enhances my teaching by grounding it in current best practices, real-world applications, and patient-specific encounters," she said. "Conversely, my teaching experience enriches my work behind the counter as a pharmacist, providing me with a better understanding of how to effectively communicate information to patients."

Vyverberg earned a doctorate of pharmacy from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. She has practiced as a community pharmacist in the tri-state area since 2009 and is a part-time pharmacist at Hartig Drug #3 in Dubuque. Vyverberg joined UD as an adjunct instructor in 2018 and became a full-time assistant professor in the PA program in 2020.

"Teaching at UDPA is inspiring because it allows me to engage with talented, motivated professional students, fostering their critical thinking, expanding their knowledge, and nurturing their passion for healthcare," Vyverberg said. "As a pharmacist teaching in a physician assistant program, I also have the privilege of collaborating with an interdisciplinary team, which I find really rewarding. Working alongside diverse healthcare professionals enhances my expertise and broadens my perspective."

In the physiology and pharmacology course series she teaches, Vyverberg aims to provide students with comprehensive pharmacologic and physiologic knowledge within the broader context of patient care and to prepare students to make evidence-based decisions in their future practice.

"To accomplish this, my teaching philosophy involves enthusiastically engaging students through the use of a structured, organized lecture format, mnemonics or memory tricks, planned repetition, and a healthy dose of humor. I can expertly say that laughter is the best medicine," Vyverberg said.

Outside of the classroom, she remains active with clinic time weekly and has served on the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy Genesis Board since its inception in 2014. Vyverberg was elected vice chair in 2022 and will complete her service to the board May 2025. Additionally, she is active in local nonprofits. Vyverberg is a member of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dubuque Booster Board as well as the Sister Water Project Committee through the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque.

Vyverberg and her fiance, Connor, live in Dubuque with their two dogs, Moose and Selleck. They enjoy golfing and traveling together, and they are eagerly anticipating their upcoming wedding.

About the Faculty Hall of Fame

Thanks to the generosity of UD Board of Trustees member Richard "Dick" (C'71) and the late Donna Svrluga, the Faculty Hall of Fame for Excellence in Teaching and Advising was established in 1996 to recognize faculty for their outstanding teaching and advising as well as their commitment to the Mission of the University of Dubuque.

John Knox Coit Prize
An integral member of the Department of Philosophy from 1955 to 1965, Professor Coit was more than a teacher. He became a mentor and friend to his students. Known as a "man of wit," he made a lasting impression on his students. Coit died in 1995 at the age of 79.

William L. Lomax Award
Fondly remembered by his students who studied business, Professor Lomax was smart, tough, fair, no-nonsense, and fun. As a member of the Department of Business from 1953 to 1969, he influenced the lives of many students. Lomax died in 1986 at the age of 83.

The Faculty Hall of Fame wall is displayed on the second floor of Heritage Center.