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Juniata Faculty Honored for Transformative Teaching, Scholarship, and Service

(Posted May 26, 2026)

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HUNTINGDON, Pa.–Juniata College honored five faculty members with distinguished teaching and service awards at the close of the spring 2026 semester.     

Professor of Psychology Mark McKellop was named the 59th recipient of the Beachley Award for Distinguished Teaching. Professor of Politics Dennis Plane received the 37th annual Beachley Award for Distinguished Academic Service, and Professor of Geology Ryan Mathur ’96 received the inaugural Beachley Award for Distinguished Scholarship. 

Assistant Professor of Education Shuang Quan was honored with the 31st Henry ’57 and Joan Gibbel Award for Distinguished Teaching, which recognizes faculty members with fewer than six years of service at Juniata. Professor of Geology Matt Powell earned the fifth annual Eagle Advising Award, presented to a faculty or staff member who has served as an adviser for at least three years.  

Award nominations are submitted by students, faculty, administrators, alumni, and trustees. Selection committees are chaired by the college provost and include the college president, student government president, and the three most recent recipients of each award. 

McKellop came to Juniata in 2002 from Indiana University—Bloomington, where he was a visiting professor, and Children’s Hospital Medical Center, where he was a postdoctoral fellow. Prior to obtaining his undergraduate degree, McKellop spent seven years in the U.S. Air Force. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with summa cum laude honors from the Ohio State University in 1994 and went on to complete a master’s degree in clinical child psychology in 1996 and a doctorate in clinical child psychology in 2000, both from the University of Cincinnati.  

Lauded as an exceptional lecturer and great storyteller, students described McKellop as deeply invested in their success. One nominator wrote, “Beyond the classroom, this faculty member shows genuine care for student growth. He is approachable, supportive, and always willing to provide guidance. He takes the time to connect with students individually and encourages us to pursue our academic and professional goals. His passion for his subject and for teaching is evident in every class session.” 

Plane’s commitment to democracy and democratic processes is evident in his service to students, peers, and the broader community. He joined the Juniata faculty in 2004, coming from Gallaudet University, where he previously taught. Plane earned his bachelor’s degree at Rollins College in 1993 and his Ph.D. from the University of Texas-Austin in 2002. Each year, he hosts a Fulbright Scholar from Mexico and initiated Juniata’s participation in the United Nations Global Climate Change Conference. He also co-leads the campus’ All-In to Vote coalition, serves as a faculty parliamentarian, and is a member of the local school board.  

His commitment to regularly bringing speakers to campus, often Juniata alumni, creates opportunities for connection and expanded understanding. One nomination read, “intellectual life at Juniata College is deeper and more international due to his efforts to bring people here to speak and teach.” Plane routinely travels with students to put theory into practice. In all he does, he “walks the walk,” demonstrating to students that problems can and should be addressed by citizens.   

Mathur graduated from Juniata in 1996 and returned to join the faculty in 2000 after earning a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona. He is an isotope geochemist specializing in economic ore deposits with over 170 publications, 7,000 citations, and 600 conference abstracts. Mathur has mentored 65 undergraduate research students and is an editor for several high-ranking journals.  

His commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration led the entire Department of Environmental Science and Studies to nominate Mathur for the award, joining several peers from across campus and beyond. The nominations cited his research record, global collaborations, undergraduate research mentorship, and sustained contributions to his discipline. 

Quan came to Juniata in 2024 after completing her Ph.D. in Innovation in Curriculum and Instruction from the Graduate School of Education at Fordham University. Her scholarship is contemporary and cutting edge as she studies the impact of technology on children, with an emphasis on the role of artificial intelligence in education. Quan was awarded an Innovative Educational Initiatives (IEI) grant and a fellowship from the Education Research Innovation Network (ERIN) at Columbia University last fall.  

With a reputation for having high expectations while also demonstrating humor and warmth, Quan actively engages students in mentored research. One student nomination read, “I thoroughly enjoyed going to class every day and obtaining valuable knowledge that she presented. As a professor and researcher, she is dedicated to her craft, supports her students in their academic success, and dedicates countless hours on all fronts. She has truly achieved excellence in just a few short years of being here.” 

Known for his encouragement and collaborative approach, Powell came to Juniata in 2007 after serving as a post-doctoral fellow in Germany. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1998 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and earned a master’s degree in geological sciences from Virginia Tech in 2000. Powell earned a doctoral degree in earth and planetary sciences in 2005 from The Johns Hopkins University. 

Powell is one of the creators of the Scholars Program, which provides leadership and mentoring opportunities for talented and motivated students and serves as a Fulbright advisor. With Plane, he initiated Juniata’s participation in the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Students praise his ability to recognize and cultivate potential, “His kindness and unwavering belief in my potential have made a profound impact on my experience at Juniata.” 

The annual faculty awards recognize the collective work of Juniata faculty and honor the ways they advance the college’s mission of providing an engaging, personalized educational experience that empowers students to develop the skills, knowledge, and values needed for lives of service and ethical leadership in a global community. 

Assistant Professor of Education Shuang Quan, recipient of the Henry ’57 and Joan Gibbel Award for Distinguished Teaching, will deliver remarks to the first-year student class at this fall’s opening convocation. Professor of Psychology Mark McKellop, recipient of the Beachley Award for Distinguished Teaching, will serve as keynote speaker at next year’s spring awards convocation.  

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.