Knox Honors and Welcomes Faculty at Opening Convocation

Knox College begins the new year with awards and introductions

Galesburg, IL (09/24/2026) — At its 2026 Opening Convocation, Knox College honored teaching excellence and welcomed its newest faculty members. Provost and Dean of the Faculty Melissa Glenn. introduced seven new members of the Knox faculty. "These talented educators and scholars have joined us from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines," Glenn said. "They will be enriching the intellectual life of the College."

This year's newest faculty members include:

Ronald L. Fedie Instructor of Chemistry

Ronald L. Fedie brings deep research expertise in fuels and renewable energy sources, polymer synthesis kinetics, and polymer characterization to the classroom, inspiring the next generation of scientists to explore the molecular foundations of energy and materials.

Melissa Komadino Instructor of Business and Management

Melissa Komadino is an instructor in the business program who bridges theoretical frameworks with real-world practice across core courses in management, operations, and organizational behavior.

Tom Martin Visiting Journalist-in-Residence

Tom Martin is Knox's newest journalist-in-residence, bringing to the classroom a distinguished 35-year career as a top editor at five Illinois newspapers, including 18 years as editor of The Register-Mail and, most recently, as executive editor of the Quad City Times and Dispatch-Argus.

Sarah Rozny Visiting Assistant Professor of Educational Studies

Sarah A. Rozny is an educator and researcher whose work has centered on supporting emergent bilingual students and improving educational practices for English language learners.

Katherine Seguino Adjunct Professor of Physics

Katherine Seguino is an experienced physics educator and academic leader who recently served as science department chair and instructional coordinator for science at Naperville Central High School in Illinois.

Kaylin Vos Artist-in-Residence in Choral Music and Lecturer in the Music Department

Kaylin Vos brings a performer's artistry and a pedagogue's precision to the choral program.

Xue "Shirley" Wu Instructor of Computer Science

Xue "Shirley" Wu is interested in advancing artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on applying it to satellite data analysis to understand complex social and environmental challenges.

Knox Faculty Members Honored for Distinguished Teaching

Provost Glenn also presented the Philip Green Wright-Lombard College Prizes for Distinguished Teaching to tenure and non-tenured staff. The Philip Green Wright-Lombard College Prizes are the highest honor the Knox faculty bestows on its members and recognize distinguished teaching. "A strong academic community is built through excellence in teaching, learning, and scholarship," Glenn said. "The prizes and honors we present today recognize individuals whose achievements have made a lasting impact on our College."

These prizes, established by a gift to Knox College by Theodore Wright, Lombard Class of 1915, memorialize Professor Philip Green Wright of Lombard College. Professor Wright was not only a teacher himself but also the father of three children, each of whom became a distinguished college professor. This year's honorees were Assistant Professor of Music Alyssa Mathias and Burkhardt Distinguished Professor in Modern Languages (Spanish) Julio Noriega.

Mathias, who has been in Knox's music department since 2022, focuses her teaching on music as an integral part of the human experience. Her classes include lessons on music history, social science, and listening. She also teaches about global popular and traditional music, sound studies, music and conflict, ethnographic methods, and areas in the Middle East and post-Soviet Eurasia. She led a Middle Eastern Music in the United States: History and Performance during summer term, taking students to Chicago and Dearborn, Michigan.

Noriega, who has been at the College since 2009 as a member of the Spanish department, teaches Spanish language and culture classes and enjoys sharing his love of Hispanic, Andean, migrant, and indigenous literatures with students and others. He has earned multiple honors and grants, including the Knox Faculty Research/Creative Work Grant for Quechua Poetry Written in Bolivia.

"Convocation is one of my favorite traditions because it brings us together to welcome new students and colleagues, while recognizing outstanding faculty, staff, and students and marking the beginning of a new year filled with learning, discovery, and possibility," Glenn said. "Thank you for being here as we begin this exciting new academic year together."

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