Apr 16, 2026

MoWest professor Lane DesAutels honored with Governors Award for Excellence

Posted Apr 16, 2026 4:46 PM
Dr. DesAutels is congratulated by Dr. Kennedy and other MoWest officials at the COPHE luncheon/ Photo courtesy of MoWest Communications 
Dr. DesAutels is congratulated by Dr. Kennedy and other MoWest officials at the COPHE luncheon/ Photo courtesy of MoWest Communications 

By MATT PIKE

A professor from Missouri Western State University was honored last week during the annual Council on Public Higher Education Excellence in Teaching Luncheon in Jefferson City

Lane DesAutels, the associate professor of philosophy at MoWest, received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education.  DesAutels has been a faculty member in the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities since 2016, and serves as director of the Bachelor of General Studies/Science and Technology degrees.

He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Puget Sound, Master of Arts from Western Michigan University and a Doctor of Philosophy from University of Maryland, College Park. He previously received the MoWest Award for Teaching Excellence and Academic Advisor of the Year Award.

“MoWest is fortunate to have such a compassionate, intelligent and creative teacher as Dr. DesAutels,” said University President and the chair of COPHE Elizabeth Kennedy in a news release. “His courses make the very foundation of the university experience, bridging the humanities with the applied sciences. Students appreciate the welcoming discussion environment that he cultivates, creating balanced space for multiple viewpoints. This is especially important in his classes because they explore timely and sometimes contentious issues.”

The Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education is given annually to outstanding teachers at each of the nine COPHE member institutions who challenge and motivate Missouri students to reach their maximum potential.

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