JAMESTOWN, N.D. (UJ) – Dina Laskowski, Associate Professor of Teacher Education at the University of Jamestown, was awarded the North Dakota State Literacy Award for 2018 at the North Dakota Reading Association Spring Conference on Friday, April 27 in Bismarck.

In addition to her award, Laskowski also received recognition for being past president of the association for two terms.

“Dina has a tremendous passion for education, particularly reading education, which has been shown over the course of her career,” said Dr. Paul Olson, University of Jamestown Provost. “During her time with UJ, she helped prepare almost 900 future teachers, and her work can be seen daily in the hundreds of her former students who are now teaching across our state. This is a great and well-deserved honor for Dina to receive.”

Laskowski began her teaching career in 1971 in the Chicago Public Schools where she taught at the elementary level, planned staff development activities, and was a testing coordinator, until she moved to Jamestown in 1991. She joined UJ’s Teacher Education Department faculty that fall. Since then, Laskowski has taught myriad courses, including children’s literature, reading and language arts, curriculum development, and junior and student teaching seminars.

Laskowski has also served on numerous committees, provided a great deal of service to the Jamestown community, state organizations, and her church, and was the University’s Faculty Marshal for seven years. She retired at the end of the 2017-2018 academic year after serving 27 years as a UJ faculty member.