Shawn Bingham

Director • (970) 491-5679

Dr. Shawn Bingham not only is a faculty member (sociology), he has over a decade of experience with Honors education. He came to CSU having served in leadership roles in the Honors College at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and The Judy Genshaft Honors College at the University of South Florida. Shawn has travelled with students to mountains, multiple countries, and even taught them how to do laundry as a faculty-in-residence in a First-Year Residence Hall. (More importantly, his students have taught him some origami, song lyrics, and how to remain humble.) His academic works includes books on Henry David Thoreau, comedians with disabilities, political art, the bohemian South, and the tiny housing movement. His aims in Honors are to push student beyond their major, create applied learning opportunities outside of the classroom, and encouraging students to think beyond technical skills to how we want to “move through the world and live our lives on an everyday basis.”

Emily J. Morgan

Assistant Director • (970) 491-2225

Emily Morgan earned her B.A in English Education from Colorado State University, pairing it with licensure to teach secondary education.  After several years teaching Language Arts at Mountain View High School, she then pursued an M.A. in English, with a concentration in Literature from the University of Northern Colorado where she graduated with distinction.  Not willing to let go of teaching, she became a First Year Composition Program Learning Specialist at her alma mater, CSU.  Emily collaborated with colleagues to write internationally acclaimed CO150 curriculum for CSU and she trained dozens of instructors to teach the course to thousands of CSU students.  This led to her interest in Instructional Design and the completion of a second MA in Teaching, Innovation, and Pedagogy while she worked as a designer with Instructional Design and Development at UNC.  Before becoming the Assistant Director of the University Honors Program, Emily served CSU as the Composition Program Coordinator.  Emily is committed to providing students an engaging educational experience through supporting Honors faculty in instruction and delivery.  When she’s not promoting the Honors Program or helping to enrich student experiences, she can be found soaking up the Colorado sunshine with her children and her Mastiff named “Smalls.”

Shivon Costin

Lead Honors Academic Coordinator • (970) 491-5679

Contact Shivon for Track 1 Advising.

Shivon received her bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2008 from Eastern Washington University, and was a first generation college student. She worked for a local county government for 8 years, and joined the Honors staff after moving to Colorado in 2016. Her responsibilities include tracking academic progress through program completion and graduation, advising Track 1 students, providing outreach and programming for students, serving as liaison to departments, leading Honors advising at First Year Ram Orientation, and teaching HONR399 pre-thesis. She also serves as faculty advisor for Spiritus Mundi, the Honors literary magazine. She received the Honors advising award in 2020. Shivon is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in English with a specialization in Writing, Rhetoric, and Social Change.

Current students - Make an appointment with Shivon here: https://csurams.campus.eab.com/pal/0HQPUwZnHP

Rachel Tate

Honors Academic Coordinator  • (970) 491-5679

Contact Rachel for Track 2 Advising.

Rachel completed a B.A. in Anthropology at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. She would go on to earn her M.A. in Anthropology right here at CSU, with a thesis that looked at the relationship between online roleplaying games and mental health. Rachel spent a year working as an academic advisor for Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, before returning to CSU to join the University Honors Program staff. Her responsibilities include advising and supporting current Track 2 students, reviewing and processing Track 2 applications, and collaborating within the program to develop new and exciting activities for the Honors community.

Current students - make an appointment with Rachel here: https://csurams.campus.eab.com/pal/Um29h82C__

Melanie Smith Nichols

Program Coordinator • (970) 491-2318

Melanie Smith Nichols earned her B.A. in International Affairs from the University of Colorado – Boulder, her M.Ed. in Counseling and Human Development from George Mason University, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Education, Equity and Transformation from Colorado State University.  She previously advised undeclared/exploring students and taught in the Key Communities at CSU. In addition to presenting at various regional and national advising conferences, Melanie won the Division of Student Affairs Impact Award in 2010, the APC Star Award in 2015, and the Cermak Advising Award in 2020. Melanie joined the University Honors Program in July 2020 as Program Coordinator. Her responsibilities include recruitment and training of Peer Mentors, management of HONR 192 recitations, assisting in the review of Honors applications, coordinating the review of Honors scholarships, teaching Honors courses, serving as a liaison to Housing and the Honors Residential Learning Community, and Honors Student Association advisor. Besides working with students, Melanie’s passions include traveling, reading, learning, camping, and kayaking. She has 2 daughters, one at University College Dublin in Ireland and one in high school.

Current students: Make an appointment with Melanie here https://csurams.campus.eab.com/pal/e8sLQNl1Fk

Lori Williams

Program Assistant • (970) 491-6200

Lori Williams has been a dedicated employee at CSU for the past 15 years in many different capacities. She has worked in the HELP/Success Center at the front desk where she provided excellent service to undergraduate students before it became the Center for Advising and Student Achievement. Later Lori contributed to the department of Clinical Sciences as the Continuing Education Coordinator. And most recently, Lori was the graduate administrator for Cell and Molecular Biology where she orchestrated recruitment, assisted students on their path to graduate degrees and ensured that the department functioned at its highest level. Lori’s extensive experience and expertise can now be found in the Honors department where she serves as the Program Assistant. She is continuing her education by pursuing a degree in economics, right here at CSU.

Kimberly Ross

Administrative Assistant • (970) 491-5679

Kimberly Ross brings over 30 years of administrative assistant experience to her role as Administrative Assistant in CSU’s Honors Department.  Her responsibilities include attending the reception desk, assisting instructors and current and prospective students, providing classroom AV support, assisting with event coordination and planning, and updating social media as well as the Honors website.  Kimberly started her career in administration through a Community Work Experience Program (CWEB) in 1985 that allowed her to gain hands on experience.  From there she worked as an administrative assistant for 24 years at a local helicopter maintenance facility as well as an executive administrative assistant at a medical spa for the last three years.  Kimberly is a Colorado native who loves the outdoors.  She enjoys running, hiking, camping and spending time with her husband, kids, grandkids, family, and her dogs and cat.  She has seven siblings, one of which is her twin brother.

Joe Barkie

Computer/IT Assistant

Ben Blount

Computer/IT Assistant