Waubonsee Announces 2025 Outstanding Faculty Member

Each year, Waubonsee Community College names an Outstanding Faculty Member. This award recognizes faculty who exemplify the college’s mission by enriching the lives of our students, colleagues, and community, creating opportunities to explore new passions, share knowledge, and foster a culture of inclusivity. This year’s Outstanding Faculty Member is Dr. Lisa Fozio-Thielk, Professor of Psychology. Dr. Fozio-Thielk has served Waubonsee as a full-time instructor since 2005.

A champion of student empowerment, equity, and community engagement, Dr. Fozio-Thielk draws on decades of frontline experience working with psychiatric patients, police departments, crisis response teams, and families affected by trauma across Illinois. This lived experience brings depth and compassion to her teaching, allowing her to connect with students not just as learners, but as whole people navigating complex lives.

“I worked at Madden State Psychiatric Hospital for 13 years,” she says, reflecting on her many roles that landed her in higher education. “I taught psychiatric patients floral design, then ESL, then rehabilitation education. I pushed until we became the only state hospital in Illinois with a GED program. Hundreds of patients earned diplomas.” She went on to work with several mental health and crisis intervention agencies across the state.

It’s that same grit and empathy that define her classroom today. Known for her storytelling-based instruction, Dr. Fozio-Thielk opens every class at Waubonsee by sharing who she is, including her triumphs, heartbreaks, and humor. “Students need to know you’re real,” she says. “I don’t hide who I am. I’m here to help them find balance, to not give up.”

Her students feel that authenticity and support. This is Dr. Fozio-Thielk's third year being nominated for the Outstanding Faculty award. One student, after nearly dropping out, gifted her a framed graduation photo. Others send thank you emails years later, describing that a combination of theory and real-life examples they learned from her helped them reframe a hard moment. “That’s my goal,” she says. “Not just theory. Life. Helping students to learn how to think critically, problem-solve, and support each other.”

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Fozio-Thielk has enriched the student experience by providing numerous hands-on leadership opportunities. She founded the Psychology Club to create an inclusive space for all students interested in the field. Since its inception in 2005, the Psychology Club has engaged hundreds of members throughout the years in leadership, service, and organizational skills. For over two decades, she has also advised Psi Beta, the national psychology honor society, supporting high-achieving students in their academic and professional journeys.

In 2024, Dr. Fozio-Thielk received the Outstanding Advisor award for her leadership role advising the Psi Beta and Psychology Club. Both clubs received the Outstanding Event award for Dr. Fozio-Thielk's  role in conducting college-wide Narcan Training annually during in-class visits and department retreats, providing life-saving information to students and staff across the college. In addition, Dr. Fozio-Thielk has led initiatives like Autism Awareness Week, The Giving Tree Project, which raised gifts for local children during the holidays. In 2025, the Psi Beta and Psychology Club earned the Outstanding Organization Event award for her leadership in launching the Community Revival and Survival Mission, raising over $1000 in a silent auction for students with food insecurities. This initiative also allowed students to adopt a road in the community as a way to give back.

“Community college students are some of the hardest working individuals I’ve ever met,” she says. “Their commitment inspires me every day, and I consider it a privilege to walk beside them in their educational journey.”

As a first-generation graduate, Dr. Fozio-Thielk says community college changed her life. It challenged her to desire more for her life while managing numerous priorities, including raising young children, working full-time, caring for her in-laws, and much more, but she says it’s what her students do every day.

As a lifelong learner, Dr. Fozio-Thielk holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Services and Psychology, a Master of Science in Human Services and Counseling, a Master of Arts, and a Ph.D. in Psychology with a focus on Health and Developmental Psychology. With her extensive education and expertise, she could teach anywhere, but she chooses Waubonsee. “This is home,” she says. “Waubonsee is where I’m meant to be.”

Dr. Fozio-Thielk will be recognized during Waubonsee’s Fall Faculty Development Day and honored at the August Board of Trustees meeting. Her advice for students considering a career in psychology or counseling is to be patient with others and with yourself. “You’ll need resilience, flexibility, and a strong support system,” she says. “And above all, show up with kindness. Be authentic. That’s what people remember.”