John Ruffatto Memorial Award

The John Ruffatto Memorial Award is presented annually during UM's Week of Excellence.

The $3,500 John Ruffatto Memorial Award was established to encourage and reward UM faculty who impart practical, applicable principles into their classroom presentations. When Ruffatto, a retired Missoula financial consultant, and his friends and colleagues created the award in 1990, they did so to solidify the interdependent relationship between local businesses and the University of Montana.

Nominations are due by 5 p.m. Monday, April 8 to the John Ruffatto Memorial Award Selection Committee, c/o Lyndsay Holcomb, College of Business, Gallagher Business Building room 376 or electronically to lyndsay.holcomb@mso.umt.edu

All tenure- and non-tenure track faculty are eligible to be nominated for and receive the John Ruffatto Memorial Award on even years. On odd years, nominations are limited to College of Business faculty members.

Applicants must have gained practical knowledge in their teaching specialty through involvement with a Montana enterprise and/or through their work as a consultant. Successful applicants will demonstrate how this practical experience was brought into the classroom and how the students benefited.

Application requirements:

Completed nomination form
Completed supporting information form
Three letters of support (for example, from businesses, students, or former students, academic deans, or chairs). Letter writers are asked to include a phone number at which they may be reached.
Brief, succinct supporting materials or exhibits.
Brief resume (two pages or less).
A cover letter.

John Ruffatto Memorial Award recipients
Year	Name	Title
2023	Sherry Liikala	Lecturer - Management and Marketing College of Business
2022	Jason Triche	Associate Professor - Management Information Systems & the Ruff Family MSBA Faculty Fellow College of Business
2021	Theresa Floyd	Associate Professor - Management & James and Maggie Gleason Faculty Fellow College of Business
2020	Sara Rinfret	Professor & Chair, Department of Public Administration & Policy, MPA Director Alexander Blewett III School of Law
2019	Michael Braun	Co-Chair, Marketing & Management Department College of Business
2018	Beth Dodson	Associate Professor, Integrated Natural Resources W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation
2017	Justin Angle	Assistant Professor, Marketing College of Business
2016	Sam Panarella	Associate Professor, Director of International Programs
2015	Shawn Clouse	Professor, Management Information Systems College of Business
2014	Bradley Layton	Assistant Professor, Director, Energy Technology Program Missoula College
2013	Cameron Lawrence	Professor, Management Information Systems College of Business
2012	Christina von Reichert	Professor, Geography College of Humanities and Sciences
2011	Jakki Mohr	Professor, Marketing College of Business
2010	Denise Dowling	Associate Professor, Radio-Television Journalism
2009	David Firth	Professor, Management Information Systems College of Business
2008	Charles M. Thompson	Professor, Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science College of health Professions & Biomedical Sciences
2007	Teresa K. Beed	Professor of Accounting, MAcct Director College of Business
2006	Vincent Colucci	Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice College of Health Professionals and Biomedical Sciences
2005	Terri L. Herron	Professor of Accounting, Associate Dean College of Business
2004	Dennis O'Donnell	Professor Emeritus, Economics
2003	Jeff P. Shay	Assistant Professor, Management College of Business
2002	Michael P. Rivey	Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice College of Health Professions & Biomedical Sciences
2001	MaryEllen Campbell	Professor Emerita, Management College of Business
2000	Richard Van den pol	Professor, Director, Division of Educational Research and Service Curriculum and Instruction Education
1999	Maureen Fleming	Professor Emerita, Management College of Business
1998	Jerry R. Smith	Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences
1997	Gerald E. Evans	Professor, Management College of Business
1996	Dennis Swibold	Professor Journalism
1995	Jerry Furniss	Professor, Management College of Business
1994	William Wilmot	Professor Communication Studies
1993	Richard T. Dailey	Professor Emeritus, Management College of Business
1992	Steven C. Bahls	Professor Law
1991	Paul Larson	Professor College of Business

John Ruffatto Memorial Award

John Ruffatto Memorial Award recipients