McPherson Distinguished Teaching Awards

The McPherson Distinguished Teaching Award for Excellence in Teaching & Outstanding Commitment to Quality Education. The McPherson Distinguished Teaching Award is funded by the McPherson Endowment established by the founding president Dr. Harry McPherson and his family now held by the Napa Valley College Foundation.

Founding President Dr. Harry McPherson has helped generations of Napa Valley College students. From his vision and institutional leadership to his support of scholarships and encouragement of individual students, he touched many lives. Establishing the McPherson Distinguished Teaching Award is another example of his support of our outstanding faculty and his commitment to excellence in education.

2025 McPherson Distinguished Teaching Award Nominations will be accepted through March 18.

Nominations are now open for this year’s McPherson Distinguished Teacher Award. This award honors a faculty member who has made outstanding contributions to the education of Napa Valley College students through classroom instruction and other activities that promote student learning. Nominations will be accepted through March 18. Please see the linked nomination announcement and the nomination form for more details.

2025 McPherson Distinguished Teaching Award

The Office of Academic Affairs and the Napa Valley College Foundation congratulate this year’s recipient of the 2025 McPherson Distinguished Teaching Award, recognizing excellence in teaching and outstanding commitment to quality education.

Kristie A. Iwamoto was born and raised in the Bay Area. She got her Bachelors (with a concentration in New Voices in Literature) and her Masters (specializing in 19th and 20th Century American Literature) in English from California State University, East Bay. She began working part-time at Napa Valley College in 2009 and was hired full-time in 2012. Kristie was the President of the Napa Valley College Faculty Association from 2016 to 2024. She is currently the Vice President and Grievance Officer. She is also a union negotiator.

Kristie's favorite thing about teaching is helping her students to feel confident in their own reading, writing and critical thinking skills. Nothing is more exciting to her than when a student is fascinated by the material and wants to learn more about it. She loves being in the classroom and supporting young adults as they find their way in college. She sees herself in them, and she hopes to be a mentor to them like the mentors that she had when she was a community college student herself. Being a teacher is a core part of her identity. When she is not teaching, Kristie loves to volunteer with her 11-year-old chihuahua, Maurice. Together, they visit county library and elementary school reading programs. They have completed over 600 therapy dog visits. 

Congratulations to Professor Iwamoto.

Claudette Shatto is a proud Napa Valley College graduate, twice! Earning her degree in Wine and Sales Marketing became the catalyst for her promotion to Vice President of Sales and Marketing at an internationally recognized winery, launching her career in business leadership. Twenty years later, she returned to NVC to earn a degree in Spanish. Her goal is to double her impact by better supporting Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs and creating more inclusive opportunities across her programs.

As a professor, she designs hands-on, real-world curriculum across business programs. She organizes events such as the Business Plan Competition and the Children’s Business Fair to connect students with the community in meaningful ways. She is a strong advocate for dual enrollment and career education, working to ensure students gain early access to college and career pathways. Claudette also leads international study abroad experiences focused on global business and cultural immersion.

Her children’s book, Gazill Hill, is a multicultural story inspired by her own family. It introduces growth mindset and leadership concepts to young readers and reflects her belief that representation matters. Claudette frequently brings these lessons into local classrooms through workshops and school visits. She also dedicates time to outreach efforts that strengthen the pipeline from TK–12 to college, ensuring that more students, especially those from underrepresented communities, see themselves in higher education and entrepreneurial spaces.

Claudette is inspired every day by her two sons, who are both students in the Napa Valley Unified School District. She is known for her energetic teaching style, creative curriculum design, and deep commitment to student success. Whether speaking on a national stage or mentoring students one-on-one, her mission remains the same: to make learning engaging, relevant, and transformational.

Congratulations to Professor Shatto.

List of Past Winners ​

2024
Antonio Castro

2023
Janet Stickmon

2022
Janice Ankenmann
Michael Campbell

2021
Cathy Gillis
Jeannette McClendon
Jennifer King

2020
Dr. ​Sally Baldwin
Dr. Lisa Yanover

2019
Kelly McCann
Paul Gospodarczyk

2018
Dr. Steven Fawl
Paul Wagner