Kimberly Schmidl-Gagne Receives National Award for Civic Engagement Leadership
Kimberly Schmidl-Gagne, Keene State College’s accreditation and assessment officer, was one of three individuals honored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ American Democracy Project (ADP) at a recognition gala Sunday.
The honors were announced during the 2025 American Democracy Project Summit in Indianapolis. Schmidl-Gagne was on hand to receive the Spirit of Democracy Award, which honors exemplary leadership in advancing civic learning and engagement of undergraduate students and the work of the association and the ADP on campus and nationally.
“AASCU’s American Democracy Project campuses continue to lead with creativity, commitment, and care as they champion civic engagement in innovative ways,” said Charles L. Welch, president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. “These awards recognize the impact of the awardees’ work and the power of collaboration in cultivating civic-minded students. We’re proud to celebrate their leadership and dedication to building a thriving democracy.”
In recognition remarks, Schmidl-Gagne was singled out for her “tireless dedication” to civic engagement at Keene State, particularly her leadership of the Participating Candidates program, and advances in students’ civic development. “Her collegial spirit and ongoing contributions have significantly strengthened the American Democracy Project network and its lasting influence.”
Said Schmidl-Gagne, “It is an unexpected honor to receive this award. It recognizes our entire campus and regional communities. It shines a light on the countless collaborations and hundreds of volunteers who work to prepare our students to become active and informed global citizens and validates that we are committed to living our motto, Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve.”
Keene State has been actively involved in the American Democracy Project since 2007. Participation in the American Democracy Project advances the College’s public liberal arts mission, and dozens of Keene State faculty, staff, and students have attended ADP meetings, workshops, and institutes.
Schmidl-Gagne works on campus to bolster student voter turnout for local and state elections.
In a recent op-ed in The Keene Sentinel, she wrote, “Students care passionately about meaningful issues, and they are willing to brave registering to vote, finding their polling station, and running the gauntlet of candidates and political action groups that want their attention to vote to support candidates who align with their perspectives.
And they are proud of their “I Voted” stickers, but they may not want to make a big deal of it at all … yet.
Schmidl-Gagne is not the first Keene State staff or faculty member to earn national recognition by the ADP.
In 2012, former provost Mel Netzhammer received the William Plater Award for Leadership in Civic Engagement. The honor highlights the role of an institution’s chief academic officer in advancing the civic mission of the campus through curricular reform, public advocacy, accountability for institutional citizenship, faculty development and recruitment, and partnerships with community organizations.
A year later, Patrick Dolenc, professor of economics and a Keene State Distinguished Teacher of the Year, was awarded the Barbara Burch Award for Faculty Leadership in Civic Engagement for his success promoting civic learning and engagement on campus. This year’s recipients of those two awards were Leah Murray and Dimetri Horner.
Murray, director, the Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service and Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Weber State University (UT), is the Barbara Burch Award recipient.
Horner, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Harris-Stowe State University (MO), is the William M. Plater Award recipient.
