Miller and Workman named 2026 Outstanding Faculty Award recipients

Heartland Community College has recognized a full-time and a part-time faculty member with the Outstanding Faculty Award. 

Christopher Miller is the recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Award. Sonja Workman is the recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Award. 

One Heartland Outstanding Full-Time and one Part-Time Faculty Member are selected each year from student nominations. The Heartland Community College recipients are also submitted to the Illinois Community College Trustees Association for the statewide award. 

Chris Miller is a Distinguished Professor of Renewable Energy whose influence extends from the classroom to the global community. Chris pairs deep technical expertise with a student-first approach marked by humor, enthusiasm, and memorable storytelling. His hands-on labs help students connect theory to practice, building both confidence and competence for the workforce.

Beyond campus, Chris contributes to state-level clean-energy workforce initiatives and helps build early-college and dual-credit pathways with regional partners. Nationally, as Co-Principal (PI) of the CREATE Energy National Center, he supports two-year colleges in adopting industry-aligned curricula and in faculty development. His work also reaches internationally, including certification partnerships in China, renewable energy coursework in Belize, and participation as a Fulbright-Hays recipient in East Africa. 

Health Sciences instructor Sonja Workman exemplifies the impact an exceptional adjunct faculty member can have. Since joining Heartland Community College in 2021, she has shaped the Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) program as both instructor and Program Coordinator, playing a pivotal role in developing its curriculum.

Students describe her as nonjudgmental, understanding, and a mentor who “made a major impact on my future” and “is determined to change lives.” Many credit her guidance with helping them overcome personal obstacles and stay on track academically. 

Recently, Sonja was honored with the Keith Keesy Memorial Award from the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health.  

Both Outstanding Faculty Awardees will be recognized at the Heartland Community College Board of Trustees meeting on April 21 and at Heartland’s Commencement Ceremony on May 15.