Jane Sumner receives Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education

Jane Sumner, associate professor of political science, has received the 2026 Horace T. Morse - University of Minnesota Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education.

Each year since 1965-66, the University of Minnesota has recognized select faculty members for their outstanding contributions to undergraduate education. Exceptional candidates are nominated by colleges in their quest to identify excellence in undergraduate education. This award both honors individual faculty members and contributes to the improvement of undergraduate education at the University by publicizing their work to serve as a resource for the whole faculty. Award recipients are selected based on a range of criteria, including excellence in teaching, advising and mentoring students, involvement of undergraduate students in research, and contributions to developing improvements in undergraduate education.

Sumner specializes in political economy and research methodology. Her expertise in academic programming development has helped her students and advisees succeed in their chosen path during and after their time at the University of Minnesota. Sumner's teaching skills are highly regarded by both students and colleagues. Her popular undergraduate courses include POL 3085: Quantitative Analysis in Political Science and POL 3833: The United States and the Global Economy. 

Composed by Sophia Paschke, communications associate.