NW Missouri Times

The Northwest Missouri State University, during its fall All-Employee Meeting on Wednesday, recognized two community members with the Monica C. McCollough University Police Department Service Award and the Raymond L. Ottman University Police Department Community Service Award.

The University Police Department honored Dr. Kori Hoffmann, assistant vice president of student affairs for student engagement and development, with the McCollough Award. Meghann Kosman, a victim advocate and volunteer coordinator with North Star Advocacy Center in Maryville, received the Ottman Award.

Hoffmann facilitates the University's Behavior Intervention Team, which includes representatives from various campus departments and addresses ongoing mental health concerns of Northwest students. In this role, Hoffmann meets with students, families, and employees to support student success.

"Dr. Hoffmann assists the Northwest University Police Department by providing critical communication, case alignment and effective response processes through the Behavioral Intervention Team," University Police Sgt. Kyle Hoyt said. "His care and concern for student well-being and institutional safety is shown in his ongoing work with the Northwest University Police Department and Behavioral Intervention Team."

Kosman has worked at North Star Advocacy Center for more than 15 years, starting as a Northwest student volunteer. She supports victims through reporting, interviewing with law enforcement, hospital exams, and court hearings.

"Ms. Kosman advocates for Missouri victims’ rights issues at the Missouri and national capitols, trains volunteers, and educates the Northwest and Maryville communities," Hoyt said. "Ms. Kosman has served on the Membership Committee, the People of Color roundtable, and the Public Policy Committee through our Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. Ms. Kosman also serves as the victims’ advocate at Conception Abbey, volunteers for hospice at Mosaic Life Care and supports the Nodaway County Humane Society."

The McCollough Award recognizes Northwest students or employees who are not members of the Police Department but have aided it by offering solutions to prevent crime or assisting officers in achieving departmental goals.

It is named for Monica McCollough who served as a student dispatcher, full-time dispatcher, and office manager from 2002 to 2014. She improved department processes and implemented programs that continue to serve the Northwest community.

The Ottman Award recognizes individuals demonstrating ongoing community leadership through contributions to building unity and purpose within their communities.

It is named for Raymond Ottman who served in the University Police Department for 15 years before becoming police chief at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith in 2015.