Dr. Tasneem Khaleel Award for Mentoring Young Female Professionals
Dr. Heather Thompson-Bahm
Assistant Professor, Business Administration, COB
Dr. Heather Thompson-Bahm has been part of the MSUB faculty since 2015 and has held several roles mentoring students, assisting advisees, and supporting those around her. During her time teaching at City College and now in the College of Business, Thompson-Bahm’s impact has touched the lives of many students and colleagues, especially female students and colleagues through mentorship, friendship, and compassion.
One of her nominators shares that as a mentor for young women, Thompson-Bahm is a role model and advocate. She is raising two daughters, teaches full-time, owns a small business, and understands the challenges female students experience. Thompson-Bahm has gone above and beyond numerous times to support students who have faced personal challenges, from building up the self-confidence of nontraditional female students when they were having doubts, to helping single mothers get the most out of their education and even babysitting for her students during class so they could take tests. Thompson-Bahm shares that she has a soft spot in her heart to help women succeed, especially those who struggle to see their worth.
Thompson-Bahm is very active within MSUB and in the community. She has served as Department Chair of Business, Construction, Energy Technology at City College, served as Faculty Co-Director for MSUB’s Center for Teaching and Learning, contributed as a lead trainer for faculty in the HyFlex modality delivery, serves on Academic Senate and the Provost’s Graduation and Retention Council, and served as the College Relations Chair on the Montana State Board of SHRM and local Board of YVC-SHRM until 2022. Thompson-Bahm also revitalized the 2+2 pathway options for the Business Administration associate degree at City College, allowing students the options between pathways to Bachelor of Science in Health Administration and Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies.”
Another nominator shares that Thompson-Bahm mentored her in her college-level teaching journey and learned a lot from her concerning all aspects of course design. “She has an unmatched work ethic, and I cannot think of another person who meets and exceeds this award’s expectations.” Thompson-Bahm’s combination of accomplishments, talent, determination, and compassion makes her a well-deserving recipient for the Dr. Tasneem Khaleel Award for Mentoring Young Female Professionals.