Excellence in Outreach Award
Jeffrey Conger
Jeffrey Conger, professor of graphic design, is the recipient of Montana State University’s Excellence in Outreach Award. The award is sponsored by MSU Extension, the Office of Academic Affairs and the Outreach and Engagement Council and includes a $2,000 honorarium.
Conger, a faculty member in the School of Art in the College of Arts and Architecture, was nominated for his engagement-based scholarship, his ability to address community challenges and for seeking opportunities for collaboration outside his academic community, aligning with MSU’s land-grant mission.
Chief among them is the public event “Dyslexia and Innovation: Symposium of Changemakers,” which Conger co-founded in 2019 with Sarah Pennington, associate professor in the Department of Education. Held once every two years at MSU, the symposium features guests who demonstrate the strengths of neurodivergence and dyslexia on a local, national and international level. Conger, who is dyslexic, aims to inspire K-12 students, parents, educators and community members with the event.
He complements his academic outreach with national presentations, including for the American Institute of Graphic Arts in New York and the National Art Education Association in Louisville, Kentucky. This year, he co-organized a panel titled “Reframing Dyslexia as a Hyper-ability,” which was selected among more than 1,400 submissions to appear at the national SXSW EDU education conference in Austin, Texas.
“This was a competitive process and is an excellent opportunity to promote the work being done at MSU and broaden MSU partnerships around neurodivergence,” wrote Dean Adams, dean of the College of Arts and Architecture, in a nomination letter.
Additionally, Conger has co-authored two published books highlighting the professional careers of MSU graphic design alumni. He also fosters a 20-year partnership with the Department of the Interior to expand MSU students’ learning environment to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.