Sonja Wilhelm Stanis, a professor in the University of Missouri’s School of Natural Resources (SNR), received the 2026 Provost’s Award for University Citizenship in Mentoring. 

This award recognizes Mizzou faculty who have demonstrated exemplary university citizenship through faculty mentoring. 

Wilhelm Stanis is also the associate director of SNR and director of SNR undergraduate studies. She has taught courses in parks, recreation, sport and has helped write more than 80 peer-reviewed journal articles. 

Her research focuses on the human dimensions of natural resource management with an emphasis in the social, psychological and environmental factors that influence aspects of outdoor recreation. More specifically, Wilhelm Stanis’ work examines the role of parks and public lands in promoting physical activity and public health. It also focuses on the benefits of and constraints to outdoor recreation and issues in outdoor recreation relating to diversity and youth.  

Wilhelm Stanis began as an assistant professor in SNR in 2008. Since then, she has also served as a graduate emphasis area coordinator, undergraduate degree program coordinator and interim associate director of SNR.