Congratulations to College of Western Idaho (CWI) Associate Professor of Business, Lindsey Wallgren, who has been named Faculty of Distinction for December 2025.
Wallgren has been part of the CWI community for 12 years. During that time, she has taught a wide range of courses including Introduction to Business (BUSA 101), Business Software Applications (BUSA 120), Personal Finance and Business Math (FINA 109), and Digital Design and Publishing (COMM 275). Over more than a decade, she has helped shape the Business program while investing in the students who move through it.
For Wallgren, teaching is personal. As a former nontraditional student herself, she understands how intimidating higher education can feel while balancing work, family, finances, and self-doubt. That experience continues to shape her approach in the classroom.
“This is the first ‘job’ I’ve had where I am excited to go to work most days,” she said. “The students are energizing, and I love seeing the spark when they grasp a concept or when we engage in great discussion. I believe education can change the trajectory of a person’s life, especially for students who may not see themselves as college material when they first come through the door.”
Her goal is to remove barriers to learning, make complex material approachable, and help students build confidence in their ability to succeed.
Wallgren began her career in professional support and marketing roles before earning her Master of Business Administration while working full-time at George Fox University in Admissions and Enrollment. She later transitioned to Boise State University in a similar role and discovered a passion for higher education. When the opportunity to teach at CWI arose just a few years after CWI opened, she embraced it.
“The College is a great place for students to get an education because it combines high academic standards with an outstanding level of access and support,” Wallgren said. “CWI meets students where they are. CWI fosters a culture of belonging and encouragement where students are known by name and supported as individuals.”
In her courses, Wallgren tries to bridge theory and practice, helping students see how classroom concepts translate directly into the workplace. She emphasizes practical application, professional responsibility, and the durable skills that carry far beyond a final exam.
“CWI empowers students to build confidence, gain real world skills, and create new opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities, regardless of where they start,” she said.
Some of Wallgren’s favorite moments come long after a semester ends. Recently, a former student reached out to share they were the first in their family to graduate high school and college, completed their education debt free at CWI and Boise State, earned their Certified Financial Planner credential, and launched their own wealth management firm. The student reflected on how a supportive classroom environment made it possible to persist despite significant barriers.
“What moved me most was not the impressive professional milestones, although those are significant, but the way the student reflected on their experience at CWI and their opportunities in my classroom,” Wallgren shared.
That kind of lasting impact is not just limited to her students. Colleagues describe Wallgren as a leader whose influence extends across the institution. She is recognized for balancing instructional excellence, institutional engagement, and program growth while consistently looking for ways to strengthen systems in service of students and faculty alike. She currently serves as chair of the Faculty Promotions Committee and has played an active role in broader cultural initiatives focused on promotion and pay policies.
“She brings a steady, thoughtful approach to everything she does and consistently looks for ways to improve systems in service of students and colleagues alike,” said Business Faculty and Bachelor of Applied Science Coordinator, Ryan Hanson. “She is highly deserving of this recognition.”
Outside of the classroom, Wallgren enjoys spending time with her husband and two teens, including a senior preparing to graduate high school. She also spends her free time traveling to support her kids in their sports and cheering them on as they pursue their passions.
