MAHG degree from AU helps Hahn earn 2025 Teacher of the Year honor in Wyoming
Earning a Master of Arts in American History and Government (MAHG) from Ashland University in 2023 has helped Wyoming teacher Morgan Hahn many ways in her career.
“I now have a much deeper understanding of American history, which translates to my classroom,” said Hahn, a high school social studies teacher in Lander, Wyoming, a town of about 7,500 people in the central part of the state. “I select stronger primary sources, can ask better questions of my students, and ultimately facilitate deeper levels of learning than I could before. It also inspired me to revive a travel club that takes students to Washington, D.C., which I now lead at my school.”
It also helped her be named the 2025 Wyoming Teacher of the Year, which has allowed her to promote the state’s education system to the Wyoming Legislature and other places throughout the state as a spokesperson.
“I’ve had fantastic opportunities to publicly share the perspective and story of educators in my state. It’s an honor to do so, and I always welcome the chance to talk about something I’m passionate about,” said Hahn, who grew up in Wyoming, went out of state for college for a few years to play hockey before returning to graduate from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor’s degree in social studies education. “There’s a smattering of other service opportunities that come with it as well. I’ve gotten to dust off my public speaking skills, meet lots of new people, and grow with the other state teachers of the year in the national cohort. It’s an exciting time.”
Another exciting time for Hahn was 2021 when she was named a James Madison Fellow. The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation awards one fellowship per year for each state and $24,000 to each Fellow toward graduate-level coursework that includes a concentration of courses on history and principles of the United States Constitution.
She also attended the James Madison Institute at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., in the summer of 2021.
“A graduate James Madison Fellow, who also graduated from Ashland, Whitney Martin, told me about the program while I was a student teacher,” Hahn said. “She spoke highly of the program, and as a passionate historian who was unlikely to afford graduate school in my early days of teaching, I knew it was something I wanted to pursue.
“It made it possible for me to earn a master’s degree in content that I am passionate about, and in turn, enrich my students’ learning on profoundly essential topics,” Hahn added.
Hahn said she chose AU because it aligned neatly with the requirements of the James Madison Fellowship and because it was rigorous and impactful.
Choosing to specialize in the Constitution, Hahn said the AU professors were spectacular.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my courses and was impressed that, even with the challenges of virtual meetings on weeknights, professors were able to facilitate lively debate and discussion over the sources,” Hahn said. “It was challenging, but that’s what I’d hoped for.”
According to a news release from the Wyoming Department of Education announcing her as the 2025 Teacher of the Year, Hahn is at the forefront of developing artificial intelligence (AI) practices within her district for both students and staff.
“In an era of educational challenges, including staff shortages and high burnout, Morgan strives to be a positive force by helping teachers rediscover their passion for teaching through technological tools,” according to the news release.
AU and the James Madison Fellowship have played key roles in Hahn reaching such a high point in her young career, and she is forever grateful to them.
“My master’s degree and the James Madison Fellowship that made it possible are pivotal in my life and will impact my students for the rest of my career,” she said.