Thursday, January 04, 2007
Announcements from the Spring Faculty and Administrative Staff Meeting
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The new USI Foundation Outstanding Teaching Awards were presented January 2 at the Spring Faculty and Administrative Staff Meeting. David Bower, director of Development, presented the Outstanding Teaching by Adjunct Faculty Award to Christine Payne, lecturer in Physical Education, and the Outstanding Teaching by New Faculty Award to Dr. Shannon Wooden, assistant professor of English. In nominating Payne, University community members wrote comments such as, “Chris Payne personifies the image of ‘teacher.’ She has thorough command of her subject matter. She is committed to expanding her knowledge base, keeping herself fresh, renewed and up-to-date. She is constantly changing, designing, creating new materials for her students. She is able to challenge her students.” Payne teaches classes in aerobics and yoga. She is seeking an advanced certification in yoga and has been teaching at USI since 2002. Her award includes a $500 one-time stipend, and a $500 professional development grant. Wooden came to USI in 2003. In nominating her for the award, a student wrote, “Dr. Wooden brings to the classroom an exceptional enthusiasm for and sound understanding of the subject at hand. [Her] classes are not routine or predictable.” A faculty member wrote, “Shannon Wooden exemplifies the best qualities of the scholarly teacher. At all levels her teaching draws on a deep knowledge of best practices, especially in the teaching of writing and critical thinking. She both broadens and deepens the students’ sense of the complexity of each literary period and its repercussions in contemporary critical and primary literature.” The new faculty award includes a $1,000 cash stipend and a faculty development grant of $1,000. Because of generous donations to the USI Annual Fund, the USI Foundation was able to establish new awards that demonstrate support for outstanding teaching and learning. Two students from each of the University’s five colleges and two faculty members (one new and one adjunct) will receive the award each academic year. It was announced at the meeting that eight faculty members are recipients of Lilly Endowment Summer 2007 Research Fellowships: Patricia Aakhus, director of International Studies and assistant professor of English; Dr. Kenneth Carter, assistant professor of psychology; Dr. Khaled Elkhal, assistant professor of finance; Dr. Jason Hardgrave, assistant professor of history; Dr. M. Mamunur Rashid, assistant professor of engineering; Dr. Yalcin Sarol, assistant professor in mathematics; Dr. Katherine Sauer, assistant professor of economics; and Dr. Kenneth Walsh, assistant professor of chemistry. It also was announced at the meeting that Dr. Jane Davis-Brezette is acting chair of the Bower Suhrheinrich College of Health and Human Services. An associate professor of physical education, Davis-Brezette also serves as chair of the Physical Education Department. Laurie Berry, assistant director of Residence Life, is acting director of Residence Life. |
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