Akiko Jones (left) accepts the Master Teacher Award from Student Alumni Ambassador Rachel Eichenauer at the annual Faculty Excellence Awards ceremony.
FACULTY EXCELLENCE AWARDS HONOR 22 OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS
Colleagues and friends gathered April 9 to celebrate the University’s most accomplished faculty and staff at the annual Faculty Excellence Awards. President Rodney Rogers, Board of Trustees Chair Megan Newlove and Dr. John Fischer, interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, congratulated the 22 honorees on their achievements in research, teaching, mentoring, advising, service, creative arts and collaborative work. Presenting the Faculty Senate awards was Dr. Robyn Miller, secretary of the senate and a lecturer in Human Movement, Sport and Leisure Studies. Joyce Blinn returned to campus to present the award named for her late husband, Dr. Elliott Blinn, professor of chemistry.
Zoom News will feature stories about each of the award winners in subsequent editions. To begin, among those honored were:
- Akiko Jones, senior lecturer in World Languages and Cultures and director of Asian Studies, named the 2018 Master Teacher. Presented this year by Student Alumni Ambassadors representative Rachel Eichenauer, the award honors a faculty member who demonstrates a commitment to student learning and growth within the classroom. For Jones, that commitment extends far beyond the classroom walls. READ MORE
- Dr. Moira van Staaden, professor of biological sciences, granted a professorship of research excellence. A top scholar in her field of neuroethology, she has also become known as an internationally recognized expert in STEM education, dedicated to encouraging and increasing study in the STEM disciplines and to developing and sharing research-based instructional practices. READ MORE
- Janet Ballweg, professor and head of the printmaking area in the School of Art, granted a Professorship of Creative Arts Excellence. “Through her innovative studio practice and her dedication to sharing it with students and colleagues, Janet has made herself central to conversations reassessing the nature and future direction of her discipline,” said nominator Charlie Kanwischer, director of the School of Art. READ MORE
- Dr. Sharon Subreenduth, professor of teaching and learning, granted the Professorship of Service Excellence. Committed to social justice and equity, Subreenduth has worked for many years to provide professional development for teachers around the world and growth opportunities for students. READ MORE
- Dr. Neal Jesse, professor of political science, granted a Professorship of Teaching Excellence. In his 18 years at BGSU, Jesse has taught an expansive variety of classes and designed curriculum and courses in not only political science but also international programs, Honors and even fire administration, bringing to each his zest for the subject matter and the most effective teaching methods. READ MORE
- Dr. Susan Brown, chair of the sociology department and professor of research excellence, named Distinguished Research Professor. Recognized as one of the top and most visible family sociologists and demographers in the country, Brown has helped create a new subfield of sociology. READ MORE
- Dr. James Albert, a professor of mathematics and statistics, named Distinguished University Professor. An internationally known expert on Bayesian statistics, Albert has combined his passion for both statistics and baseball by creating a new field that studies the statistics of sports. This has heightened interest and increased quantitative literacy through his application of statistics to baseball. READ MORE
Watch upcoming issues of Zoom News for coverage of all the award winners.
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Lana Pollack