April 8, 2019

University Residences recognizes outstanding faculty, staff

University Residences has recognized outstanding faculty, staff and resident assistants involved in academic partnerships for their outstanding work during the 2018-19 school year.

Academic partnerships are a key component of University Residences’ work to extend learning beyond the classroom. Learning communities combine academic and residential components so students can live and study among peers pursuing the same academic interest. More than 70 learning communities serve as the educational home for more than 3,000 students. Learning community members are shown to outperform their peers by GPA.

The distinguished faculty and staff were honored at two events. Jay Akridge, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity, presided over the awards ceremony at the Favorite Faculty reception. Learning communities winners were honored at an appreciation luncheon. Both receptions included faculty, staff and student attendees.

Favorite Faculty awards are selected based on nominations from students and recognize distinguish faculty for success in academics, research, service and teaching.

The Distinguished Faculty for Academics award is presented to a faculty member who educates students in an engaging way in and out of the classroom. The recipient is Henry Chang, associate professor of biological sciences.

The Distinguished Faculty for Research award is presented to a faculty member who has influenced a student’s passion within that field of study. The honoree is Herman Sintim, professor of chemistry.

The Most Outstanding Faculty award is given to a faculty member who demonstrates strength on the pillars of service, research and teaching. The recipient is Sean Humphrey, continuing lecturer, biological sciences.

The Frederick L. Hovde Faculty Fellow of the Year us presented to the Faculty Fellow who best engages faculty, staff and residential students in meaningful and thought-provoking relationships. This year’s recipient is Andrew Freed, professor of geophysics and planetary sciences.

Learning communities and learning community instructors honored were nominated by students in their respective learning communities and recognized for being especially successful in various learning community initiatives.

The Academic Connection Award is awarded to learning community instructors who  plan events that connect classroom learning directly with hands-on experience. This year’s recipients are from Engineering in the World of Big Data: Sean Brophy, associate professor of engineering education; Nastasha Johnson, assistant professor of library science; Tamara Moore, professor of engineering education; Ane Carolina Costa, graduate teaching assistant; Amanda Johnston, graduate teaching assistant; Michelle McMullin, graduate research assistant; Amanda Smith, visiting clinical instructor; and Michael Witt, associate professor of library science.

Real World Experience Awards recognize learning community instructors who plan events that offer introductions to various opportunities within their respective academic fields. This year, three awards were presented to:

  • Agriculture Technology and Innovation, led by Dennis Buckmaster, professor of agricultural and biological engineering, and Amy Jones, assistant director of recruitment, College of Agriculture.
  • Women in Agriculture, consisting of Jeneen Abrams, research associate and continuing lecturer, botany and plant pathology; Craig Dobbins, professor of agricultural economics; and Peter Goldsbrough, professor of botany and plant pathology.
  • Engaging English, including Derek Pacheco, associate professor of English; Barbara Dixon, associate head of English; and Robyn Malo, associate professor of English.

Student Impact Awards honor learning community instructors who demonstrate exceptional success in connecting students to peers, faculty and professional staff, campus resources and the community at large. Honorees are:

  • Aviation, presented to Todd Brewer, flight maintenance technician supervisor, School of Aviation and Transportation Technology; and Brian Stirm, air operations technical specialist, School of Aviation and Transportation Technology.
  • Welcome to Communication, Joshua Boyd, associate professor of communication; and Pamela Deutsch, continuing lecturer, communication.

Residential Partnership Awards recognize learning community instructors who have partnered with Residential Life staff to enhance student learning opportunities where they live. The recipients, from the Computer Science Learning Community, are Philip LeBlanc, RanJani Rao, Kathryn Van Ness and Amanda Waszczuk, all academic advisors, College of Science.

Student Staff Advocate Awards are presented to resident assistants who were nominated by students for displaying an uncommon commitment to learning, taking exceptional involvement within their learning community and providing outstanding opportunities for connection outside the classroom. The recipients are Juliet Fatunbi, Pre-Pharmacy Learning Community, and Antonio Vasquez, Air Force ROTC Learning Community.

Learning Community Instructor Advocate Awards are presented to learning community instructors who were nominated by students for displaying an uncommon commitment to learning, taking exceptional involvement within their learning community and providing outstanding opportunities for connection outside the classroom. The recipients are Amy Jones, Agriculture Technology and Innovation and Study Plants @ Purdue learning communities, and Richard Ghiselli. Team HTM Learning Community.

University Residences’ Residential Academic Initiatives seeks to partner with students, faculty and staff to maximize opportunities to connect academic and residential experiences. Faculty or staff interested in collaborating on learning opportunities for students are encouraged to contact RAI at RESAI@purdue.edu or 765-494-2020.


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