May 6, 2009

Exemplary teachers receive 2009 Murphy Award

Four exceptional teachers were honored with 2009 Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Awards in Memory of Charles B. Murphy at the April 19 Honors Convocation in Elliott Hall of Music.

The Murphy is given annually in recognition of outstanding teaching in all phases of undergraduate instruction at the West Lafayette campus. The University's highest undergraduate teaching honor, the Murphy is accompanied by a $10,000 cash award and induction into Purdue's Teaching Academy, which provides leadership for the improvement of undergraduate, graduate and outreach teaching.

The 2009 winners are:

* Pamela Aaltonen, associate professor of nursing.

A Purdue faculty member since 1979, Aaltonen has been recognized by her school and her college for her teaching excellence and willingness to help students inside and outside the classroom.

Students appreciate Aaltonen's enthusiasm as she focuses on cultivating interest in and recognition of the value of all aspects of the health care system.

Students have said of Aaltonen: "I've never seen anyone that loves her job as much as Professor Aaltonen. (She) is very passionate about public health nursing." ... "Her lectures are engaging and quite informative. Her enthusiasm for teaching was contagious, and her ability to mentor students is unparalleled." ... "The instructor was always willing to take time to help students. The class and material were also very organized."

Many of Aaltonen's classroom activities are designed to engage students' imaginations and allow them to see the work of public health in people's everyday lives. To encourage student participation in class, Aaltonen has developed a triage exercise that requires undergraduates to respond to a simulated train derailment.

In another activity, Aaltonen takes a select group of students to the Navajo Nation in Arizona for a clinical public health nursing experience each May. The students live and work on the reservation with Indian Health Service and Navajo Nation health care providers.

"The point of these exercises is to develop the capacity of students to make informed decisions as well as to facilitate an informed decision-making process among the clients and patients with whom they interact," says Aaltonen, who was inducted into Purdue's Teaching Academy in 2008.

Aaltonen also tries to emphasize the need to learn continuously and grow by being active in professional organizations, reading and discussing current literature with students, and mentoring young professionals. 

"We all should embrace the need for lifelong learning and development, and part of our job is to provide students with a toolbox of means of accomplishing this," she says.  "Systems are not stagnant nor are the individuals who work within these systems."

* Frank Dooley, professor of agricultural economics.

Dooley's imaginative and engaging teaching style already have earned him recognition on campus. Dooley received the University's Teaching for Tomorrow Award in 1999, and he was inducted into Purdue's Teaching Academy in 2002. In addition to being a Murphy Award recipient this year, Dooley also received the College of Agriculture's Richard L. Kohls Outstanding Teaching Award.

Dooley helped to restructure agricultural economics'  freshman orientation course, and in 2007 he developed a class to guide upperclassmen serving as student mentors for freshman. Dooley also developed and taught the department's two internship courses.

Students' evaluations of Dooley are consistently positive, and his median instructor rating for undergraduate courses is 4.7.

Students repeatedly praise Dooley's ability to meld theory to real world examples and application. He often brings topics from Business Week or the Wall Street Journal and asks students to consider the economics involved.

"I work hard to make learning a comprehensive process rather than simply memorizing facts for an exam," he says. "This process includes showing students how to find information, identify their biases, organize their thoughts, and present their conclusions. My primary goal is to help students learn to think for themselves and make decisions."

Several principles guide Dooley's teaching. Dooley thinks teachers need to challenge students, clearly describe the ground rules for their classes, continue their own learning, and provide evaluation of all aspects of student performance.

"Finally, my teaching philosophy is grounded on three principles: be honest, be available, and be fair," he says. "Without these fundamentals, everything else is meaningless."

* Sarah Templin, clinical instructor of educational studies.

At Purdue since 1998, Templin teaches a variety of courses that prepare students to become teachers who will work with students with varying abilities and disabilities.

In addition to the Murphy Award, Templin's teaching excellence has been recognized with Purdue's Teaching for Tomorrow Award, the College of Education's Outstanding Teacher Award and the Department of Educational Studies' Outstanding Teacher Award.

Students consistently rate Templin's instruction with high marks, and offer praise for her commitment and passion:

"Sarah is incredibly enthusiastic, knowledgeable and friendly on a daily basis." ... "Sarah is a great instructor. Not only was she extremely knowledgeable about her subject but she also shows great enthusiasm for it." ... "Sarah Templin is by far one of the best instructors I have had at Purdue. She is a wonderful example and provides inspiration and excitement in the work of teaching."

Templin's goal is to offer lectures that are not only engaging but also provide connections between theory and practice.

"I strive to bring real life examples into my lectures so that the students can see how the lecture information will eventually impact their future classrooms," she says. "I try to liven up my lectures a bit through different strategies, including having my dog, Phil, a golden retriever and a service dog in Caring Paws, 'guest lecture.' He doesn't say much, but the students love him."

Having the opportunity to work with Purdue students makes her job a joy, Templin says.

"Opening students up to new ideas and concepts is constantly rewarding," she says. "Knowing that I am preparing our future special education teachers who will have a positive impact on their future students is exciting. Many of my students will be dealing with students in their classrooms who face numerous challenges, and it is extremely rewarding to know that I'm sharing the knowledge, skills, and values that they will need to be successful."

* Ralph Webb, professor of communication.

Strong evaluation ratings and glowing testimonials provide clear evidence that students consider Webb to be an outstanding instructor.

Students say: "A master teacher inside and outside the classroom. He lives interpersonal communication. In spite of all his work, he always has time for students." ... "He was always willing to take time to talk, and he very thoroughly evaluated everything I wrote for him. He contributed most to helping me develop a better writing style." ... "I thank Dr. Webb for his love of learning and the creativity by which he directs his class."

Howard Sypher, head of the Department of Communication, says: "This is what you hear from undergraduates about Ralph all the time. He goes beyond the classroom in every respect. He works hard to develop relationships with students that matter. ... He is one of the reasons that our students will remember Purdue and their experiences here fondly."

A faculty member since 1965, Webb has designed five new courses for the Department of Communication and served as director of undergraduate studies and coordinated the department's internship program for 10 years.

Webb also works extensively with students outside the classroom, acting as mentor of HORIZONS Student Support Program and serving as a Faculty Fellow at Wiley Hall.

Webb enjoys his daily exchanges with students.

"I like our conversations about the theories and practices of interpersonal communication, human relationships, and the struggles we face to resolve the issues we confront in everyday life," he says.