April 19, 2009

Awards given to faculty, staff at Purdue Honors Convocation

Four campus-wide teaching awards were bestowed, each academic area presented an award for excellence in teaching, and other awards related to academic endeavors were announced.

Murphy Awards

Four exceptional teachers were honored with 2009 Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Awards in Memory of Charles B. Murphy.

The university's highest undergraduate teaching honor, the Murphy is given annually in recognition of outstanding teaching in all phases of undergraduate instruction at the West Lafayette campus. A $10,000 monetary award accompanies the honor.

The winners' names will be included in the engraved Book of Great Teachers, a plaque in Purdue Memorial Union that honors the best teachers throughout Purdue's history. Murphy was a history professor at Purdue between 1927 and 1970.

The 2009 winners are:

- Pamela Aaltonen, associate professor of nursing

- Frank Dooley, professor of agricultural economics

- Sarah Templin, clinical instructor of educational studies

- Ralph Webb, professor of communication

Excellence in teaching awards

College of Agriculture - Richard L. Kohls Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, to Frank Dooley, professor of agricultural economics.

College of Consumer and Family Sciences - Mary L. Matthews Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching, to Soo Cheong (Shawn) Jang, assistant professor of hospitality and tourism management.

College of Education - Outstanding Teacher Award, to Sarah Templin, clinical instructor of educational studies.

College of Engineering - A.A. Potter Best of Engineering Teaching Award, to James Longuski, professor of aeronautics and astronautics engineering.

School of Health Sciences - Robert R. Landolt Award for Excellence in Teaching, to Neil J. Zimmerman, associate professor of industrial hygiene.

College of Liberal Arts - Excellence in Education Award, to Paula Leverage, associate professor of foreign languages and literatures.

School of Management - Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher Award, to Clifford D. Fisher, clinical associate professor of management.

School of Nursing - LaNelle E. Geddes Excellence in Teaching Award, to Polly Royal, clinical assistant professor of nursing.

School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences - Dr. Aziz Outstanding Teaching Award, to Kevin M. Sowinski, associate professor of pharmacy practice.

College of Science - Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, to Dor Ben-Amotz, professor of chemistry, for classes up to 99 in size, and Henry Chang, assistant professor of biological sciences, for classes over 100.

College of Technology - James G. Dwyer Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching, to Thomas Kirk, assistant professor of mechanical engineering technology.

School of Veterinary Medicine - Alumni Outstanding Teaching Award, to David Huse, visiting assistant professor of basic medical sciences.

Recipients of awards for excellence in teaching receive commemorative plaques and cash awards from their college or school.

Other awards

- Herbert Newby McCoy Award - Vladimir Shalaev, the Robert and Anne Burnett Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The award is presented annually to researchers for significant contributions in the natural sciences, based on nominations by peers.

Shalaev is being recognized for theoretical and experimental contributions to optical metamaterials with strong magnetic response and negative refractive index at optical frequencies - which includes creating materials that are invisible at visible wavelengths.

Along with the McCoy Award certificate, Shalaev receives a cash prize of $4,000, plus a $7,000 stipend to support his research.

- Provost's Award for Outstanding Faculty Mentors - Hilkka Kenttamaa, professor of chemistry; and Henry Weiner, professor of biochemistry. Each receives a $2,500 award.

- Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion Award - Suzanne Nielsen, department head and professor of food science. The award is presented annually to a woman faculty or staff member who has made significant contributions to the university and its students. In 25 years at Purdue, Nielsen has been a role model and mentor for female students, including 25 of the 32 graduate students who have been supported by the $3 million in research funding she has secured.

She is an honored teacher and author of more than 90 peer-reviewed manuscripts and six books. She also was the principal organizer of Women Faculty in the College of Agriculture from 1992 to 2002, addressing concerns over day care, campus safety, promotion and tenure, and salary equity. Nielsen receives the medallion and a $1,500 award.

- Class of 1922 Helping Students Learn Award - Charles Krousgrill, professor of mechanical engineering. Krousgrill was recognized for his innovative work called "For the Implementation and Evaluation of HigherEd 2.0 to Enable Asynchronous Student Interaction and Peer Support." He receives a $4,000 cash prize. An additional $2,000 will be credited to his academic expense accounts for official use.

- Purdue Academic Advising Association's Outstanding Advisor Award - Mark Diekman, College of Agriculture. He received a plaque and a monetary gift.

- Purdue Academic Advising Association's Outstanding New Professional Award - Tiffany Mousel, College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences. She received a plaque and a gift certificate.

- Award for Excellence in Distance Learning: Best Credit-Granting Program - Robert Yale, a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Communication. He receives a $1,000 cash award.

Writers: Dan Howell, (765) 494-2028, dhowell@purdue.edu

Valerie O'Brien, (765) 494-9573, vobrien@purdue.edu

Source: Mary Dawson, administrative assistant, Office of the Provost, 765-494-5429, mdawson@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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