The University of Toledo

A total of 25 instructors have been selected as the first recipients of UT’s new Student Impact Awards.

The awards, open to all current faculty members, were created to recognize those who have positively influenced students through their enthusiasm, knowledge, dedication and creativity.

Recipients are:

• Dr. James Anderson, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics;

• Dr. Page Armstrong, Honors College;

• Dr. Doina Chichernea, College of Business and Innovation;

• Eleanor Dombrowski, College of Languages, Literature and Social Sciences;

• Dr. Michael Dowd, College of Languages, Literature and Social Sciences;

• Dr. Dale Dwyer, College of Business and Innovation;

• Dr. Friederike Emonds, College of Languages, Literature and Social Sciences;

• Dr. John Feldmeier, College of Medicine and Life Sciences;

• Rex Fogt, College of Visual and Performing Arts;

• Dr. Matthew Franchetti, College of Engineering;

• Cornel Gabara, College of Visual and Performing Arts;

• Dr. Tavis Glassman, Judith Herb College of Education, Health Science and Human Services;

• Dr. Sally Harmych, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics;

• Dr. Richard Knecht, College of Languages, Literature and Social Sciences;

• Michael Kistner, College of Languages, Literature and Social Sciences;

• Brenda Leady, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics;

• Dr. Maria da Conceicao Leite, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics;

• Dr. Ron Lora, Judith Herb College of Education, Health Science and Human Services;

• Dr. Mary Beth Schlemper, College of Languages, Literature and Social Sciences;

• Dr. Mary R. Smith, College of Medicine and Life Sciences;

• Cynthia Spitler, College of Sociology and Anthropology;

• Dr. Amy Thompson, Judith Herb College of Education, Health Science and Human Services;

• Brian Tittl, College of Languages, Literature and Social Sciences;

• Dr. Stanford Westjohn, College of Business and Innovation; and

• Dr. David Wilson, College of Languages, Literature and Social Sciences.

Each recipient will receive a $5,000 award.

Recipients were selected from a pool of nominations submitted by current UT students. Representatives from Student Government, the Medical College Student Council and the Graduate Student Council evaluated the nominations.

“I’m always hearing stories about instructors who have affected fellow students, both in and out of the classroom,” said Matt Rubin, Student Government president. “This is an opportunity for students to honor teachers who have impacted their lives significantly as students and as citizens.”

Part of the program’s uniqueness is its focus on excellence from a student perspective.

“Faculty are regularly evaluated by their peers,” explained Kevin West, senior human resources officer and director of faculty labor relations in the Department of Human Resources and Talent Development. “That evaluation is important and valued by the University because of the role peer review plays in the promotion and development of faculty.

“These awards are different because they focus solely on the students’ perceptions of the impact particular faculty members have on their learning, career choices and internship opportunities. The idea and funding came from the president. It is his desire to reward faculty for demonstrating student centeredness. But it was the students who developed the nomination process and selected the individual faculty to receive the awards.”

This entry was posted  on  Tuesday, December 20th, 2011 at  4:47 am and is filed under  News, UToday.
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