TEACHING AWARDS

Faculty recognized for excellence in teaching

Excellence in teaching at East Carolina University was celebrated during the annual Teaching Awards Ceremony in Harvey Hall on Monday, April 9. Faculty members representing departments and programs throughout the university were honored for their work with students inside and outside the classroom.

The faculty members presented with awards were nominated for their engagement with students in research, excellence in distance education and exceptional teaching abilities. Many of the presenters and honorees mentioned the influence educators from their past played in their lives.

Chancellor Cecil Staton stands with recipients of the Board of Governors Distinguished Professor for Teaching Award.

“I suspect if we had time to go around and ask, we would say our journey to be a part of higher education started with great teachers,” said Chancellor Cecil P. Staton during his remarks welcoming those in attendance.

Dr. Jami Rhodes was named the recipient of the Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award, the highest honor of the evening. Rhodes, an associate professor of voice in the School of Music in the College of Fine Arts and Communication, returned to teach at ECU after graduating from the university in 2001.

During her acceptance presentation, Rhodes explained the unusual challenge her students face playing an instrument they can’t see. She said teaching freshmen how to train and manipulate the muscles they can’t see to make beautiful sounds with their voice leads to those “ah-ha” moments each year.

“Watching them figure this out is interesting and wonderful and the most fun part of my job. When they get it, it’s better than any paycheck,” she said.

During her speech, Rhodes also recalled a time when a student needed emotional support because the death of a family member was imminent.

“It’s in those times teaching becomes about humanity and compassion and doing what we need to do for our students. And those are the moments that remind us that this is more than just a career, it’s a calling and it’s a gift and it’s important,” said Rhodes.

Rhodes was selected from a group of eight nominees. Other faculty nominated were:

Eboni Baugh, Department of Human Development and Family Science

Kermit G. Buckner Jr., Department of Educational Leadership

David Knox, Department of Sociology

Kenneth R. MacLeod, Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management

Deborah M. Thomas, School of Communication

Brenda Wells, Department of Finance

David S. Wilson-Okamura, Department of English

Several awards were presented during the evening, including the Board of Governors Distinguished Professor for Teaching Award.

“These faculty bring a wealth of experience to their teaching. Some teach very large classes but all find ways to engage their students in active learning,” said Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Ron Mitchelson during the presentation.

The award was presented to six ECU faculty members nominated by their colleagues, and each recipient received $1,000 from the UNC System.

Elizabeth Ables, Department of Biology

Ricky Castles, Department of Engineering

Allison S. Danell, Department of Chemistry

Teal Darkenwald, School of Theatre and Dance

Joy Karriker, Department of Management

Gerald J. Prokopowicz, Department of History

Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations Heath Bowman presented three awards on behalf of the ECU Alumni Association. Units selected full-time faculty members as nominees, and a selection committee chose the winners.

The Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Teaching was presented to Dr. William Staub III of the School of Music and Alison Swift in the Department of Baccalaureate Education in the College of Nursing. The alumni association also presented the Robert L. Jones Award for Outstanding Teaching to Dr. Kate Taylor Harcourt, Department of Human Development and Family Science.

Dr. Diana Bond accepts the Max Ray Joyner Award for Outstanding Teaching in Distance Education from Max Joyner and Dr. John Stiller, chair of Faculty Senate.

The Max Ray Joyner Award for Outstanding Teaching in Distance Education was presented to Dr. Diana Bond, Department of Advanced Nursing Practice and Education. Bond was selected from a group of nine nominees who have shown a commitment and enthusiasm in teaching and mentoring off-campus students and have demonstrated excellence in the delivery of courses.

Eleven faculty members were recognized as 2018 Scholar-Teachers. This award celebrates faculty who engage their students in research and share their own research in their teaching. In the fall the Office for Faculty Excellence will offer sessions from each of the award winners about their work incorporating scholarship in their teaching.

Beth Chaney, Department of Health Education and Promotion

Anna Froula, Department of English

Melissa Hudson, Department of Special Education, Foundations and Research

Ray Hylock, Department of Health Services and Information Management

Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, Department of Public Health

Amy Jnah, Department of Advanced Nursing Practice and Education

Jocelyn Nelson, School of Music

Ariane L. Peralta, Department of Biology

Thomas M. Rickenbach, Department of Geography, Planning and Environment

Teresa J. Ryan, Department of Engineering

William Swart, Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management

In closing the ceremony, Mitchelson thanked the faculty members for their dedication to the university and their students. “Thank you for taking the time and making the sacrifices it takes to achieve excellence. Thank you for challenging our students,” he said.