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NEWS
from
Central Connecticut State University
May 10, 2007--Highlighting the exceptional caliber of teaching and research by faculty at Central, Eastern, Southern and Western Connecticut State Universities, the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System today recognized university nominees with Trustees Awards. In total, eight outstanding faculty members were acknowledged as recipients of the Trustees Research Award and Trustees Teaching Award. The teaching awards are being presented for the first time this year; the research awards were inaugurated last year. “The quality of teaching and level of research throughout the university system is truly remarkable, and the scholarship by these faculty members is both inspiring and significant,” said Board Chairman Lawrence D. McHugh. Central Connecticut State University Associate Professor of History Dr. Matthew Warshauer received the system-wide award for research, in addition to his university-level research award. Widely published and highly sought after as a commentator in his field of study, Warshauer is one of the nation’s preeminent experts on the presidency of Andrew Jackson, and of General Jackson’s imposition of martial law during the War of 1812. His scholarship also deals with the impact and aftermath of the Jacksonian era on the American body politic. Dr. Warshauer’s groundbreaking book, Andrew Jackson and the Politics of Martial Law: Nationalism, Civil Liberties and Partisanship was hailed in a recent New Yorker article, and his work was featured on a C-SPAN Books segment. A graduate of Central Connecticut State University, Professor Warshauer is coordinator of the American Studies program at CCSU and the editor of Connecticut History. Eligible for the Trustees Teaching Award are faculty who have “distinguished themselves as outstanding teachers for at least five years and have a minimum of two years track record of promoting instructional improvements for their programs or departments.” The Trustees Research Award can be granted to faculty who are conducting “research work of exceptional promise.” Nominees are expected to demonstrate substantive contributions or achievements and scholarly activities in their academic field of study during the last five years. Dr. Victoria S. Morley, Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Education and Human Performance at Central Connecticut State University, was honored for her driving force in the improvement of university programs and dynamic force as an engaging teacher, effective mentor and energetic leader. Using local processes and following general guidelines, each university accepted nominations and selected the university-level nominees, one per university, early this year. Nominees were then considered for the system-wide awards by a panel consisting of Connecticut State University Professors, a designation earned by no more than three senior faculty members at each university. Their recommendations were forwarded to the Board’s Academic Affairs Committee, and then to the full Board, which met in Hartford today to announce its selections. Each of the recipients’ universities will receive an award of $1,000, with the system-level recipient receiving an additional $1,000 award for their university. “These awards provide a means of recognizing the exemplary work of the highest promise being done by our up-and-coming faculty. They are all demonstrating an impact on their academic field, our students and our state,” added John A. Doyle, chair of the Trustees’ Academic Affairs Committee, which established the awards and is in charge of the selection process. The award competition is open to assistant and associate professors in tenure-track or tenure positions. Recipients of Trustees Awards from the other CSUS Universities are: Western Connecticut State University Assistant Professor Dr. Ruth A. Gyure, in the department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, received the system-wide teaching award, in addition to her university level teaching award for her innovative approach incorporating the strength of content knowledge with the latest pedagogical knowledge. She is highly regarded as an inspiring educator known for stressing inquiry-based learning methods, advocating the introduction of highest level courses, inspiring students in their independent research, and exerting leadership in assessment of student learning. Dr. Gyure is director of the Western’s Medical Technology program and has involved students in research at both the graduate and undergraduate level, relating her own research involving phytoremediation of mercury in the soil left from the hatting industry to local/regional problems in the environment. She has been selected as one of sixteen scientists for the Scholar in Residence program for the American Society for Microbiology to study the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning to begin in Washington, D.C. in the summer of 2007. The Trustees Research Award at the university level were also presented to: § Dr. Eric C. Martin, Assistant Professor of Management in the Department of Business Administration at Eastern Connecticut State University, recognized for his work in management issues in international development assistance and the evolution of inter-organizational relationships of media development and deployment, as well as privatization of state-owned enterprises, and refugee return. § Ms. Mia Brownell, Associate Professor of Art in the Department of Art at Southern Connecticut State University, acknowledged for her creative research in the art and tradition of still life painting, combing Old Master realism and Modern Master abstraction techniques, including numerous solo and group exhibits, and widespread recognition. § Dr. Shouhua Qi, Associate Professor of English in the Department of English Language, Comparative Literature and Writing at Western Connecticut State University, recognized for research and writing, especially his work building a bridge of cross-cultural understanding by means of books of fiction and non-fiction, particularly contributions to publications in the U.S. and China and numerous scholarly papers and presentations in the two languages. Receiving the Trustees Teaching Award at the university level, in addition to Dr. Gyure and Dr. Morley, were: § Dr. Mary H. Purdy, Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Disorders at Southern Connecticut State University, praised as a “model teacher able to bridge theory and practice by integrating her extensive clinical experiences in neurogenic communication disorders with daily teaching. She is also a leader in the use of an interdisciplinary group of students to enhance engagement and learning and as a promoter of scholarship among colleagues. § Dr. Elizabeth A. Cowles, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Eastern Connecticut State University, is a model teacher drawing on impressive research credentials, an educator able to integrate biology with her knowledge of physical sciences and society to engage and motivate students, a thoughtful implementer of technologies in teaching and learning and an inspiring force for students to engage in independent research. Information and copy provided by Bernard Kavaler, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs, CSUS, 860.493.0093, kavalerb@so.ct.edu # # # |
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