 |
|
NEWS
from Central Connecticut
State University Honored as a "Leadership Institution" by the Association of American Colleges & Universities Media contact: Peter Kilduff, Director of University Relations (860) 832-1791; Kilduff@ccsu.edu Michael A. Davis Honored with CCSU’s 2006-2007 Excellence in Teaching Award; Allison Stotz Named Recipient from Adjunct Faculty NEW BRITAIN -- Dr. Michael A. Davis, associate professor in the Department of Biomolecular Sciences at Central Connecticut State University with expertise in microbiology and a specialization in bacterial genetics, has been honored with the 2006-2007 Excellence in Teaching Award. Teaching in the college classroom (and linked course laboratory) and in his research lab, Davis brings to both venues the same philosophy: “Competence and confidence is what I work to engender in all my students, because I believe that both are needed for academic success and life-long fulfillment.” Davis is a West Hartford resident. He holds the Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from Harvard and the A. B. in bacteriology from the University of California at Berkeley. At ceremonies on the New Britain campus, CCSU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Carl Lovitt named Davis top award recipient. For the first time in the history of the award an Adjunct Faculty member, Allison Stotz was honored with an Excellence in Teaching Award. Stotz teaches elementary and intermediate algebra courses. A Southington resident, she holds the B.S. in bio-behavioral health from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in mathematics from CCSU. Prof. Jeffrey McGowan, assistant chair of the Department of Mathematics, who worked with Stotz, said she has distinguished herself both as a student and an adjunct instructor. He said, “As a student Allison is a joy—quick to learn and understand the material completely. When she graduates she is clearly capable of doing mathematics at a higher level. However, she has been very clear that she is committed to teaching.” Based on observation of her classes, McGowan stated, “She is incredibly patient, completely dedicated and works to explain concepts in any way that students might understand. Allison’s sections are always at the top of the list for their grades on finals.” President Miller acknowledged the many superb educators on the CCSU faculty named as Excellence in Teaching finalists and semifinalists, along with those listed on a Teaching Honor Roll. Award finalists were Dr. Mark Evans, associate professor of physics and earth sciences, and Dr. Jason Jones, assistant professor of English. Selection of honorees is based on a comprehensive process with nominations coming from the campus community at large; full- and-part-time faculty members are eligible. The honorees are widely acknowledged by colleagues and students for dedication to teaching that inspires extraordinary learning. Prof. Kathy Martin in Biomolecular Sciences lauded her colleague Michael Davis for his lectures encompassing the life of the vast array of bacterial species and their adaptations to new niches. She elaborated, “He is able to make the diversity of this microscopic world a reality for students who begin tending to lump all bacteria into the ’icky’ category. The laboratory that augments his courses teaches essential tools that have helped our students gain part-time employment during college and career path training that has served them well upon graduation.” Students, according to Martin, grow from Davis’ teaching methods, which include a multi-pronged evaluation system whereby students take traditional tests, do oral and written presentations and substantive writing assignments. Davis commented, “My most effective teaching happens in my research lab where I don’t think the most important product is the data itself. My students learn how to do science, how to formulate a defined question and design a tight, well-controlled experiment to test that hypothesis. They understand what they’re doing and why.” During his seven years at CCSU, Davis has received for his lab 14 research grants totaling over $250,000. Some 127 students have done research. Davis mentors about 20 upper-level Biomolecular Sciences majors each semester, and many of these students continue to do research with him for multiple semesters. He supervises small groups of two to four students and meets with them at least weekly for lengthy discussions. Since students work together in doing experiments, Davis said, “Not only do students enjoy themselves, but they support and reinforce each other, and this approach fits with my philosophy of training them in useful life skills. They work closely to accomplish team goals, and there are talents to be developed that can make them adept at working that way.” Davis pointed with pride to “his gang” of students who contributed four different presentations at the 2006 Eastern College Science Conference, which draws undergraduate researchers from 20 schools in the Northeast. Enthusiastically, he exclaimed, “I enjoy the perfect mix of classroom teaching and research, and the students are great. I look forward to coming to work every day!” CCSU Faculty Named to the 2006-2007 Honor Roll are: Kathleen Bantley Carol Jones Candace Barrington Jason Jones Richard Benfield Elizabeth Kaminsky Joseph Bonnici Paul Karpuk Mitch Charkiewicz Khoon Koh Michael Davis Sheryl Leone Robert Dowling Erik Leonides Gerald Duquette Olga Petkova Mark Evans Cynthia Pope Antonio Garcia Lozeda Allison Stotz Vicente Garcia Charles Waiveris Sylvia Halkin The Semi-Finalists are: Michael Davis (Biomolecular Sciences) Mark Evans (Physics, Earth Sciences) Sylvia Halkin (Biology) Jason Jones (English) Elizabeth Kaminsky (Sociology) Olga Petkova (Management Information Systems) Allison Stotz (Mathematics) # # # |
|