October 07, 2009
Clark honors outstanding faculty
Clark honored its outstanding faculty members of the year during a "Welcome Back Faculty" gathering on Sept.16 at Harrington House, home of Clark President John and Kay Bassett.
The ceremony began with an introduction and welcome by Provost David Angel. Interim Associate Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies, Priscilla Elsass, began by presenting Faculty Fellowship Awards.
Professor of industrial relations Gary Chaison, of the Graduate School of Management, received the Senior Faculty Fellowship Award. Assistant Professor of Art History Kristina Wilson was awarded the Oliver and Dorothy Hayden Junior Faculty Fellowship.
These fellowships provide grants in support of outstanding faculty members personifying the Clark idea of excellence in teaching and excellence in research, scholarship or creative work. Chaison was recognized for his senior scholarship in the field of labor and industrial relations, his strength and popularity as a teacher, and his formal and informal mentoring of faculty within the Graduate School of Management. Wilson was lauded for being a gifted teacher, outstanding scholar, and committed member of the Clark community. Her first book, Livable Modernism: Interior Decorating and Design during the Great Depression has become a major work in the field of art history.
The Hodgkins Junior Faculty Awards were presented to Assistant Professor of Government Michael Butler and Assistant Professor of Economics Junfu Zhang. Butler was recognized for being a prolific author, excellent teacher and valuable member of the faculty. Zhang was lauded for his impressive record of scholarly activity, teaching and service.
Angel then recognized the eight members of faculty who had been awarded tenure: Associate Professor of Economics Sang Hoo Bae; Associate Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Li Han; Associate Professor of Geography Deb Martin; Associate Professor of Geography Colin Polsky; Assistant Professor of Government Paul Posner; Associate Professor of Geography John Rogan; Associate Professor of Government Srinivasan Sitaraman; Associate Professor of Chemistry Luis Smith.
Angel continued by acknowledging faculty who had received promotions. Those promoted to Full Professor include Jacqueline Geoghegan of the Economics and Geography Departments, Janette Greenwood of the History Department, Mark Miller of the Government Department, and Dianne Rocheleau of the Geography Department. John Baker of the Biology Department was also recognized for his Special Promotion to Associate Research Professor.
Associate Dean of the College and Director of Academic Advising Kevin McKenna awarded Jacob and Frances Hiatt Professor of History Drew McCoy and Professor of Government Mark Miller for being Outstanding Advisors. Honorable Mention in the area of outstanding advising was bestowed upon Assistant Professor of Government Michael Butler, Associate Professor of Philosophy Scott Hendricks, and Assistant Professor of English Betsy Huang.
Dean of the College Walter Wright presented the high honor of Outstanding Teacher of the Year to Professor of Sociology Shelly Tenenbaum. Tenenbaum was selected for this award by the graduating class of 2009, making her the second professor, after Research Professor of International Development, Community, and Environment and Women's Studies Cynthia Enloe, to be bestowed with this honor more than once. Tenenbaum first received the Outstanding Teacher Award in 2001.Wright called on the words of a student who nominated Tenenbaum for the award in summarizing her excellence in teaching: "Throughout my four years, I have seen Professor Tenenbaum instill a passion for sociology in myself and other students…[she is] responsible for the many transformative educational experiences I have had at Clark. She is an excellent educator who employs teaching techniques that involve putting theory into practice."
Elsass additionally recognized two graduate Teaching Assistants. Belkis Cerrato-Caceres, of the Department of Economics, served as teaching assistant last year for Assistant Professor Myles Callan and the previous year for Professor John Brown, effectively supporting the undergraduate students in what was a challenging Introduction to Statistics course with a cap of 50 students. Within the Psychology Department, Gabriel Twose was the teaching assistant for graduate and undergraduate statistics, and was recognized for his communication skills, consistency and patience.