The W hosts Faculty Excellence Award banquet
Mississippi University for Women honored the outstanding achievement of W faculty with the second Faculty Excellence in Teaching and Service Awards, Thursday, March 27.
There were awards in 11 categories: New Faculty Teaching Award, Faculty Advising Award, Faculty Service Award, Excellence in Online Teaching Award, Excellence in Traditional Teaching Award, Excellence in Teaching in Creative Spaces Award, Distinguished Leadership Research and Creative Activity Award, Early Career Award for Research and Creative Activity, Excellence in Creative Activity Award, Excellence in Research Award and the Teacher Scholar Award. Each award comes with a $500 prize as well.
“I am incredibly proud of the faculty at The W, including the 11 individuals recognized at this year’s Faculty Excellence Banquet. The event honored not only personal achievement but also our shared commitment to academic excellence and student success. Recognizing such distinction highlights the essential role faculty play in cultivating a learning environment where students are empowered to grow and ultimately lead,” said Dr. Scott Tollison, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.
Dr. Davida Crossley, associate professor of biology, received the Teacher Scholar Award. The award recognizes an early or mid-career faculty member for the development and/or implementation of new teaching methods or course designs that were generated through scholarship or specific research in pedagogical practices and strategies.
Dr. Hunter Manasco, professor of speech-language pathology received the Excellence in Research Award. The award recognizes faculty whose publications, presentations and/or programs in the physical or social sciences have made a sustained contribution to their field.
Dr. Kendall Dunkelberg, chair of the Department of Languages, Literature and Philosophy and director of the Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program, received the Excellence in Creative Activity Award. The award recognizes faculty whose publications, performances and/or exhibitions in literary or creative arts have made a sustained contribution to their field.
Dr. Jill Drouillard, assistant professor of philosophy and women’s, gender and sexuality studies, received the Early Career Award for Research and Creative Activity. The award recognizes new faculty for demonstrating the potential for a sustained program of scholarly activity in their field while working at The W. Their program may be in any area of research or creative activity.
Dr. Ghanshyam Heda, professor of biology, received the Distinguished Leadership Research and Creative Activity Award. The award recognizes faculty who have maintained a research or creative program for at least five years while working at The W.
Tara Sullivan, instructor of baccalaureate nursing, received the Excellence in Traditional Teaching Award. The award recognizes faculty or instructors who have executed new teaching strategies, processes or course designs that address new issues in higher education in a traditional, in-person classroom environment.
Dr. Sacha Dawkins, professor of nursing—Tupelo, received the Excellence in Online Teaching Award. The award recognizes exceptional online teaching practices and significant contributions to the design, development and delivery of student-centered online teaching and learning.
Haley Bailey, instructor of baccalaureate nursing, received the Excellence in Teaching in Creative Spaces Award. The award recognizes faculty or instructors who have executed new teaching strategies, processes or course designs that address new issues in higher education contexts involving theatrical performance, studio instruction or other non-traditional formats.
Dr. Alison Buehler, assistant professor of education, received the New Faculty Teaching Award. The award recognizes new faculty who are committed to providing accommodating and engaging instruction for students in their courses, regardless of format.
Dr. Catherine Cotton, interim department chair of the Department of Speech-Language Pathology, received the Faculty Advising Award. The award recognizes faculty who have made a significant contribution to academic advising in their departments and are committed to engaging their advisees throughout their time being advised.
Dr. Bonnie Oppenheimer, chair of the Department of Sciences and Mathematics, received the final award of the evening, the Faculty Service Award. The award recognizes faculty who have contributed outstanding professional service to the University and/or community.
Faculty are nominated for awards, and the winners are decided upon by the faculty research committee, which features representatives from each of the colleges as well as Library Services and Sponsored Projects.