Campus & Community UNC students honor teachers and staff for excellence
| UNC students honor teachers and staff for excellence |
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| Wednesday, April 16, 2008 | |
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Students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill honored four faculty members, three teaching assistants and two staff members today (April 16) for teaching excellence and service to undergraduate students. Faculty members winning 2008 Student Undergraduate Teaching Awards were Lisa Jones Christensen, Ph.D., an assistant professor of entrepreneurship in the Kenan-Flagler Business School; Gregory Flaxman, Ph.D., an assistant professor of English and comparative literature and adjunct professor in communication studies; Joseph Lowman, Ph.D., a psychology professor; and Yi Zhou (pronounced “Yee Zoh”), a lecturer of Chinese language in the Asian studies department. The latter three teach in the College of Arts and Sciences. Each of the four received $5,000. The graduate student teaching assistant winners were Angela Proctor of Eden, Utah, a doctoral candidate in chemistry who teaches chemistry; Johna K. Register-Mihalik of Slocomb, Ala., a doctoral candidate in allied health sciences in the School of Medicine, who teaches athletic training in the exercise and sport science department; and Leah D. Totten of Wilson, a doctoral candidate in communication studies, who teaches communication studies. All three teach in the college. Each received $1,000. Also receiving $1,000 each were two University staff members honored for service to students, who won 2008 Student Undergraduate Staff Awards. The winners were Mario Guido of Chapel Hill, a housekeeper with the Carolina Union; and DeVetta Holman Nash of Durham, associate director of Counseling and Wellness Services in the Division of Student Affairs. Student Body Vice President Mike Tarrant recognized the winners at the annual Chancellor’s Awards Ceremony, which also honored students for excellence in academics, leadership and public service (see news release, http://uncnews.unc.edu/news/students/ 67-unc-students-receive-academic-service-leadership-awards.html ). Andrew Otey, a senior who co-chaired the committee, said, “We had some very strong nominations, but this year’s winners stood out. It was clear to the committee that they have made a significant difference in the lives of their students, in and out of the classroom.” Students submit nominations for both awards to a 12-member student selection committee. Committee members visit finalists’ classes unannounced, interview students randomly and interview the finalists to choose the winners. The committee chooses recipients who promote the value of undergraduate teaching by their example; demonstrate concern for each student through interaction and approachability inside and outside the classroom; create meaningful learning experiences; and maintain high expectations of students. The awards are the only teaching and staff awards directed and funded by students. The teaching awards were created in 1989 and the staff award in 2004, when students voted to increase their fees to fund the awards. Student awards program contact: Andrew Otey, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it News Services contact: LJ Toler, (919) 962-8589, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |