Five Faculty Recognized for their Outstanding Achievements
Five outstanding faculty members were recognized at the University of New Haven's
2017 Faculty Excellence Awards reception.
May 23, 2017
Left to right: President Steven Kaplan, Claire Glynn, Summer McGee, Chris Martinez, Liberty Page, Michael Morris (back row), Jean Nocito-Gobel and Provost Dan May.
Each year, these awards are given to exceptional
members of the University of New Haven faculty who excel in leadership, creativity,
education, and research. Faculty members are nominated by their colleagues or students. A committee of faculty members reviews the nominees and votes to select the winners.
Excellence in Research/Creative Activity
The Excellence in Research/Creative Activity Award was given to Claire Glynn, assistant professor of forensic science. The award honors a full-time faculty member
who has demonstrated superior creativity and or success in his/her research or works
of art over the last year.
A colleague wrote, "Claire has already been awarded a National Institute of Justice
grant and continues to seek funding to move her research agenda forward but always
seeks to enhance the resources of the department for student classes and projects."
Excellence in Leadership and Service
The Excellence in Leadership and Service Award was given to Chris Martinez, assistant professor of computer science. The award honors a full-time faculty member
for outstanding leadership and service to the University community or to his or her
profession.
One colleague wrote, "Chris has done amazing work as the chair of the Undergraduate
Curriculum Committee during an incredibly difficult time due to the introduction of
the new core curriculum. His committee has reviewed hundreds of courses and program
changes over the last couple of years in a complex period of transition."
Excellence in Teaching, Full Time Faculty
The Excellence in Teaching, Full Time Faculty Award was given to Summer McGee, chair of healthcare administration. The award honors a full-time faculty member
who embodies the principles of excellence in teaching.
A student wrote "Dr. McGee allowed students to be creative and encouraged respect
and appreciation for the students from various cultures to share the differences in
their own countries as well as their perspective on the U.S. health care system. Dr.
McGee encouraged us to appreciate what we have but also to be open to other cultures
way of managing health care."
Excellence in Experiential Education
The Excellence in Experiential Education Award was given to Jean Nocito-Gobel, professor of environmental engineering and civil engineering. The award honors a
faculty member who demonstrated outstanding experiential teaching techniques or who has
been a champion of experiential education for the academic community.
One of the many supporting statements came from a colleague who said, "The ability
to bring real-life and on-going projects into the classroom, and engaging students
with applied projects and problems is the best form of education, one at which she
excels at providing."
Excellence in Teaching, Part Time Faculty or Practitioner in Residence
The Excellence in Teaching, Part Time Faculty or Practitioner in Residence Award was
given to Liberty Page, a practitioner-in-residence in computer science. The award honors an adjunct faculty
member or practitioner-in-residence (PIR) who embodies the principles of excellence
in teaching.
One colleague wrote, "She is the leading force for the VEX Robotics Competition, which
connects students, mentors, and schools in every community to a variety of successful
and engaging technology-based programs. I feel that Liberty loves what she does, which
is reflected throughout the day when she interacts with students."
2017 Last Lecture
The 2017 Last Lecture was presented by psychology professor Michael Morris, who is retiring after nearly 40 years at the University. President Steve Kaplan
selects the faculty member to deliver the last lecture, and that person’s identity
is revealed just before the talk.
The last lecture series is modeled after a presentation made in 2007 by Carnegie Mellon
University professor Randy Pausch, who delivered his "last lecture," titled "Really
Achieving Your Childhood, a Dreams," a month after he received aprognosisthat thepancreatic cancer, with which he had been diagnosed a year earlier, was terminal.
He died ten months after giving the lecture. His talk became the basis for a New York Times bestseller.
A "last lecture" challenges top academics to think deeply about what matters to them
and to give a hypothetical "final talk" in which they discuss the wisdom they would
try to impart to the world if they knew it was their last chance.
