Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching Awardees

Sheikh Akbar

Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
College of Engineering

Steven G. Brown

Associate Professor of Teaching, Department of Philosophy
College of Arts and Sciences

Amy B. Brunell

Professor, Department of Psychology
The Ohio State University at Mansfield
College of Arts and Sciences

Christin E. Burd

Associate Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics
College of Arts and Sciences Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics
College of Medicine

Lin Ding

Professor, Department of Teaching and Learning
College of Education and Human Ecology

Theodora Dragostinova

Professor, Department of History
College of Arts and Sciences

Ashley Hope Pérez

Assistant Professor, Department of Comparative Studies
College of Arts and Sciences

Stephen John Quaye

Professor and Chair, Higher Education and Student Affairs Program
Department of Educational Studies
College of Education and Human Ecology

Vincent Roscigno

College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor, Department of Sociology
College of Arts and Sciences

Rebecca B. Dupaix
Caryn Filson
H. Eugene (Gene) Folden Jr.
Amanda Hummon
Li-Chiang Lin
Janine Overcash
Mary Thomas
Laura Wagner
Robert J. Ward

Sharon Amacher
Mollie Blackburn
Olwyn Conway
Lanier F. Holt
Joen M. Iannucci
Ciriyam Jayaprakash
Megan LePere-Schloop
Arnab Nandi
Melissa Quinn
Anne Ralph

Tami Augustine

Associate Professor-Clinical
Department of Teaching and Learning
College of Education and Human Ecology

As an educator of future teachers, Dr. Tami Augustine inspires her students in every class and interaction with her personalized approach to teaching and her regard for them as individuals.

Within the classroom, Augustine adapts to different learning styles and models how future classrooms might look and function by utilizing a variety of technologies; lectures; group, partner and written work; seminars and podcasts. She provides detailed feedback and encourages students to improve their assignments even after they’ve submitted them. And she holds discussions about current events and controversial topics in which her students feel heard.

“She creates a space where students are comfortable to be themselves, share their thoughts, and explore new ways of thinking and learning,” says one student. “By the end of the semester, she makes our class feel … like a family.”

What truly sets Augustine apart for many of her students is her emphasis on their personal well-being; she understands the extent to which their academic performance is affected by other factors in their lives. Augustine encourages self-care with breaks and periods of meditation and reflection in class, and students can meet with her at other times to discuss what’s on their minds, be it related to the course, teaching or other matters entirely.

As a result, Augustine is able to challenge her students to try things outside of their comfort zone and even experience vulnerability while providing them a supportive environment in which to grow.

Augustine’s students recognize that they are not the only beneficiaries of her exceptional teaching. “She teaches us to teach with heart by modeling it herself,” says a student. “Her effort toward making her students become their best for their students will impact thousands of lives in the future.”

Augustine holds her PhD in Social Studies and Global Education from Ohio State, where she also serves as Director of Teacher Education in the Columbus campus’ Department of Teaching and Learning.

Jackie M. Blount

Professor
Department of Educational Studies
College of Education and Human Ecology

Jackie Blount’s students don’t have to wait to find out what being a scholar feels like; she treats them like junior scholars whose work has meaning starting on the first day of class.

Blount designs her classes and assignments around helping students do meaningful work they can be proud of, while helping them find their place in the disciplines they are studying. She utilizes role-playing and debates to engage students with major topics and help them appreciate the complexities of important issues. “I remember being really challenged by a class discussion about who should fund education — local, state or federal governments,” a graduate student recalls. “By making us choose a side, she encouraged us to really think about our reasoning for our positions.”

Blount is generous with her knowledge, steering students to various resources used by professionals in the field that make their research richer and more engaging. She allows students to explore their own interests while guiding them toward novel ways to approach already established ideas. She celebrates their successes and helps them pursue new opportunities to develop and make a name for themselves as scholars. Writes a student, “When I took an unexpected turn in my research, she rejoiced with me about the project’s newfound originality. By letting me learn what has already been said on my own, Professor Blount allowed me to really internalize parts of my research project.”

She provides recommendations and looks out for opportunities that might benefit her students. “Professor Blount has been an incredible resource as I try to build an identity as a scholar,” shares a student. “She is always quick to respond when I ask her for a recommendation, and she always remains interested in the kinds of opportunities I am pursuing, telling me that she will keep her ear open for any other opportunities like those.”

Peter F. Craigmile

Professor
Department of Statistics
College of Arts and Sciences

Abstract statistical theory with a heavy dose of matrix algebra might not sound like an entertaining way to spend an hour, points out a former student of Professor Peter Craigmile, “but Peter’s classes are never dull.”

Rather than simply lecturing at students, Craigmile leads a lively discussion. He engages the class through questions embedded in his lectures, which cover both theoretical concepts and real data analysis examples.

His very presence commands attention. “As a student in his class, I remember thinking he did a good job of keeping me on the edge of my seat by constructing his lectures such that I was always interested to see where things would go next,” recalls a student.

Another student concurs, sharing, “he is constantly moving around the room and gesticulating with his arms. Peter’s passion for the subject is obvious in the energy he brings to every class and he seems to savor the opportunity to share his knowledge with his students.”

The lessons Craigmile imparts in the classroom continue to impact students long after graduation. Says an alumna, “Today, almost 10 years later, I still find myself using the phrase ‘like you do with a GLM’ with my own students when I see parallels between their own statistical questions and generalized linear models. I attribute this ability to retain the information I learned from Dr. Craigmile to his outstanding teaching.”

Craigmile received his PhD from the University of Washington and joined Ohio State’s statistics faculty in 2001.

Jonathan Kyle Ezell

Professor of Practice
Knowlton School of Architecture
College of Engineering

Professor of Practice Kyle Ezell has been widely recognized at Ohio State for his contributions to the classroom, receiving the Charles MacQuigg Award for Outstanding Teaching from the College of Engineering in 2014, the Faculty Award for University Community Members Who Have Made a Positive Influence on Ohio State Students from the Ohio State Student Life Residences on 10th in 2012, and the Award for Outstanding Commitment to Student Education from the Ohio State Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association in 2012. When you hear from his students, the grounds for these accolades quickly become apparent.

“Professor Ezell brings an unprecedented level of excitement and passion to each class he teaches,” writes an alumna. “His enthusiasm is contagious, and as a student in one of his classes you can't help but feel the same amount of excitement towards what you're working on.”

Says another alumnus: “Professor Ezell's classroom is entrenched in innovation, self discovery, a safe space for ideas to be fostered and flourish, and a professional setting that commands discipline, respect, project results, and a sense of humor and fun while it's all being done.”

A graduate student describes the courses Ezell led in the design of focus groups to design living environments for individuals with autism — a partnership with the non-profit Autism Living. The project won the Ohio State Faculty Award for Excellence in Community-Based Scholarship. “We had countless conversations and thoughtful debates about what is equity in planning, and how to deal with the ‘otherness’ or diversity involved in any planning project,” writes the student.

From helping a student coming to terms with navigating college life as a member of the LGBTQ community to “going the extra mile” for a student who underwent a sudden heart surgery, Ezell’s students detail a record of caring that far exceeds the requirements of his job.

He holds a BS in business administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and an MS in geography from South Dakota State University.

John M. Horack

Neil A. Armstrong Chair
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
College of Engineering

Walk into John Horack’s engineering classroom and one of the first things you’ll notice is the words he writes on the board each day: “All are welcome.” As a student explains, “He does this to remind us that he wants us all to feel invited and that we all have a friend in him.”

Indeed, that’s a mantra Horack lives in the classroom. An undergraduate woman of color describes a time that one of her classmates — also a woman of color — had difficulty expressing her thoughts about something because of cultural differences. “She stopped in the middle of her statement and said she did not want to go on because she thought Dr. Horack wouldn’t be able to understand with him being a white man… He assured her he wanted to hear what she had to say because he wanted to understand. After she shared, he commented on how brave she was for sharing and thanked her for giving him a new perspective.” Horack earned students’ respect that day, as they saw him genuinely interested in learning from his students and being unafraid to delve into subjects that might feel uncomfortable.

In his class on leadership, Horack models leadership for his students by being a leader in the classroom, including sharing his own insecurities and flaws. “It was really cool to have a professor who wasn’t afraid to show his flaws and admit his mistakes, because it taught us so much about leadership and gave us insight into Dr. Horack as a person,” writes a student. “It showed us that he is a human, which is always a great way to build connection and trust, which is something a leader must know how to do.”

Horack holds a PhD and master’s degree in astrophysics from the University of Alabama, Huntsville, and a Bachelor of Science in physics and astronomy from Northwestern University. He is an FAA-licensed flight instructor, with commercial and instrument pilot ratings.

Claire Kamp Dush

Associate Professor
Department of Human Sciences
College of Education and Human Ecology

Since arriving at Ohio State as a professor in 2006, Claire Kamp Dush has cultivated a reputation for exceptional teaching, creating communities that are conducive to learning and embracing new technologies and instructional techniques that keep her courses cutting-edge and relevant.

As a part of the UCAT/ODEE Active Learning Community, Kamp Dush was among the first instructors at the university to design a “flipped” classroom for her online and in-person class simultaneously. Says an undergraduate enrolled in Kamp Dush’s family development course, “The flipped classroom learning environment is an effective, enjoyable way to learn the content. The classroom experience is extremely friendly and open-minded, while Dr. Kamp Dush remains devoted to preserving the sanctity of a distraction-free learning environment.”

She has encouraged other instructors to share materials across disciplines, crowdsourcing materials within a network of colleagues that are shared through the numerous Facebook groups she has created.

She is a valued mentor to graduate students. A blog she created on graduate student professional development in the social sciences — covering topics such as “Implicit Bias, Micro-aggressions, and Micro-resistance” and “Professional Organizations: Why You Should Join Them, How to Get the Most Out of Their Meetings, and How to Avoid Going Broke Doing So” — has received almost 13,000 visits from over 9,000 users.

Students appreciate the shared humanity she extends to their learning experience — particularly her attention to underrepresented students. Says a former graduate student, “Claire is a first-generation college student, as am I. Her sensitivity to the needs of students like me is invaluable, as she recognizes the unique struggles of first-generation students as they navigate the unspoken rules of academia and college life.”

Kamp Dush earned her PhD and MS degrees from Pennsylvania State University, and her BS from the University of Illinois. She has been principal investigator or co-principal investigator on several National Institutes of Health grants and other major federally funded projects.

Glenn Martinez

Professor
Department of Spanish and Portuguese
College of Arts and Sciences

Glenn Martinez’s students cannot say enough about the impact he is having on their lives. Asks one student: “Have you had a professor who checked in with you about academic opportunities you never knew existed? Who took you to conferences, helped you apply for scholarships, and helped you realize that maybe you could not just exist in an academic world but thrive?”

Martinez ensures the content in the classroom connects to students’ everyday experiences. Says one student, “Every assignment is concluded with ‘How does this relate to your real world experiences?’” For Martinez and his students, part of that “real world” experience includes building a pipeline of Latinx students to the medical professions as part of the IMPACT program at Westland High School on Columbus’s west side. “I am continually impressed by his leadership of this program as well as his efforts to help graduate students learn about Spanish as a heritage language so that we are prepared to support these students needs throughout our future careers,” says a graduate student.

Students also appreciate the inclusive community he creates. Whether it’s providing a listening ear — or just the simple act of treating his students with respect and dignity — Martinez’s students see him as an ally who can empathize with struggles like sexism and racism. “He creates an inclusive and safe environment for students and takes students’ opinions seriously,” says a student. Thanks to a Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need grant he received, Martinez is able to offer his graduate students paid research opportunities that sometimes make the difference in whether a student can afford to remain in school.

Martinez received his PhD from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, an MPH from Texas A&M, a master’s in Spanish linguistics from the University of Houston and a BA in Spanish from the University of Texas-Pan American.

Danielle Marx-Scouras

Professor
Department of French and Italian
College of Arts and Sciences

Danielle Marx-Scouras’s former and current students agree: her teaching goes “above, beyond, and then some.” Says an undergraduate, “Dr. Marx-Scouras epitomizes what it means to be a scholar of French; she is incredibly well versed in the idiosyncrasies and nuances of French language and culture.”

Students widely praise her passion for the subject matter, the challenging and lively discussions she encourages in the classroom (“kind-hearted debates,” as one student calls them) and the depth at which she analyzes culture through her courses. Says a current student, “She educates on subjects that are often not talked about, even in cultural courses, such as racism, toxic nationalism and lasting effects of colonialism.”

A pedagogical innovator, Marx-Scouras was awarded Ohio State’s Rodica C. Botoman Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching and Mentoring in 2004, and the inaugural Ronald and Deborah Ratner Distinguished Teaching Award in 2014.

Rarely do Marx-Scouras’s students file out of the room right after class. “Every day there are students lingering behind to continue our class discussion or to chat with Professor Marx-Scouras,” says one student. “In this fast-paced world, that means a lot to me. She stays and continues to engage students because … she is passionate, and that is something I hope to carry with me for my entire career.”

Indeed, Marx-Scouras has had an incredible influence on the lives of her current and past students. She “encouraged me to study abroad in Quebec and continue to practice and read in French outside the classroom,” writes a student. “As a result, I now work in a field where I use my second language on a daily basis and have been able to make it a unique asset in my field.”

Marx-Scouras earned her PhD in comparative literature from Columbia University, a Master of Arts in French from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts in French-Honors from Simmons College.

Gregory J. Nixon

Associate Dean
Clinical Services
College of Optometry

Homa Amini

Professor-Clinical
Director of Advanced Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry
College of Dentistry

Homa Amini’s pediatric dentistry students cannot say enough about her passion for teaching. A student writes, “If I am told someday that I treat my students and patients the way Dr. Amini does, I will have accomplished my career dream.” Adds another: “Dr. Amini is all heart. I chose this program because of her enthusiasm and sheer joy for teaching.”

Amini’s clinical and didactic teaching has garnered national attention. This year she won the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s Lewis Kay Award for Excellence in Education, a peer-driven national recognition of the best teacher in the field of pediatric dentistry.

What makes Amini such a great teacher? For one, she does more than lecture; she models the material, as well as how to treat her patients, residents, students and colleagues with respect. She also makes herself available to students. “She is available during and after regular hours, is responsive and demanding of a high-quality effort by all of her students — and they love her for it,” writes a colleague.

She has led curricular reform in areas such as infant oral health, oral health care of pregnant women and advocacy for children’s oral health. Says another colleague, “Her demand in the continuing education field in our specialty continues to grow nationally and her curricula didactically (patient advocacy) and clinically (early and minimally invasive oral health) are used as national models.”

Amini’s genuine care for her students and their professional and personal development is evident. “She draws her students to activities that open their eyes to the inequalities of life and health, and more importantly, to their opportunity and responsibility to effect positive change in young lives,” says a colleague.

Amini received her DDS and master’s in public health from The Ohio State University.

Gregor William Anderson

Associate Professor
Department of History
College of Arts and Sciences

Gregor William Anderson is an exceptional scholar focused on ancient Greece, historical thought and critical theory, but it’s his skills in the classroom that keep earning accolades. Anderson has previously accepted seven teaching awards — six for his teaching at Ohio State, including the Student Council of Arts and Sciences’ Outstanding Teaching Award, and the Distinguished Teacher Award from the Ohio Academy of History.

Anderson’s exceptionally high teaching scores average 4.93/5.0, including for large lecture classes where it is typically harder to achieve high scores. Students are effusive in their comments about him, often noting, “He always has humor in his lessons to keep us entertained.”

Anderson’s colleagues point to his versatility in the classroom as one of his strengths. “His courses satisfy both the casually interested undergraduate, who may take only this one class in Greek history in her life, and the graduate student who is committed to a professional future as a specialist in the same field,” writes a colleague.

Colleagues also admire his approach to pedagogy. “Greg passionately believes that the practice of history should ultimately be about trying to see past realities through the eyes of those who actually experienced those realities. Such a practice not only helps us to make better sense of the historical evidence. It also offers us altogether new perspectives on our own world, stirring us to deeper critical reflection on our present by allowing us to view it, as it were, through the eyes of the past.”

Anderson holds MA, MPhil and PhD degrees in classics from Yale University.

Georgia Bishop

Professor and Vice Chair
Department of Neuroscience
College of Medicine

“Absolutely, without a doubt, Dr. Bishop is the best teacher we have had all year,” says one of Georgia Bishop’s neuroscience students, who joins the chorus of Bishop’s current and former students who sing the praises of their exemplary teacher. In her nearly 40-year Ohio State career, the College of Medicine has recognized her for her teaching 11 times.

Despite the incredibly challenging material, Bishop engages her students through active participation. Writes a student, “She invites all questions and brings amazing props to help visual learners. Her PowerPoints are deliberately made to include diagrams and sequential flows that allow students of all calibers to follow along and understand.”

Bishop has also made significant contributions to the Neuroscience Graduate Program curriculum, having developed new courses including the two-semester sequence Foundations of Neuroscience I and II courses that now attract students from multiple graduate programs. Most recently, she has taken the lead on developing a master’s in applied neuroscience to help train a biomedical workforce with expertise in the rapidly expanding field of neuroscience. She has also been incredibly influential in the undergraduate curriculum, having created two courses for the popular new neuroscience major, and often serving on the exam committee for neuroscience majors who are defending their honors theses. She has served as advisor for five PhD students and on 22 PhD dissertation committees and 45 candidacy committees.

Bishop’s outreach to school-age children is phenomenal. From the hands-on demonstrations she gives at schools and places like COSI to the Exploration in Neuroscience High School Summer Camp she founded and more, she has made a huge effort to interest young people in neuroscience.

Bishop holds a PhD from Wayne State University.

Eugenia Costa-Giomi

Professor
School of Music - Music Education
College of Arts and Sciences

Eugenia Costa-Giomi may be an expert in the field of music education and childhood music perception and cognition, but she is a lifelong learner, too. According to one of her graduate students, her commitment to being an “eternal student” is part of what makes Costa-Giomi an outstanding teacher.

“She is continuously searching for new ways of thinking by talking to students, taking courses herself and attending lectures outside of her field,” says another student. “To see an accomplished scholar constantly acknowledging how big this world is and how much there is to learn ... is a sign of humbleness and generosity that exemplifies the best qualities we could hope for in a teacher.”

While her expertise might be daunting to some, the way Costa-Giomi runs her classroom helps students grow into their own as scholars. “Considering her extensive scholarly work, her reputation precedes her in a way that initially intimidated me,” writes a student. “However, she leads very welcoming discussions and makes everyone feel as if they bring something meaningful to class. Her classes challenge me not to just be a better student, but to be a better thinker. She pushes me more intellectually than any other professor I have had.”

Costa-Giomi often combines lectures with opportunities that help students experience the concepts they are studying, such as making music with different instruments. She has mentored many graduate students in the field of music education, and as a colleague points out, “maintains a professional connection and mentor role well beyond graduation.”

Bartow J. Elmore

Assistant Professor
Department of History
College of Arts and Sciences

In a lecture hall with 300 students, it can be challenging to connect with individuals, but that’s exactly what Bartow J. Elmore does in his environmental history classes. “He makes the room feel small and personal,” writes a student. “Professor Elmore is hands down the most exciting, passionate and engaged professor I have ever had!”

It’s a fact not lost on his department. After observing one of Elmore’s classes, a colleague who himself received the Alumni Distinguished Teaching Award, wrote, “Prof. Elmore’s History 2010 was the single strongest teaching performance I’ve ever reviewed.” Elmore’s course enrollments are high, including the new classes he has created; his survey course Making America Modern doubled in enrollment the second time it was offered.

“The buzz reflects Elmore’s innovative pedagogy,” says a colleague. “His popular ‘Coca-Cola Globalization’ class reimagines how we can turn history classes into laboratories for civic action.” The action extends beyond the classroom, as well. Elmore created the Columbus Environmental Digital project in which students examine EPA databases and other reports to assess the environmental health of Columbus neighborhoods, with the goal of eventually producing a digital map for the public.

Elmore’s impact on graduate students is also notable, serving as dissertation advisor for a new environmental historian and mentoring several of the department’s teaching assistants. He launched the Environmental History Lab Group, a workshop that convenes graduate students and faculty working at the intersection of environmental history and the history of science, technology and medicine. Writes a nominator, “This young scholar is well on his way to making a difference not just here on campus, but also in the wider Columbus community.”

Elmore received his PhD and MA from the University of Virginia and his BA from Dartmouth College.

Suzanne Marie Gray

Assistant Professor
School of Environment and Natural Resources
College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

Suzanne Marie Gray’s aquatic ecology and management courses are a draw for students who appreciate the opportunity to solve problems. One of her innovative pedagogical methods involves assigning students a problem statement to investigate — e.g., how will the planet’s warming affect the metabolisms of freshwater fish, and what physiological adaptations do the fish have that can help with this warming effect? Groups then investigate scientific literature on the subject and write reports. Says a student, “This style of teaching made me think about the underlying processes at work in the broader, overall context. I'm pretty sure that I took in more information in this one semester class than most of my other classes combined.”

The critical thinking skills Gray cultivates in the classroom are useful for the research opportunities she offers to undergraduates. Writes a colleague, “Dr. Gray is our exemplar regarding how to integrate undergraduates into research. She has a system of engaging students as lab assistants to get their feet wet and then prepares them for more active research activities as their ability matures.” In less than four years, Gray has overseen 10 undergraduate research projects — at least five of which have contributed to peer-reviewed publications. Seven of those undergraduates are now pursuing graduate degrees.

Gray has also played an important role in the recruitment of students from underrepresented backgrounds. Several students in her lab are first-generation college students facing economic challenges. In 2015, she took two of these students along to perform research in Uganda — the first time traveling outside the United States for both.

Gray earned her PhD from Simon Fraser University.

Andrew Frank Heckler

Professor
Department of Physics
College of Arts and Sciences

Andrew Frank Heckler’s intellectual curiosity does not stop at his chosen discipline of physics; according to colleagues and students, he also endlessly researches pedagogical methods to improve his teaching. “This research,” says a colleague, “spans from cognitive science to nuts-and-bolts classroom mechanics. And he has sought to take every lesson learned from this research into his classroom.”

The results: An exceptional learning environment that engages students through active and collaborative activities that enhance their understanding of complex concepts. Physics majors recognized his efforts in 2016, voting him the Outstanding Undergraduate Physics Teacher.

Heckler’s teaching extends beyond the classroom and into his lab. Writes a student, “I was trying to find a quantitative way to find a hierarchal structure in student data. Dr. Heckler learned of an algorithmic approach to solving the problem. Rather than just providing me with the information, he made sure to read the same material that I was reading so that he would be able to answer any questions I had while learning the algorithm.”

His vast contributions to the curriculum include collaborations with other physics and engineering faculty to redesign the department’s calculus-based physics sequence for Engineering Honors; development of an online application that physics students use to become fluent in basic physics skills; and critical tweaks to upper-level electromagnetism and quantum mechanics courses that incorporated pre-lecture material, clicker questions and group work on difficult material. In addition, Heckler has developed a reputation for welcoming typically underrepresented students in physics, while also working hard to improve STEM education throughout the state.

Heckler received his PhD from the University of Washington, following undergraduate studies at The Ohio State University.

Namiko Kunimoto

Assistant Professor
Department of History of Art
College of Arts and Sciences

When Namiko Kunimoto joined Ohio State’s faculty in 2013, there were no Japanese art courses, and History of Photography had not been offered for many years. To remedy this required her to develop a half-dozen courses during her first years on faculty.

The results are courses that demand a high-level of critical thinking from students. “She understands that the social and historical issues we discuss are often complex and do not always have a clear answer,” writes a student. “With this in mind, Professor Kunimoto welcomes students to share their ideas on these topics with an emphasis on well-reasoned arguments rather than on reciting a prescribed answer.”

Often Kunimoto requires students submit a précis of the assigned reading before class, enabling her to assess students’ understanding and engagement. “She teaches that students should always be critical, even of assigned readings. The lesson of thinking independently is one of the most important lessons that a student can learn,” notes a student.

Beyond her regular course load, this past year Kunimoto taught a Freshman Seminar and volunteered as a faculty member for Buckeye First, a program designed for students like herself who were the first in their family to attend college. She advises two PhD students and is or has been on candidacy or dissertation committees for nine others. A third advisee, a Fulbright scholar from Spain who came to Ohio State specifically to work with Professor Kunimoto, has since received her master’s degree and been accepted into the PhD program at Harvard. She has mentored two undergraduates on their STEP projects, organized an event for art history majors about post-graduation career options, and served as the department’s honors advisor and first-year advisor for entering graduate students.

Kunimoto earned her PhD from the University of California, Berkeley.

Beverly Janine Moss

Associate Professor, Department of English
College of Arts and Sciences

For three decades, Beverly Janine Moss has contributed to Ohio State’s rich learning environment with her courses that encourage students to use writing for both academic and public purposes. She has previously received the Paul Brown Award for Teaching in English — “a well-deserved prize that attests to her commitment and skill in designing and delivering excellent instruction at the collegiate level,” writes a colleague.

Moss’ classroom has been described as “welcoming and engaging while maintaining rigor.” She emphasizes the importance of diversity, inclusion and critical and creative thinking in courses such as Literacy Narratives of Black Columbus, a second-level writing course that asks students to engage with diversity and community service face-to-face. Her graduate courses are also noteworthy, including Theories of Community Literacy, which orients students toward the writing being done outside the university that sustains cultures, businesses and communities.

Says a student, “Dr. Moss has provided me with invaluable experience with teaching, writing and fieldwork. During her course, I created a video project based on interviews by black business owners and literacy. Through this project, I gained experience with interviewing, researching literacy and editing video. I will use these skills for the rest of my career.”

As a faculty member of color, Moss understands the importance of recruiting and mentoring diverse students through her scholarship and teaching. Writes a colleague, “Her mentorship of students of color, especially Black women, is incredibly important. With so few Black women in the professoriate, teachers like Dr. Moss are needed to serve as role models and mentors for future Black educators and leaders.”

Moss earned her PhD at the University of Illinois, Chicago.

Bradley Okdie

Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
The Ohio State University at Newark
College of Arts and Sciences

At Ohio State’s Newark campus, known for its high standards in teaching, Bradley Okdie stands out. His students love him and go out of their way to say ‘hello’ to him on campus, say colleagues. In 2014, he received the Thomas J. Evans Teaching Excellence Award, the regional campus’ highest honor for teaching.

One only needs to look to Okdie’s work on the Buckeye Generation Learning Community to see why. He teaches Introduction to Psychology through the program that serves first-generation college students who require a high level of support. Says a colleague, “This program has been successful in improving the retention rates of first-generation students, and I have no doubt that Brad played an integral role in that success. He is exceedingly patient with his students.”

Writes a student, “Doctor Okdie is a genuine person and cares for his students. Today in class he said, ‘If you need help and you are willing to put in your end's worth, then I will do the same for you. I am going to be available when you need help.'"

Okdie regularly supervises undergraduates in his research lab and has overseen many senior thesis projects. “This is often a thankless endeavor,” writes a colleague, “but he embraces the opportunity to mentor these students.” Okdie’s students have gone on to present their research at the Newark Campus Undergraduate Student Research Forum, the Denman Research Forum and the Midwestern Psychological Association. Others have won travel grants to attend conferences and have had the opportunity to co-author publications with Okdie. In 2012, Okdie received the campus’s Best New Undergraduate Research Mentor Award for these activities.

Okdie earned his PhD from the University of Alabama.

Frederick Luis Aldama

Arts and Humanities Distinguished Professor
Department of English

Frederick Luis Aldama is known as the kind of professor who empowers students to succeed. He is a sought-after teacher among students in the humanities, psychology and neuroscience for his ability to help them understand the emotive and cognitive process involved in making and engaging with narrative media.

Aldama’s graduate students have won prestigious dissertation awards and postdoctoral fellowships, making him a coveted advisor, but his attentiveness and selflessness are what they value most about him. One PhD student says Aldama “lives his life with infectious optimism, and he fully believes in the potential success of each student he meets.” His undergraduates are equally enthusiastic, as he consistently earns top evaluation scores for his engaging teaching style and accessibility.

One of Aldama’s most notable contributions to students beyond the classroom is his founding of Latino and Latin American Space for Enrichment and Research (LASER), an outreach program that prepares Latinx high schoolers in Columbus for college acceptance. In 2015, Aldama was recognized for his outstanding teaching and student advocacy with the White House Bright Spots in Hispanic Education award for founding and direction and the Outstanding Latino/a Faculty in Higher Education: Research/Teaching in Higher Education (Research Institutions) Award by the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education. In 2016, he received the Ohio Education Summit Award.

Aldama holds a PhD from Stanford University. His specialties include 20th century British and American literature, critical theory, film studies, narrative theory, comic books, video games and Latino studies.

Jennifer S. Cheavens

Associate Professor
Department of Psychology

When graduate and undergraduate students talk about Jennifer S. Cheavens, the words “best” and “favorite” come up often in reference to her teaching style and courses and to Cheavens as a human being. One non-traditional student noted that she is an outstanding role model for women, while another deeply regrets waiting until senior year to take a class with her.

Students appreciate how Cheavens presents research material in class and encourages them to engage in critical discussions of the work, rather than accepting the research conclusions at face value. A course she developed, Positive Psychology, has already earned a reputation for being highly relevant to students’ lives, and enrollment has more than doubled since the course’s first semester. Her effective teaching techniques and innovative course development earned her the Department of Psychology’s teaching award in her third year at The Ohio State University, making her the first assistant professor to earn this honor in the department.

Cheavens’ commitment to students extends beyond the classroom to the many student groups she advises, including Mindfulness and Meditation, Project HOPE and the Positive Psychology Club. In addition, she advised six doctoral students, two undergraduate honors students, one Eminence Fellow and 10 undergraduate research assistants—and that was just a single year. As director of clinical training for clinical psychology, she also oversees one of Ohio State’s strongest graduate programs. Cheavens adeptly juggles her teaching, research, advising and mentoring roles while remaining readily available to help students who are struggling. According to Department Chair John P. Bruno, PhD, “Students and the Ohio State and Columbus communities benefit from Dr. Cheavens’ commitment to training the next generation of clinical scientists.”

Cheavens holds a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Kansas. She is interested in the treatment of mood and personality disorders, both in younger and older adults.

John D. Clay

Associate Professor
William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

“The best teachers do not merely pass information to a student, but give a student the tools to succeed in the real world,” says a colleague and nominator of John D. Clay. This is what makes Clay an asset to his students, the department and the field of engineering. He believes in preparing students as you would Olympic athletes — through rigorous training. Clay is simultaneously acknowledged among students as an outstanding teacher and the one who assigns a significant amount of challenging homework.

One student nominator writes that Clay got wind of a class-wide late-night study session and drove through snow and sleet to review with the students for three hours — and bring them pizza. It is this commitment to teaching that inspires his graduate and undergraduate students alike, which is evidenced by student evaluations that place him among the ranks of the department’s most esteemed professors.

Curriculum development is one of Clay’s strengths, and he played a major role in re-envisioning the department’s centerpiece courses for the quarter-to-semester transition and the department’s move to the new building. He uses technology to increase student engagement and to measure and improve comprehension and has introduced students to tools they will use in their careers. He creates an active learning environment that combines short lectures with hands-on problem solving and brings with him a wealth of “real-world” engineering expertise to better prepare students to work in the field.

Clay holds a PhD in chemical and biomolecular engineering from The Ohio State University. In addition to his duties an assistant clinical professor, he also runs the CBE Unit Ops laboratory and holds a partial appointment at Battelle.

Susan E. Cole

Associate Professor
Department of Molecular Genetics

Susan E. Cole is as comfortable teaching a roomful of molecular genetics majors as she is helping non-science students understand the scientific process. Science and non-science majors alike who take her courses say that she makes a subject they expected to struggle with fun and understandable. Her innovative freshman seminar, Exploring Biology Through Fiction, explores the differences and similarities between real-world science and that which you see on television or in films. She earns consistently high ratings and comments from students who recommend the class to others. One student describes her as a “rock star” professor, and many praise her well-organized class sessions.

As an instructor for the first course of the molecular genetics major, Cole is tasked with training students to be scientific thinkers in preparation for the major. The course material is challenging, yet Cole’s ability to engage her students and foster in them a scientist’s mindset results in students who both understand the material well and enjoy the learning process. She has developed a new elective course, Developmental Genetics, that is expected to be popular thanks to the course’s relevance and Cole’s reputation as a teacher.

Outside the classroom, Cole has an active and well-funded research program in which she invites her undergraduate students to participate. She is giving of her time and expertise in supervising the research of graduate and undergraduate students, many of whom have gone on to earn fellowships, publish papers or continue on to post-secondary education. Cole is also committed to improving representation in the sciences, serving as principal investigator of a National Science Foundation grant that aims to provide research experiences for underrepresented minorities and students at small colleges who have limited research opportunities. Department Chair Mark A. Seeger, PhD, calls her work in this arena “instrumental,” and commends her as “a leader in the classroom and laboratory setting.”

Cole earned a BS in biological sciences, molecular genetics track, from the University of Rochester, and a PhD in human genetics and molecular biology from Johns Hopkins University. Her area of specialty is the role of fringe genes and Notch signaling during development.

Rachel Dwyer

Associate Professor
Department of Sociology

Rachel Dwyer’s commitment to teaching and mentoring is best represented with one impressive statistic: She mentors about one-third of the graduate students in the department. In the 2015-16 academic year, she served on 22 thesis, candidacy exam and PhD dissertation committees, nine of which she chaired. For two years she created and chaired the department’s Graduate Placement Committee, which helps PhD students hone their professional skills in preparation for the job market, because helping students on the path to an academic career is a priority for Dwyer. Many of her graduate students go on to publish prolifically and secure jobs at Research I universities.

In the classroom, Dwyer receives consistently high student evaluation rankings and has received graduate and undergraduate teaching awards. She was a finalist for the Committee of the Arts and Sciences Student Council Outstanding Teaching Award, she twice received the Most Support Faculty Award from the Sociology Graduate Student Association and she was awarded the Social and Behavioral Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award.

One of Dwyer’s advisees, who received a Presidential Fellowship under her guidance, says, “From the first day of class, she promoted a safe space for new ideas, which allowed intellectual debates to flourish.” Another says, “She not only increased my knowledge on existing race, class and gender inequalities, but also deepened my thinking in more complex ways.”

Dwyer encourages students to participate in her research, which earns significant attention from scholarly publications as well as the media. Over the last three years, she has included graduate student co-authors on the majority of her papers.

Dwyer holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on causes and consequences of rising economic inequality in contemporary American society.

Allison Bean Ellawadi

Assistant Professor
Department of Speech and Hearing Science

Allison Bean Ellawadi is a respected figure in the field of speech and hearing science, and yet what her students like most about her is that she never claims to have all the answers. In Ellawadi’s classroom, asking a great question is valued most. In fact, questions are so strongly encouraged that Ellawadi can’t answer them all and takes the opportunity to model for students how to search for evidence-based solutions. In this way, she shares her expertise while teaching the value of discovery and seeking answers for oneself.

Some of Ellawadi’s classes are large lectures, but her students say her availability to connect one-on-one and her engaging teaching style gives her classes a small feel. In exit interviews of graduate students, Ellawadi comes up in nearly every conversation about the excellence of the department’s faculty.

Ellawadi is committed to providing research opportunities to undergraduate students in her lab, the Autism & Child Language Learning Laboratory. She is an active mentor, and her students have gone on to present their research at the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum.

Innovative curriculum development is another of Ellawadi’s strengths. She has created a graduate course on autism spectrum disorders and an introductory undergraduate course on autism. Research and coursework on autism spectrum disorders are a critical component of the department and the field of speech and hearing science in general.

Ellawadi holds a PhD in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Iowa. Her research focuses on language development in individuals with autism spectrum disorders and the role of domain-general processes in language development.

Katherine Silver Kelly

Associate Professor of Law
Moritz College of Law

Hollie Nyseth Brehm

College of Arts and Sciences

In a relatively short time at The Ohio State University, Hollie Nyseth Brehm has become a highly respected and beloved instructor, mentor and researcher. She has received a 4.9 out of 5 rating for each of the courses she has taught and regularly earns glowing feedback from her students. As one notes, she “genuinely cares about students and has an obvious passion for teaching. I would take any course she offered.”

One nominator commends Nyseth Brehm on her teaching style, which “draws on a diverse array of teaching methods, including group work, video clips, images and graphs, short stories about current events, active learning exercises, podcasts and case studies.”

As an avid supporter of undergraduate research, Nyseth Brehm is currently supervising three undergraduate students’ theses. Under her guidance these three students have received $24,000 in grant funding. She is also preparing to advise an undergraduate’s independent study. In recognition of her commitment to her students, Nyseth Brehm was named the Ohio State Alpha Chi Omega Spring 2015 Professor of the Semester and was invited to participate in the Resident Advisor Program.

Nyseth Brehm’s service to students does not end in Columbus. She took an undergraduate to Rwanda on a research trip because the student is planning to study genocide in graduate school, and she is facilitating additional international experiences for her students for the future.

Hollie Nyseth Brehm holds a PhD and MA in sociology from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, and a BS in sociology and political science from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She has been an assistant professor of sociology at Ohio State since 2014.

Ellen E. Deason

Moritz College of Law

Ellen E. Deason’s students describe her as patient and kind, and her teaching style as innovative, effective and artful.  They have even called her office hours transformative; as one student says, “Professor Deason exhibits all of the qualities one looks for in a law school professor: compassion, dedication and an unparalleled enthusiasm to advise, mentor and educate students.”

A colleague of Deason’s notes that “the student response to her teaching has consistently been at the very highest end of the spectrum among elite teaching faculty.” Deason has received the Morgan E. Shipman Outstanding Professor the Year award and has been voted the best professor in the required first-year curriculum. Her commitment to student success is evident in her eagerness to volunteer each year as faculty advisor to both a group of first-year students and a group of students in the Moritz College of Law Master of Laws Program.

In the classroom Deason employs a variety of exercises and interactive components to help students understand complex subject matter. She is a nationally recognized scholar and a frequently requested speaker for student-sponsored panel events. Deason also draws upon her background as a former marine biologist, and she created a new course on law and genetics, which is an opportunity that few law schools offer.

Ellen E. Deason holds a JD from the University of Michigan, an MS from the Oregon State University School of Oceanography and a BA in biology from Carleton College. She joined the Mortiz College of Law faculty in 2003.

Michael C. Edwards

College of Arts and Sciences

Michael Edwards is a quantitative psychologist whose research and teaching live at the intersection of statistics and social sciences. His mastery of the discipline, however, does not prevent him from understanding the minds of his students, many of whom come to his class without strong backgrounds in mathematics or statistics. In fact, he creates an environment in which students with every skill level can succeed. As one student says, “Despite my fear of all things mathematics, he did a great job helping me parse the terrifying matrix algebra into actual usable factor analysis.”

Edwards is a talented teacher and mentor, and one of the department’s “go-to” people on student matters. As the founding faculty advisor for the Psychology Graduate Student Association, he helps undergraduates prepare for graduate school applications.

As a proponent of the university’s educational mission, Edwards is committed to creating new learning opportunities. Recently he developed an informal advanced seminar for students who want to expand their understanding of statistics in psychology, and he organized a meta-analysis short course. One nominator writes, “Many, many projects that move through the department are positively impacted by Mike’s presence and willingness to help students and colleagues.”

Michael C. Edwards holds a PhD and an MA in quantitative psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a BS in psychology from Ursinus College. He has been an associate professor in Ohio State’s Department of Psychology since 2011.

Karen Eliot

College of Arts and Sciences

Karen Eliot’s vast knowledge of dance history and criticism, alongside her mastery of technique and creative expression, make her an asset to the Department of Dance, to dance as a discipline and to her students. One nominator writes, “She is the ideal role model for students at all levels, especially our graduate students who aspire towards achievement in the physical practice, studio-based teaching and research, as well as scholarly teaching and research.”

Eliot’s approach to teaching combines technology and classical methods, and students describe her as an engaging lecturer, facilitator of discussion and master of verbal and written communication. One student describes her as having “quiet strength,” while another said she “encouraged me to think deeply about my methodological and disciplinary preferences, what I want my work to look like and how to go about it.” It is no surprise then that she is a highly sought-after advisor and mentor — a role she eagerly embraces, spending significant hours of her personal time interacting with students and attending their performances.

Eliot is a vital contributor to the discipline, having written three dance history books in the last 10 years and served as chief architect of the department’s PhD program, which is one of only four dance PhD programs in the United States.

Karen Eliot holds a PhD in literature from the University of Georgia and a BA in English and dance from Cornell University. She danced with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. She has been teaching dance for more than 23 years.

Carmine Alexander Grieco

College of Medicine
 
Carmine Alexander “Alex” Grieco is a proponent of medical student education and an advocate for the medical student body as a whole. He actively pursues opportunities to guide and serve Ohio State’s College of Medicine students, inside the classroom and out.

Grieco advises and mentors students who are pursuing radiology, those who are considering radiology as a profession and those who are pursing another specialty but want to learn more about the role of radiology in medical practice. His students have described him as “an amazing person” who “constantly shifts his busy schedule to help others.” Grieco’s acceptance and compassion allow him to successfully guide students through difficult subjects and make him the professor students turn to during times of personal hardship.

As the director of medical student education for the Department of Radiology, Grieco has redesigned the curriculum to include topics of patient safety, imaging appropriateness and utilization, radiological consultation and patient-centered medical imaging. He was selected to serve as Portfolio Coach for the college’s Lead-Serve-Inspire program, is a faculty tutor for medical students with academic difficulties and was selected as a facilitator for Ohio State’s chapter of Healer’s Art.

“Above all,” one nominator writes, “Dr. Grieco’s contributions can be described as guiding students’ achievements of their own goals, allowing them to feel empowered but thoroughly supported in any way necessary for success.”

Carmine Alexander Grieco holds an MD from SUNY at Buffalo and has been with Ohio State since 2011.

Marcia Nahikian-Nelms

College of Medicine

Marcia Nahikian-Nelms has been described as a collaborator, a mentor and an outstanding educator. As a leader in interprofessional simulation, she is known for her ability to create simulations that transcend disciplinary boundaries and enhance the development of clinical skills and collaboration. Nahikian-Nelms has been recognized for her teaching excellence, including the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Teaching in the State of Missouri, the award for Outstanding Dietetic Educator in Missouri and Ohio and the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences’ teaching award. 

In the classroom, students say she leaves them “hanging on to every word,” and the learning activities she creates allow for real-world application. Nahikian-Nelms is inclusive of multiple styles of learning and encourages her students to be active participants. A fellow faculty member says she is “one of the outstanding educators in medical nutrition therapy and dietetics outcomes.” She is also actively involved in the school’s mentoring program. A nominator and mentee wrote, “She is selfless with her time, a great role model, open, caring and offers great advice.”

Marcia Nahikian-Nelms holds a PhD in health education from Southern Illinois University, an MEd in nutrition from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a BS in public health nutrition from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has been with School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences for 12 years.

Michelle Kaiser

College of Medicine

Michelle Kaiser has a reputation for excellence in both the teaching and practice of social work. She is highly respected for her expertise on community-based food security strategies. Kaiser is the faculty advisor for Ohio State’s Food Fellows program and has led an interdisciplinary community food mapping team. She has also developed a 90-minute food security simulation in which students from many colleges have participated.

Kaiser’s students and her colleagues praise her inclusive, dynamic teaching style. One student notes, “When discussing sensitive social topics in class, Michelle is thoughtful about creating a judgment-free environment that encourages all students to engage.” In peer reviews, fellow faculty members remark on her level of classroom organization, her capacity to support students in challenging conversations and her exploration of professional values.

Students are so moved and inspired by Kaiser’s classes that they have been known to modify their academic plans to work with her more, and one student even changed majors based on her involvement with Kaiser in an undergraduate honors course. In what could be the highest indicator of a teacher’s success, students report leaving her classroom with the sense that they are different as individuals than when they began.

Michelle Kaiser holds a PhD and MPH from the University of Missouri, a graduate certificate from the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, an MSW from the University of South Carolina and a BA from the University of Iowa. She has been with Ohio State since 2012.

Elizabeth Kolkovich

The Ohio State University at Mansfield
College of Arts and Sciences

Elizabeth Kolkovich is known to set high standards and yield impressive outcomes, even in classes where students have disparate levels of experience with the topic. Her evaluations overflow with words like “helpful,” “passionate” and “rock star.” She has an uncanny ability to reach even the most reticent students; as one notes, “I have struggled with English my whole life … I never realized my skills until taking this class.”

Recognizing students’ varying levels of experience with the arts, Kolkovich works to provide them with opportunities. She identifies performances around Ohio that are relevant to her courses, secures funding to offset ticket costs, helps to arrange transportation and accompanies students to performances. Many students have found these experiences transformative, particularly for those who might have not had access previous access to live theater.

As chair of the Academic Enrichment Committee, she initiated a revision of the application process that students must undergo to receive scholarships and grants, making it easier for students to apply for funding. One nominator writes, “Kolkovich’s greatest pedagogical innovation has been her cultivation of student research in the humanities on our campus. She has helped to make the Mansfield campus’ Undergraduate Research Forum an annual event as part of a day-long celebration of academic achievement.”

Elizabeth Kolkovich holds a PhD, MA and BA in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has been an assistant professor of English at Ohio State Mansfield since 2009.

Robert S. Livesey

College of Engineering
 
Robert S. Livesey teaches undergraduate and graduate design studios in the Knowlton School of Architecture, and his design studio courses are the core of the architectural curriculum. His students are among the best prepared, and his undergraduates often go on to prestigious graduate programs. Last year alone, six of his students were admitted to Yale, and others were accepted at Harvard, Rice, UCLA and Ohio State. He is equally committed to transitioning his graduate students from academia to practice.

In the classroom, Livesey is attentive to the individual capabilities of his students. A colleague writes, “Above all, Rob insists that an architectural education is first and foremost a sharpening of intellectual acuity in the service of culture.” According to a former student, “he possesses a rare ability to cut through thickets of intellectual obfuscation with razor-sharp critical insights and memorable wit.”

Among his myriad recognitions, Livesey has received the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Gold Medal Award and is a fellow of the AIA and the American Academy in Rome. He was also named one of the 30 Most Admired Educators for 2015 by DesignIntelligence. His excellence as teacher and in the discipline has made him instrumental in propelling the school to recognition in 2015 as 12th among public programs and in the top 20 percent of all programs.

Robert S. Livesey holds an AB in architecture from Princeton University and a Master of Architecture from Harvard University. He has been at Ohio State since 1983.

Avraham Benatar

Associate Professor
Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Although he teaches what is described as challenging material, students seem to flock to, not run from, Avraham Benatar’s welding engineering courses. Often cited are Benatar’s attention to detail and his deep knowledge of the subject matter. 

But Benatar also is passionate about what he teaches, and that comes through whether he is teaching in class or online as the coordinator of the Welding Engineering Distance Education Master of Science program.

He exhibits patience with his students, especially distance learners who are working professionals, accommodating their specific needs and answering any and all questions. He also fosters an engaging classroom of student discussion and ideas, both in the class and after hours on the Carmen message boards.

When students finish one of Benatar’s courses, they feel engaged with what they’ve learned because of how he relates the material to real-world engineering
situations.

“The man is a truly brilliant educator who is genuinely interested in the success of his students,” a student nominator wrote. “Knowing that I’ll have the satisfaction of receiving a world-class education has motivated me to continuously seek out his courses.”

Benatar, who is director of Ohio State’s Plastics and Composites Joining Laboratory, earned his bachelor’s, master’s and PhD in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Teresa Burns

Assistant Professor-Clinical
Department of Veterinary Clinical Biosciences

When you grow up around the more common domestic small animals such as cats and dogs, as most of Teresa Burns’ vet med students did, working with horses can be a little intimidating.

“Many students come into equine rotations with little horse knowledge, and Dr. Burns does an amazing job correlating equine and small animal cases seamlessly,” wrote a student nominator. “I’ve talked to many students who were afraid of horses and equine rotations who were sad to leave after two weeks with Dr. Burns.”

Burns believes giving students a hands-on education is the best way to prepare them for success. In one instance, she had students, under close guidance, perform liver biopsies for the first time on her equine patients in the Galbreath Equine Center.

Burns focuses not only on the method, but the mental as well. A student recalled when a foal arrived in poor shape. “While it was easy to get frustrated and depressed about the foal’s current state, Dr. Burns helped us celebrate each little improvement in his attitude or on his blood work and keep us focused on pushing ahead,” the student wrote.

The students are appreciative of that guiding attention, and as a collective in 2014, the entire veterinary medicine class chose Burns for its “favorite clinical professor” award.  

Burns expects the highest standard of care for her patients and consistently shows compassion for all in her charge, animal and student alike.

Burns received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University and her master’s and PhD from The Ohio State University.

Christopher Frank Highley

Professor
Department of English

To fully explore Shakespeare, students need more than a mere instructor to show them the complexities and nuances of the human condition found in the Bard’s writings. In Christopher Highley, students have essentially found a literary tour guide, whose scholarly knowledge whisks them into the past.

“I have always greatly valued his personable demeanor and ability to make Shakespeare’s world come alive,” wrote a student nominator. “We could at times forget that we were in a classroom at Ohio State in the 21st century and rather believe, even if only momentarily, that we were part of Elizabethan life in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.”

Graduate and PhD students whom Highley advises and who have observed how he teaches Shakespeare and Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies courses on King Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and Literary London come away feeling empowered and confident.

“Chris is erudite, funny and conversational,” noted one PhD candidate. “He has a natural ease in front of the classroom.”

Graduate students also value Highley’s extraordinary mentorship, which includes advising on course work and dissertation topics and suggestions of professional opportunities, such as fellowships. But Highley goes above and beyond, even helping one student secure cheap housing in London to do archival research.

In 2014 Highley was recognized with the Paul W. Brown Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching in the Departments of English and History. That honor was a testament to how he continually updates his teaching methods and reconstructs his courses to reflect his evolving scholarly projects.

“Chris is highly invested in his students,” a student nominator wrote. “He genuinely cares about our well-being and happiness.”

Highley earned his bachelor’s at the University of Sussex, his master’s at the University of Southern California and his PhD at Stanford University.

Julie Marie Hupp

Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
The Ohio State University at Newark

All one need know about Julie Hupp as an educator occurred last year, when Ohio State Newark honored her at its end-of-year banquet with the Award for Mentoring Undergraduate Research. But Hupp was nowhere to be found; she was busy taking some of her students to a research conference.

That dedication to seeing her students through to excellence permeates everything Hupp does, from her interactive and hands-on teaching methods to providing opportunities beyond the classroom.

Hupp, whose research interests include discovering what environmental cues children focus on linguistically to inform their language acquisition, used a service-learning grant from Ohio State to pair upper-level psychology students with a local elementary school literacy program. Her students tutored the children while learning about the kids’ language development.

“Given her passion about community involvement, this is no surprise,” a faculty nominator wrote. “And I know the significance of this experience for our students.” 

Hupp’s encouragement and support in the classroom is second to none. Hupp, one student noted, made writing a seemingly impossible 10-page research proposal a seamless process by breaking it down into manageable parts. She provided feedback on students’ ideas and allowed revisions before the final versions were due, instilling confidence in the students.

“When I enrolled in her class, my goal was simple: survive,” wrote the student, who is currently working toward her doctorate in psychology. “But by the end of her class, I had developed new skills, discovered new interests and begun to believe in myself as much as she believed in me.” 

Hupp earned bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology from Wake Forest University and her master’s and PhD in developmental psychology from the University of Toledo. She joined the Ohio State faculty in 2004.

Lawrence W. Inks Jr.

Associate Professor-Clinical
Fisher College of Business

“Outstanding,” “passionate,” “admirable.” These are just a few of the words Lawrence Inks’ student nominators use to describe the popular instructor. His students describe his teaching style as “refreshing” and enjoy his engaging and interactive lectures, which he interweaves with entertaining personal stories. Students appreciate his upbeat attitude and say he “brings enough energy for every student in his three-hour lecture.” Though an expert in his field (management and human resources), he makes his lessons relatable to his students and applicable to real life, which they say allows them to understand the material on a deeper level.  Many of these lessons last long after class has ended.

“I find myself still thinking about what he had covered in class days later because it was so meaningful,” wrote a nominator. “I have kept the binder filled with my notes from his class on a bookshelf and refer to it from time to time.”

Inks also strives to be involved outside the classroom and is actively involved with many student groups around campus. He always leaves his door open to his students, and they appreciate his willingness to provide guidance, answer questions or engage in good conversation.

Inks does more than just teach his material to his students — he gives them the tools to become successful leaders in their future endeavors. His students say he inspires them to go beyond their expectations and strive to find work they truly enjoy. 

“Dr. Inks challenges students to think for themselves and how their gifts/talents can be utilized in a business setting, and encourages the pursuit of a truly passionate career,” a nominator wrote.

Inks received his undergraduate degree from Purdue University and a master’s and PhD from Ohio State.

Scott A. Jones

Associate Professor
Associate Director of Bands
School of Music

A talented conductor, inspiring educator and an invaluable mentor, Scott Jones is a revered member of the School of Music. His students describe him as a charismatic and nurturing instructor, and one who goes above and beyond to connect with each student personally from day one. 

“Dr. Jones is my director for Symphonic Band and he has already made a large impact on me,” shared one nominator. 

Jones firmly believes in creating opportunities for his students to interact with leading composers, educators and musicians, so he has led collaborations with successful artists and takes his band to prestigious conferences. He also hosts social events to congratulate his students on their successes and to create a sense of community within the band. 

“During his tenure at Ohio State University, he has made the music-making experience a fabulous one for many, many students,” a nominator wrote.

His students say he not only has excellent musicianship but is able to share his expertise and critique his students in a way that makes them feel inspired to improve. He finds innovative ways to instruct his students, like creating YouTube videos with solutions to issues he noticed in rehearsal. 

Jones is quick to pass along encouragement and congratulations to his students when they reach his goals, and some credit him for instilling a passion for music in them. “He is the reason I want to major in music,” a nominator said. 

Jones received an undergraduate degree from Ohio State and a master’s from VanderCook College of Music, both in music education, and a PhD in music from the University of Minnesota.

Robin Judd

Associate Professor
Department of History

According to her students, Robin Judd is much more than a professor: She is a mentor who cares about their personal well-being just as much as their academic standing.  

A specialist in Jewish and European history, Judd dedicates herself not only to teaching her students but ensuring they succeed in all their endeavors. Her engaging teaching style allows students to gain an appreciation for her field and a confidence in their own abilities. She consistently maintains her personal core teaching values — flexibility, positivity, reciprocity and availability — and this allows her to dedicate her time to helping her students realize their intellectual and personal potential.

“Her personal warmth, dedication to seeing her students succeed and emotional and intellectual availability never ceased to amaze me,” a student nominator wrote. “None of our accomplishments was too big or small for her to acknowledge.”

Judd’s passion for teaching is evident in all of her classes, and her students said her love for the study of historical writing deepened their appreciation for how history is constructed. She encourages her students to embrace new things and to approach topics outside their academic comfort zone. She helps students understand their weaknesses and discover their strengths, and to constantly strive to improve.

Judd goes above and beyond to ensure her students are doing well in all aspects of life. She believes that her students’ well-being is directly tied to their academic and personal growth, and her warmth and openness encourage them to turn to her for advice. She strikes a careful balance between fostering independence and providing assistance, and her students leave her class with a new confidence in their abilities. 

Judd earned her PhD from the University of Michigan and has been at Ohio State since 2000.

W. Scott McGraw

Professor
Department of Anthropology

Anthropology students claim there is never a dull moment in a class taught by Scott McGraw. An evolutionary anatomist and a primate behavioralist with primary research interests in Africa, McGraw’s passion and enthusiasm for his subject are contagious to his students. He incorporates first-person stories from his own research and experiences into the lectures, and his students say he makes them excited to learn more about his field. 

“I will never forget how he showed how primates balance in trees by he himself climbing on his desk and demonstrating all the different adaptations they have in their limbs to accommodate for balance and center of gravity,” a student wrote. 

In this way, he makes class fun, and instills a love of learning. They also say they have no problem studying for his exams because he makes the lectures so memorable and the information, which can be difficult to grasp, easy to retain.  

His positive and outgoing attitude makes it easy for students to participate, and even the shyest students feel comfortable raising their hands to speak in his class. He strives to create an interactive learning environment in his classroom and welcomes questions and encourages discussion. 

 Many students also admire his dedication to the field, including his support of anti-poaching efforts in the rainforest and promoting wildlife education. According to one student, “I know the various species he studies are in good hands with Dr. McGraw and all the hard work he is doing for them.” 

McGraw earned his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and has master’s degrees from both the University of Alabama and the State University of New York-Stony Brook, the latter from which he also earned his PhD. He has been at Ohio State since 1999.

Stephanie Moulton

Assistant Professor
John Glenn College of Public Affairs

Past and current students in the Glenn College (formerly the Glenn School) issue a common piece of advice to their successors: “Whatever you do, take at least one class with Stephanie Moulton.” An expert in public policy implementation, evaluation and management, Moulton instills her passion for her subject in her students through lively and engaging discussions, and her students appreciate it.

She incorporates media into her lectures to make them exciting, and one nominator wrote that she rivals even the best TED talk speakers. Her reading and assignments draw on the latest trends, technology and resources in the nonprofit and government sector, preparing her students for work in the real world. 

Moulton sets high standards, but she always makes herself available to help her students in and outside of class. Her students have said they are impressed by the level of attention she gives each and every one of them, and that she always makes them feel like a priority. While constantly working to help them improve, she sets an example by seeking feedback from her students in an effort to constantly improve her class. 

Moulton takes her teaching outside the walls of the classroom and aims to engage the broader community by having her students present their work to local nonprofits. This is not only an excellent learning opportunity, but it allows her students to showcase their work in the community, enhancing the reputation of both the Glenn School and the university. 

“Dr. Moulton raises the bar for what it means to be an exceptional instructor,” one of her former students wrote. “Her presence is a gift not only to the John Glenn [College] of Public Affairs, but to the entire university.”

Moulton earned her bachelor’s from Taylor University and her PhD from Indiana University. She has been at Ohio State since 2008.

Karl P. Whittington

Assistant Professor
Department of History of Art

From the fine arts to zoology, students of all majors enjoy taking Karl Whittington’s art history class. He is a specialist in European medieval art and architecture, and while the topic may be unfamiliar to some students at first, his open and engaging style of teaching allows all of them to grasp the subject matter quickly and easily. 

“He makes his lectures enjoyable and the information engaging so that students from all disciplines can gain a new perspective on art and the world,” a nominator wrote. 

His students say Whittington wants them to understand the importance of art to the world, so instead of requiring them to memorize endless dates and names, he focuses on teaching the significance of art and why people make it — instilling a new appreciation for the arts in all who take his courses.  

He also encourages his students to take their knowledge of art outside the classroom, leading study abroad programs so students can discover art in other countries. “He loves sharing his expertise, and he is also quick to encourage them to learn, explore and enjoy lessons on their own,” another nominator wrote.

Whittington’s passion is so contagious that many students who never thought they would be interested in art discover a new passion for it. One student who is in a science field said she took the class as a GEC, assuming she’d “take the class (and) forget everything I learned.” Instead, she became so enthralled with the topic that she ended up taking on a minor in history of art. 

Whittington earned his master’s and doctorates in the history of art from the University of California, Berkeley, and has been at Ohio State since 2010.

Martin Robert Feinberg

Richard M. Morrow Chair in Polymer Engineering
William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

When it comes to chemical engineering, Martin Feinberg has a knack for making it look easy. His consistently high SEI scores attest to that.

“Feinberg is one of those rare engineers who combines innovative research breakthroughs that influence a whole field of research, superior teaching and preparation of tools for education and for engineering practice,” wrote one nominator.

One of those tools is The Chemical Reaction Network Toolbox, a powerful software tool for the study of chemical reaction networks that he made freely available on the Internet. Aimed at both students and researchers, the Toolbox has exceeded 10,000 downloads and is used in CBME 8813: Advanced Kinetics II — a course Feinberg was largely responsible for designing.

“Professor Feinberg is the best professor I’ve ever had,” a student nominator wrote. “He is an expert in the field of chemical engineering fluid mechanics and kinetics and has an established reputation as an academic researcher in these fields, but he combines that with a rare ability to communicate effectively as a teacher. He presents his knowledge to students with many different styles of learning and isn’t afraid to use a little humor now and then.”

Students, faculty and his peers show great respect for and admiration of Feinberg and his accomplishments. 

“Professor Feinberg is considered to be a world leader in the application of mathematics to chemical engineering problems, in particular to the understanding of how complex chemicals behave,” a nominator wrote. “His research and scholarly activity greatly inform every aspect of his classroom teaching, even at the undergraduate level.”

Feinberg earned his PhD from Princeton University. 

Steven James Joyce

Associate Professor
Germanic Languages and Literatures
Ohio State Mansfield

Steven Joyce annually teaches the complete sequence of introductory German courses, as well as several comparative studies courses, a May Session course in history and nearly always in summer semester as well. He teaches an average of 17 semester credits during an academic year, all without teaching assistants. And his students appreciate his work. He has twice won the Outstanding Teacher Award at the Mansfield campus and has earned a Thank-a-Prof commendation through the University Center for the Advancement of Teaching. 

“(Joyce) has been praised repeatedly for making material accessible and enjoyable,” wrote one nominator, “for being accommodating to the special demands imposed upon commuting and nontraditional students, for making sure his students are equipped to perform at their optimal levels and for helping undergraduate students discover the joys and excitement of thinking critically.”

“The fact that he was always attentive to all of his students shows that he truly loves teaching and truly loves encouraging his students to their greatest potential,” another wrote.

Joyce also has earned praise for developing the study abroad program “Introduction to the Western Tradition: Summer Study Abroad at the Ionian University of Corfu,” in Corfu, Greece, with the help of a Gateway Study Abroad Seed Grant and the Office of International Affairs.  

Joyce’s accomplishments include two complete volumes of original poetry, numerous book reviews and two Fulbright Research Scholar awards.

As a nominator wrote, “In an era favoring extreme specialization in academia, Dr. Joyce’s contributions as a ‘Renaissance Man’ are invaluable to our students both inside and outside of the classroom.”

Joyce earned his PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Trevon D. Logan

Associate Professor
Department of Economics

When Trevon Logan is not teaching economics to his undergraduate students, he serves as both the director of Undergraduate Studies and advisor to the Undergraduate Economics Society — a classic example of a professor devoted to students’ best interests.

But more, students consistently say that he provides them with a top-notch education. “Trevon is much more than an effective teacher,” one nominator wrote. “He has demonstrated a strong commitment to making the undergraduate experience for economics majors and other students as rewarding as possible.”

One way Logan achieves this is in his teaching process. He uses a more discussion-oriented approach with his students, a strategy that isn’t common in economics. The phrase “demanding and rewarding” and variations of that are common on student evaluation forms. “He expects a lot of his students, but rather than complain about the workload, students report that they enjoyed the challenge because he made the material so interesting,” another nominator wrote.

In the past three years, Logan has taught seven economics lecture courses, participated in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Scholars in Health Policy Program at the University of Michigan and served as an advisor and supervisor of several dissertations.

As for his contributions to The Ohio State University, Logan reinstituted and redesigned Economics 4553: Economics of Population, and designed a new course, Economics 5150: Economic Transitions in the 20th Century. Logan even features his own published research in every course he teaches.

Logan earned a PhD at the University of California at Berkeley.

Warren Benson McCorkle Jr.

Professor
Department of English
Ohio State Marion

It would be difficult to find a student on the Marion campus who took an English course with Ben McCorkle and didn’t love it. As one nominator wrote, “I’ve taken quite a few English classes, being an English major, and I cannot tell you how enjoyable and refreshing it was to tackle each project Professor McCorkle assigned.”

Colleagues who have reviewed his work say he engages students at a high level throughout his lectures, teaching “an often-challenging group of students in a way that encouraged them (successfully) to take responsibility for their own learning while also contributing to the larger group effort.”

McCorkle has made many contributions to the Marion campus, including the development of a number of courses that allow the campus to offer expanded course work in new media, and he has added courses to the curriculum in rhetoric and composition to provide students with a greater variety of contemporary-focused courses.

McCorkle also oversees production of the Cornfield Review, the campus’s literary journal, and is a part of a team that received a $50,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) based on English 2367, a standard second-year writing course.

In addition to McCorkle’s contributions on the Marion campus, he is engaged with the Columbus campus at the department level, serving on the Undergraduate Studies Committee, the Rhetoric, Composition, Literacy Studies Committee and the Center for Study of the Teaching of Writing Research Review Board.

As one of his peers wrote, McCorkle is “an innovative, engaging teacher and an example of Ohio State’s finest.”

McCorkle earned his PhD at The Ohio State University.

Donald O. Mutti

E. F. Wildermuth Professor
College of Optometry

Donald Mutti’s work history is filled with grateful students and patients alike.

“Professor Mutti, in short, is viewed as our best teacher currently — by students, faculty colleagues and college administrators alike,” wrote a colleague. “He teaches courses that are fundamental to the practice and his impact is career-long and far-reaching.” He has received the Graduate Teacher of the Year Award for three of the six years the award has been given, and the college’s coveted Herbert G. Mote Award for Teaching three times, as well.

Mutti has taught Optics of the Eye since 2001 and Ophthalmic Optics since 2011, redesigning the course materials into packets that serve as textbooks for each course he teaches. 

“The students generally consider his course packets to be the gold standard to which they hold their other instructors,” wrote a nominator.

In the classroom, Mutti combines “old school” classroom methods with Carmen technology. Quizzes are designed to help students master concepts and skills by allowing them to make unlimited attempts and repeating similar problems in order to reinforce what is learned in the classroom.

“Dr. Mutti teaches a tough subject in a fair and entertaining way,” a student nominator wrote. “He goes above what is expected with his teaching and he empathizes with his students. He works hard in his teaching and his personal life — he’s an excellent teacher, and an even better person.”

Mutti earned both his OD and PhD at the University of California at Berkeley.

Jennifer E. Schlueter

Assistant Professor
Department of Theatre

Jennifer Schlueter is an effective teacher who both brings great enthusiasm to her teaching and draws enthusiasm out of her students. The positive, rigorous and collaborative environment she creates in her classroom has drawn raves since she began teaching at Ohio State in 2010.

“Professor Schlueter excites students and arouses intellectual curiosity in the classroom,” wrote one of her former students. “She organizes her classroom into a space that feels like we are all engaged in a conversation with her, each other and the material.  She is an excellent teacher whose love and passion for teaching are evident through every interaction.”

Schlueter also uses her professional experience in the world of theatre to expand opportunities for her students. She is joint artistic director of the For/Word theater company, which regularly collaborates with Columbus’ Available Light Theatre. At Ohio State, she coordinates the Lab Series, a student-driven, department-nurtured performance series focused on new work development. “One of the things I admire most about Dr. Schlueter is her commitment to creating theatre as well as teaching it,” wrote another nominator. “Her professional work as a playwright has both fostered opportunities for students in our department and brought our department into a closer relationship with artists in the community.”

Aside from her efforts as a professor and playwright, students appreciate how Schlueter has served as a mentor to them. “Her methods are direct and honest. Her writing is exceptional,” a nominator wrote. “I consider her a mentor of the highest caliber.”

Schlueter earned her PhD from The Ohio State University.

Robert Anthony Siston

Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

As one of the first professors to adopt the “inverted classroom” structure, Robert Siston has impressed students with his ability to take a course as challenging as biomechanics and make it easy for them to understand.

“There are a handful of excellent teaching professors in the ME department, but Professor Siston is one of the best,” one nominator wrote. “Although he is busy doing research and writing grants, he also was an excellent professor and always made extra time to help students.”

Siston teaches biomechanics at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and students from both levels are appreciative of his efforts as a professor. “He is very open to giving advice and sharing his life experience about the balance of classes, research, hobbies, friends and family in graduate school,” another nominator wrote. Another student wrote:
“I have never had another teacher at the university level who so clearly enjoyed teaching and interacting with students, and who was so committed to their growth and understanding of the material.”

Instead of stressing the importance of his students’ test grades, Siston stresses the importance of working in teams and applying real-world applications. His inverted-classroom structure includes having students watch videotaped lectures in advance and on their own time. What was taught in the lectures would then be applied to practice problems in class.

“Dr. Siston cultivates these skills that will transcend the class and translate into the students’ future careers, whether they go into industry or academia,” wrote another nominator.

Siston earned his PhD from Stanford University.

Mazeika Sullivan

Assistant Professor
School of Environment and Natural Resources

Since the time Mazeika Sullivan arrived at Ohio State in 2008, his reputation as an outstanding teacher has grown.

“Dr. Sullivan has an upbeat, engaging and inclusive lecturing style that reflects an innate understanding and respect for the diverse student body enrolled in our school,” wrote one nominator. “He encourages students to engage in critical thinking and in doing so, empowers students to think for themselves.”

Sullivan is highly praised by his students and is always “in high demand;” he is one of the most sought-after advisors in the School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR), and his courses consistently meet or even exceed their enrollment caps. In fact, the frequency with which his courses fill to capacity has left large numbers of SENR majors unable to take them in their preferred academic year — whether to graduate in a timely manner or to improve their employability or suitability for graduate study. Rather than make them wait, he has made the extra effort on several occasions to offer those courses in an independent-study format.

Sullivan designs his classes to show students ways that the science makes a real-life difference. Not only is most of his “classroom” work delivered in the field (such as at the Shiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park), but he also incorporates service learning activities into those classes — collaborating with Ohio EPA, Columbus Metroparks and Columbus Recreation and Parks.

Outside the classroom, Sullivan, who earned his PhD from the University of Vermont, has authored or coauthored 22 articles in the top peer-reviewed journals of his field and has been the principal investigator on 16 grants totaling nearly $900,000.

As a nominator noted, “The bottom line is simple: In teaching, research and service, Mazeika is a mentor, by both deed and example, from whom colleagues and students alike benefit.”

Tatiana Suspitsyna

Associate Professor
Department of Educational Studies

Tatiana Suspitsyna has taught courses on organizational theory, academic administration, internationalizing colleges and universities and higher education and the public good — and through them all, has a strong reputation for having the ability to turn difficult material into useful information that can be applied in real-life situations.

“Immersing her students in case study discussion and organizational analysis assignments, Dr. Suspitsyna poses some of the most thought-provoking questions designed to flip a student’s perspective and shift paradigms in the classroom,” wrote a nominator. “She challenges students to build their own theories and pokes holes in their logic until they can support their claims in brilliant ways that would hold up in any prestigious journal.”

In the classroom, her students appreciate Suspitsyna for the way she is able to teach difficult material in a fluid and passionate way.

“She is tremendously brilliant, but a very humble and reserved personality,” wrote one of those students. “She represents the perfect blend of a great researcher and scholar while also being an invested and good teacher.” 

 Suspitsyna redesigned three graduate-level courses and has enhanced and updated the content of many of the core courses in the Higher Education and Student Affairs program. 

“HESA’s reputation and national rankings have continued to remain high (consistently in the top 10 in U.S. News & World Report), and much of this can be attributed to the outstanding work that Dr. Suspitsyna has done in updating course curricula,” another nominator wrote.

“She is simply outstanding. She expects outstanding work from her students, and they receive outstanding instruction and mentorship from her.”

 She earned her PhD from the University of Michigan.

Todd Alan Thompson

Associate Professor
Department of Astronomy

In a department regarded as one of the best of its field in the world, Todd Thompson is a star in his own right — regarded, wrote a nominator, as “one of our very best teachers at every level.”

“Professor Thompson thoroughly engages his students with his consistent energy and unparalleled ability to reduce complex concepts to their fundamental principles,” a nominator wrote. “His enthusiasm for the material brings even the most dry theoretical physics concepts to life.”

Thompson teaches both introductory courses that fulfill GEC natural sciences requirements and theoretical astrophysics courses that are considered by the department to be among the most rigorous courses available; no matter the level, he consistently earns strongly positive evaluations from his students. 

“Professor Thompson obviously has dedicated significant time to practicing how to deliver his notes, coming up with metaphors and analogies to best explain and illustrate key ideas, and generally find multiple ways to reinforce the same concepts such that if a student doesn’t understand one, he has a full toolbelt of others ready to go,” another nominator wrote. 

His last two PhD advisees each was offered a Hubble Fellowship — the most prestigious postdoc fellowship in the field of astronomy.

In research, Thompson has been one of the department’s most prolific and diversified members. In 2012 alone, he submitted 12 papers for publication in refereed journals on a wide variety of topics in theoretical astrophysics. He received his PhD from the University of Arizona.

“Should I become a professor one day, as is my goal, Todd Thompson is the teacher I hope to become,” wrote one of his students. “I can think of no better role model for the job.”
 

Described as an inspiration by both colleagues and students, Juan Alfonzo teaches effectively and enthusiastically, with a passion for microbiology described without irony as “infectious.”

“Dr. Alfonzo is the most exciting professor I have come across in my academic career,” wrote a former student. “His excitement and passion for microbiology and teaching was evident from Day 1. He made the class exciting with constant discussions.”

While teaching practical skills such as grant proposal writing and encouraging oral presentations, Alfonso keeps his classes engaged by integrating amusing anecdotes in his teaching — and he receives constant high praise from students for informative and interesting course work.

“Juan embodies what every great teacher aspires to. He is tireless in his pursuit of excellence for those he instructs, he is constantly seeking new ways to improve his teaching, and he always puts the students’ needs above his own,” a faculty nominator wrote.

Alfonzo also is a dedicated researcher, inviting many graduate students to assist in his research endeavors as a way to share with them his genuine passion and interest in microbiology. To expand the university’s microbiology department, Alfonzo also volunteered to develop a new course in RNA biology.

Creating the perfect environment for an enjoyable discussion about microbiology may be challenging, but Alfonzo’s students assert that he does it every day. His dedication to excellence for himself and his students is evident in the extra effort he offers to help students attain their academic and career goals.

Alfonso earned his doctorate from Indiana University and has been at The Ohio State University since 2002.

As someone with a hand in every aspect of the landscape program within the Knowlton School of Architecture, Jacob Boswell frequently goes above and beyond in his contributions to the betterment of his students and the university.

Boswell has assisted in curriculum revision as part of the semester conversion as well as program accreditations from 2008 through 2011 — all while curating displays of student work, teaching a full load and contributing to local organizations such as the Columbus Neighborhood Design Center and the Lower Olentangy Urban Arboretum Board.

“In all of his endeavors — teaching, research and community service — Boswell is a model of the Knowlton School’s ethos of technical expertise, cultural awareness and design invention as he creatively addresses the fundamentals of human habitation and the environment,” a nominator wrote.

It’s his work with students that draws some of the loudest praise. Boswell is an effective teacher, thoroughly explaining complex issues and constructively critiquing students’ work. Colleagues note that he has high expectations for himself and that he holds his students to the same standard. Boswell serves as a master thesis committee member, senior thesis advisor and master thesis chair for several students.

“Jake provides Knowlton with a progressive mind that pushes people around him,” one of Boswell’s students commented. “While never the loudest teacher, he leads by example with his personal work, and one-on-one through critique and guidance.”

Boswell earned master’s degrees at Ohio State and has been teaching here since 2005.

While students consistently rate Rebeka Campos-Astorizka as one of the finest professors of Spanish linguistics around — describing her as “brilliant in her subject matter,” “engaging and approachable” and “supportive and inspiring” — some of her most glowing reviews come from her peers.

“Professor Campos-Astorkiza has obviously mastered the art of communicating with students in Spanish at a level that is comprehensible yet challenging,” a colleague wrote. Another wrote, “She combines exhaustive attention to detail, careful organization and constant exemplification to keep students motivated and paying attention.”

She teaches all levels of the curriculum, from orientation-level Spanish Pronunciation to graduate-level seminar courses, but her contributions to students’ learning goes beyond the classroom.

Campos-Astorkiza advises both graduate and undergraduate students, has supervised a senior honors thesis and participated in more than a dozen graduate examination committees. Also, she coordinated the Hispanics Linguistics Colloquia, an informal series of lectures and workshops to help professionalize graduate students in the department. She also has developed three new graduate courses that helped consolidate the Hispanic Linguistics program, which is one of the best in the nation.

“She represents everything that we as PhD students aspire to be in our careers, i.e., scholars who are committed to excellence in our profession, who make a difference in our fields and who inspire students to do and be better than us,” a student nominator wrote.

Campos-Astorkiza earned her doctorate at the University of Southern California and has been at Ohio State since 2007.

Sarah Cole has been recognized for her skill as a teacher and for her devotion to her students since early in her career as a law professor — even turning in the rare feat of winning a teaching award as a visiting professor at a different university.

“The Moritz faculty has long prided itself on the quality of teaching it offers our students,” a colleague wrote in nominating her. “Even in this setting with such an institutional regard for excellent teaching, Professor Cole sets herself apart.”

Law students of all levels revere Cole, appreciating her hard work and dedication they see in the courses she teaches. In the upper levels, she is lauded for her integration of practice issues, skills and techniques in the content of her courses. At the same time, Cole has earned praise for balancing challenge and support of first-year students at a time when many may be feeling overwhelmed.

“Beyond just being smart and being an expert in her field, she also is a great teacher … Professor Cole is a gem to encounter at Moritz,” wrote a student nominator.

Cole also takes the time to mentor many students, advise the student editors of the Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution and direct the world-renowned Program on Dispute Resolution (an area in which she is a world-renowned scholar).

“The classes I took with Sarah have helped immensely in my career as a lawyer and now as a professor teaching alternative dispute resolution classes,” a former student and current law professor wrote. “I try my best to emulate her in my own class.”

She earned her JD at the University of Chicago and has been at Ohio State since 1998.

Matthew Coleman 

If there is a common thread among the scores of nomination letters recommending Mathew Coleman, it’s his immense passion for teaching.

“Dr. Coleman’s commitment to students is unparalleled,” a nominator wrote. “He is more than an outstanding professor; he is a genuinely great person who is able to inspire students, encourage them to believe in themselves and challenge them to imagine a better world.”

He teaches and mentors students at every level, going out of his way to help guide them through the university or to help them sort out their own academic passions.

“The intellectual guidance and support that he has bestowed upon me have been unparalleled and invaluable,” a student nominator wrote. “He has challenged me to engage critically with the world around me, pushed me to be a better writer and helped me to be a more confident and articulate scholar.”

Colleagues recognize his work as well. “Coleman is a dedicated academic colleague whose teaching, service and research activities are highly integrated,” a colleague wrote. “He contributes immensely to our department’s programs and is extremely effective as a professional role model for our students, both undergraduate and graduate.”

Several students, in fact, note that Coleman’s courses were specifically recommended by other faculty — even from other departments or colleges.

“Dr. Coleman is the reason I came to Ohio State to study geography,” a graduate nominator wrote. “He goes out of his way to support any student who may show an interest in a specific research topic, either by guiding the student with some related reading or by connecting them with other professors on campus who may be able to share what they know.”

Kay Halasek has taught English courses at every level at Ohio State, always focused on assisting her students to become better writers, particularly through in-class peer review sessions that her students really enjoy. The numerous awards for which she’s been nominated and which she’s won are only one indication of that dedication to students and of her excellent teaching skills.

“Because of having Professor Halasek, I am now able to look at my essays, even the ones I write today, and see some of the errors I am making based on her recommendations in previous essays two years ago,” a student wrote.

“It’s clear she engages with her students’ work,” another student nominator wrote. “Her attention to detail and level of commitment to her students is extraordinary — something that is extremely refreshing in a professor.”

Her students aren’t the only ones who take note of her exceptional work; her colleagues do as well. A peer nominator described Halasek’s dedication to all courses that she teaches and described her as “... essential to the department, someone who adds a spark to unglamorous areas of the curriculum.”

Halasek’s teaching has been noticed outside of the Ohio State community as well. She garnered recognition from the State of Ohio and from the Ohio Board of Regents for her dedication to writing and writing theory. In addition, she also has taken on the demanding task of chair of Faculty Council during 2011-12.

Halasek earned her doctorate at the University of Texas at Austin.

David Hoffmann has built one of the nation’s leading graduate programs in Russian, East European and Eurasian history, recruiting some of the best graduate students to study at Ohio State, and has made equally important contributions to History’s undergraduate program.

And all the while, his passion for seeing his students learn has been evident in every class he teaches; he even earned numerous “perfect” scores on Student Evaluation of Instruction forms — even in classes as large as 50 or more.

“Despite his impressive intellect and scholarly eminence, Dr. Hoffmann is able to connect with all of his students,” a student nominator wrote. “He is able to guide, correct and encourage students to arrive at historical insights all on their own.”

Another nominator explained further: “He had a ton of stories, jokes and videos to give us a better understanding of what was truly going on at the time. His obvious enthusiasm and love of the subject was contagious.”

Hoffmann spends a great deal of his time advising and mentoring students, aiding in their success. “In addition to his excellence in his role as one of my advisors, Professor Hoffmann goes above and beyond, making connections with other scholars on my behalf and meeting with me to discuss challenges with my research whenever I require it,” a graduate student wrote. “He is unfailingly kind and positive in his conduct with students.”

His work, and his passion for it, already has earned him a Distinguished Teaching Award from Phi Theta Alpha national honorary society. He has been teaching at Ohio State since 1994 after earning his doctorate from Columbia University.

It’s important to note that Erin McGraw is an established, well-regarded creative writer with five novels and numerous short stories, essays and review articles to her credit — which is reason enough for students to flock to her creative-writing classroom.

But even if she didn’t bring those professional chops, her students say she’d still be among the most respected teachers in the department.

“Erin doesn’t hem and haw, mince words or sit back and let her students run the class,” a nominator wrote. “Rather, her sharp wit, incisive commentary and proclivity to challenge students on their statements makes her an engaged, active member of class discussions. She provides copious written feedback that is always shrewd, witty, frank and encouraging.”

Nominators also described McGraw as a kind and generous person whose willingness — perhaps eagerness — to get to know them on a personal level earns her their highest respect. She also puts in extra time every year to coordinate Ohio State’s Short Fiction Prize.

“I appreciate Erin’s class because her assignments are always worth the work, and class time itself is always instructive, never a waste of time,” a graduate student nominator wrote. “My classmates and I regularly speak about how much we desire to impress Erin with the quality of our work … Erin is demanding, brilliant and gets more out of her students than any other professor in the business.”

McGraw earned her MFA at Indiana University and has been teaching at Ohio State since 2002.

Tony Rucci’s love both of business and helping students is apparent, clearly evidenced by his work in and out of the classroom in Fisher College of Business. He serves as an inspiration and role model for those who are enthusiastic about business by interacting with students of every level.

“Tony continues to have a profound impact upon students from freshman through senior executives,” a peer nominator wrote. “In all of these interactions, Tony not only does an outstanding job but also creates a lasting impact.”

Rucci creates a unique classroom experience for all of his students, incorporating guest speakers, team-based assignments and projects that benefit the Columbus community and a leadership effectiveness survey.

Outside the classroom, Rucci spends much of his time assisting students and helping them get involved in all that Fisher has to offer. He also takes an interest in a variety of student activities to allow still further engagement.

“Tony has been the most active member of Fisher faculty in teaching and being academic advisor to multiple clients within Fisher’s Executive Education programs over the last three years,” one of Rucci’s peers wrote. “During this period alone, he has been part of the design, development, delivery and teaching of more than 60 executive programs with more than 2,500 participants.”

Rucci earned his doctorate at Bowling Green State University and has served as dean of the business school at the University of Illinois-Chicago. He came to Ohio State in 2006.

Bradley Clymer

In a world where university students cannot always recall the names of some of their former professors, Bradley Clymer’s name is long remembered; his students in Electrical and Computer Engineering perennially rank him among their favorites.

Assuredly, that status is a result of his dedication to those students themselves since he returned to campus in 1987 after earning his doctorate from Stanford University. “Brad is a stalwart voice of the student experience,” wrote a colleague. “He is always pointing to the impact of our decisions on the students, and it is clear to me that his care for students is consistent in and out of the classroom.”

One of the many ways Clymer assures students’ understanding of complex materials is his use of Carmen, in which he posts his notes presented during class alongside a recorded video of the entire lecture. “Professor Clymer began videotaping his lectures long before distance learning came into vogue,” another colleague wrote.

According to a student nominator, “He is simply the best because he cares about his students.” Another nominator wrote, “I have never had a teacher that was so genuinely interested both in the material and in guaranteeing that the students understood the subject matter.”

Clymer’s attention to each individual student affects former Buckeyes far beyond their class time with him. “When I mention I attended Ohio State, one of the more common responses is, ‘So you were just a number in a giant machine?’” noted a former student. “But my experience was much different, thanks, in part, to Bradley Clymer. At the graduation ceremony, amidst the largest graduating class ever, Brad came to me individually and shook my hand. It’s professors like him that make a university great and define what it means to be an Ohio State Buckeye."

Anyone who’s ever wondered what it would be like to take an English class devoted solely to animal stories, graphic novels or author James Joyce should be on the lookout for a course offering from David Herman. The diversity of subject matter he offers and the way he teaches have made an indelible impression on his students.

Herman earned his doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania, has been at The Ohio State University since 2004, and he is recognized by his students for the creativity of his teaching methods and the breadth of his knowledge. One former student wrote, “he is so brilliant but never makes us feel confused or ignorant. Instead, he communicates concepts in such a way that we walk out of the room confident in our developing skill set and new approach to literature.”

Among the many courses he teaches, Herman specializes in Narrative Theory, and his students and colleagues, as well as the Narrative Theory community, recognize his brilliance. “Simply put, Professor Herman is a rock star in the world of Narrative Theory,” wrote a nominator.

According to another student, “Those of us who have had David jokingly refer to him as a robot — not because he is stiff, but because we cannot fathom how he manages to accomplish the amount of work he does. David produces amazing amounts of scholarship, although we can’t figure out how because of the time he devotes to teaching. He has made such an impact in the field of Narrative Theory that his name inevitably comes up in our readings.”

Added a nominator, “I know Dr. Herman receives a lot of accolades for his work and publications, but his teaching, among all other things, deserves the utmost recognition.”

Nicholas B. Breyfogle

Associate Professor
Department of History

According to many of Nicholas Breyfogle’s students, it would be “utterly impossible” to describe any of the professor’s classes as boring.

That’s because Breyfogle brings an uncanny enthusiasm to both the undergraduate and graduate history classes he teaches. “I will never forget the morning that he made the experience of the Russian Revolution come alive,” said a former student. “He led the lecture hall in a mass chant of ‘power to the people.’”

But more than adding excitement to the history classes Breyfogle teaches, he also has enthusiastic dedication to the undergraduate and graduate students he advises. An advisor to many PhD candidates, Breyfogle has also counseled more than 35 MA students and overseen innumerable undergraduate theses.

“The Russian/Eastern European history graduate program is one of the leaders in North America, and it is in no small part a result of Breyfogle’s efforts,” praised a colleague.

Breyfogle carries that teaching load along with myriad other responsibilities. He created the online magazine, Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective, and serves as the department’s semester conversion coordinator — a role in which he spearheaded vast changes to the department’s undergraduate major and minor.

Finally, Breyfogle has been a tireless advocate for a comprehensive Environmental History program — something that did not exist only two years ago. According to one colleague, “The work of Breyfogle and others have pushed Ohio State out in front of our peer schools in the scope and coherence of our course offerings in this area.”

Breyfogle received his master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.

Lilia Fernández

Assistant Professor
Department of History

When Lilia Fernández arrived at The Ohio State University, she brought more than just her renowned enthusiasm for the classroom.

“She is one of the best because she introduces an interdisciplinary approach to learning,” said a nominator. “Her use of multimedia is diverse and she introduces unique assignments that allow students to explore history in different ways.”

Fernández is consistently praised for her devoted approach to the teaching of history, especially in her specific area of interest, Latino studies. As one nominator wrote, “Class discussions focused on the complexities of the history of immigration and citizenship. Professor Fernández created group projects that spanned the arts, sports, education and politics so that students can gain a rich understanding of the influence of Latinos in history of the U.S.”

What’s more, according to her colleagues in the history department, Fernández has played a crucial role in diversifying the history curriculum by adding to the body of courses that focus on ethnic history in the United States.

Fernández helped popularize several Latino-focused upper-level classes. Even more, she was instrumental in developing two new courses, US Latino History and Natives and Newcomers: Immigration and Migration in US History.

Finally, Fernández helped develop the curriculum for the Latino Studies minor — a minor that does not even fall within the Department of History. In her dedication to both teaching and promoting historical ethnic studies, Fernández has excelled in only a short time at Ohio State. As one nominator put it, “Remarkably, as an untenured professor, Fernández has been an actively engaged citizen of the university in her short time here.”

She earned a master’s degree from the University of Illinois and a master’s and doctorate from the University of California, San Diego. She joined Ohio State’s faculty in 2006.

Darcy Haag Granello

Professor
School of Physical Activity and Educational Services

The coursework of Ohio State’s master’s graduate program in counselor education has been designated as having “doctoral level expectations.” Darcy Granello, coordinator of the program, simply replies that, despite the lofty expectations placed on her graduates, she “hasn’t lost a student yet.”  

That’s because, as both her colleagues and students assert, Granello is the premier educator in the School of PAES.

Much of Granello’s success comes from inside the classroom. Students praise the passion she brings to her classes and her ability to challenge them to achieve their full potential as counselors.

“Her ability to develop students into professionals is a true gift,” said a nominator.

Granello also promotes the success of her students through work outside the classroom. She is the coordinator of the Instructional Enhancement Initiative, which works with University Center for the Advancement of Teaching, to prepare seminars for faculty on requested teaching topics. And as coordinator of the Counselor Education program, Granello has been instrumental in the program’s success — the US News and World Report currently ranks it sixth in the nation.

Granello’s success as an educator and counselor is summed up by the praise of one of her students: “If I help one-tenth of the people she has helped in her life, I will consider myself successful.”

Granello earned a master’s degree in political science and in mental health counseling from Stetson University and her doctorate from Ohio University. She has been at Ohio State since 1996.

Jennifer Higginbotham

Assistant Professor
Department of English

Jennifer Higginbotham, of the Department of English, is the educational embodiment of the word “dedication.” In fact, she consistently demonstrates her commitment not only to what she teaches, but also to the diverse student population she influences.

Higginbotham teaches a wide variety of courses in the department, from undergraduate classes on Shakespeare and Women to a graduate seminar on Feminist Poetics. Much of Higginbotham’s work and teaching centers on women’s studies in literature, yet she also excels in her instruction of general courses such as Writing for English Majors.

In all of her courses, she is praised as a teacher with “enthusiasm and passion” in the classroom, as well as one who “is also serious about making time for students and working closely with them to solve individual problems.”

“Professor Higginbotham’s pedagogy is obviously very flexible and well suited to the demands of whatever she is teaching,” asserted a nominator. It is no wonder, then, that Higginbotham was granted the 2010 English Undergraduate Professor of the Year award.

This dedicated, flexible approach to education is also apparent in Higginbotham’s attention to students with disabilities. In 2010 she was awarded the Access Award from the Office of Disability Students.

According to one nominator’s testimony, “Jennifer unconsciously accommodates to the needs of her students. The very idea is deeply instilled in Jennifer, and it really impresses me.”

Higginbotham earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and has been at Ohio State since 1997.

Joseph R. Holomuzki

The Ohio State University at Mansfield

Wandering through wetlands, dissecting a cow’s heart and coding DNA: These ideas may sound unusual for an undergraduate-level science course, but they are exactly the type of innovative learning strategies that Joseph Holomuzki employs in his Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology classes.

A member of the Ohio State Mansfield community for seven years, Holomuzki’s enthusiastic approach to teaching science has garnered him the praise of both colleagues and, more importantly, a diverse population of students.

Holomuzki teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, such as Anatomy and Medical Education and Wetland Ecology for Teachers. Thus he comes in contact with a diverse range of students, from undergraduate nursing and health sciences students to aspiring teachers to returning educators seeking to improve their knowledge base.

“Joe has repeatedly connected with students in all of these subgroups, winning their admiration and respect,” wrote a colleague in support of his nomination.

Regardless of his students’ rank, Holomuzki consistently pushes them to learn at a level far above basic concepts. He also employs outlandish teaching methods, such as having students act out the process of protein synthesis by taking roles as DNA codons. In his wetland ecology course, Holomuzki even invited a “beaver” to give a lecture on beaver dams.

A testament to the admiration of those around him, Holomuzki has twice won the student-determined Ohio State Mansfield Outstanding Teacher of the Year award.

He earned his master’s degree from Kent State University and his doctorate from Arizona State University in 1986.

Melissa K. Jungers

The Ohio State University at Newark

If there’s one thing everyone agrees on when it comes to Melissa Jungers, it’s that she loves what she does. And because she loves it, she makes others love it, too.

As an associate professor of psychology on Ohio State’s Newark campus, Jungers carries a substantial teaching load — garnering the 2010 Teaching Excellence Award in recognition of her efforts — and serves in advising roles with numerous undergraduate students. She also publishes regularly in scholarly journals and contributes as a member of many committees across campus, which earned her the Faculty Service Award in 2008.

However, it’s in her role as instructor that Jungers, who earned her doctorate from Ohio State in 2003, most shines — as evidenced by a comment from a former student. “She loves to teach what she teaches,” the student writes. Many of Jungers’ nominators make special note of how Jungers’ teaching style and enthusiasm for her subject helped them learn difficult concepts.

“I took an upper-level course with Dr. Jungers during my last quarter as an undergrad and, although the book and subject matter were extremely challenging to me, she was able to explain the concepts, emphasize the important material and incorporate group assignments that made cognitive science not only understandable but exciting to learn about as well.”

Christine (Cricket) Keating

Assistant Professor
Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Christine Keating may not practice what she preaches, but she certainly does practice what she teaches.

According to both students and colleagues, Keating’s classrooms are alive with the ideals of democracy and collective learning — two principles that are central tenets of the curriculum she teaches. During her six years at Ohio State, Keating has become somewhat famous for her contagious zeal and her dedication to student learning.

Or, as one student wrote, “I would rank Dr. Keating as one of the best professors I’ve had at the university because of her patience, enthusiasm, knowledge, intelligence, commitment to helping her students grow intellectually, her willingness to consider a variety of student perspectives, her general encouragement of students and her openness and flexibility.”

There’s probably not a lot to add to such a characterization, except perhaps to point out that in addition to her substantial teaching load, Keating has served as supervisor for the department’s TA training program and has personally mentored a number of master’s degree and doctoral students. She has held positions on committees such as the MA to PhD Program Subcommittee, the Graduate Committee and the Undergraduate Studies Committee. She also has authored a number of scholarly articles and has a book forthcoming from Pennsylvania State University Press.

“Through her tireless commitment to innovative teaching and creative learning,” wrote one of Keating’s PhD advisees, “Dr. Keating represents the pinnacle of excellence in university professorship.”

Keating earned her doctorate from the University of Washington and has been at Ohio State since 2005.

Scott Levi

Associate Professor
Department of History

When students speak highly of a professor whose class deals with “rather boring” material, you know they’re talking about a teacher with rare gifts.

Of course, to Scott Levi, the material — the history of Islamic Central Asia — is anything but boring, and he works hard to bring it alive for his students. For the past three years, Levi has taught undergraduate and graduate courses ranging from large-lecture format to small-seminar classes, and he has received consistently excellent reviews on his teaching.

“Dr. Levi is an active and engaging instructor,” wrote one former student. “He flawlessly weaves the endless names, dates and places of history into a tale which enthralls his students and constantly encourages them to ask questions outside of the box."

Part of his engaging nature, students and faculty agree, comes from his deft use of humor and personal anecdotes to make the material more accessible. In his role as advisor to undergraduates and supervisor of graduate students, he brings his personable warmth and dedication to their academic success.

All of these achievements, coupled with a scholarly zeal that has resulted in many peer-reviewed journal articles and other publications, earn him high marks from colleagues. “Scott Levi’s performance these past three years clearly establishes him as a truly exceptional teacher both in and out of the classroom,” wrote one. “A valuable resource for the Department of History and the larger OSU community.”

Levi earned his master’s (1994) and PhD (in 2000) from the University of Wisconsin, and has been at Ohio State since 2008.

Allison Macerollo

Assistant Professor
Family Medicine

Patient-centered. Student-focused. A fount of knowledge. An innovator. Allison Macerollo has proven herself to be all of these and more, including caring, compassionate and savvy in getting her students to learn something from every patient case during rounds.

Macerollo’s conversations put students on a peer level rather than a pupil level, an effective means to teach the values and principles of primary care — communication, physician development and patient-centered care — through her Clinical Assessment and Problem Solving (CAPS) course.

“She is a dynamic and energetic teacher who always involves her students and challenges them to think more broadly and deeply than they would otherwise,” wrote one student nominator. “She also works very hard to create comfortable and safe surroundings for her students so they feel prepared and excited to try new techniques or improve skills they don’t have much confidence in.”

Macerollo helped develop the CAPS curriculum to enhance teaching of specific skills and created cultural competency video vignettes for a distance-learning format.  Every year she provides hands-on experience to second-, third- and fourth-year students in her clinic.  In addition, she’s the faculty advisor to the Family Medicine Interest Group, students interested in primary care as a career. The membership has been rising since her input began. Macerollo also is on three task forces charged with redesigning the College of Medicine’s 2012-13 curriculum and is a co-investigator of a $1.3 million, five-year grant project.

“The state of our country’s health care often leaves future doctors worried that they won’t be able to make much of a difference,” a student nominator wrote. “But seeing Dr. Macerollo’s optimism toward her career is always motivating.”

Edward E. Valentine Jr.

The Ohio State University at Lima

It is not a stretch to say that Edward Valentine brought a tremendous palette of color and creativity to Ohio State Lima. When he first arrived in 1997, there was no Department of Art; art classes were taught by Art Education instructors. His one-man mission to turn that around on a campus where there is no art major speaks of his desire and dedication to give his students a unique experience.

Students of all artistic abilities — or lack thereof — take his drawing and painting courses, but all say they leave better and more knowledgeable by the end of each course. Valentine has his students put their first work next to their last of the same composition (still life) to compare their progress.

“I never thought I’d walk away from the course having gained as much as I did,” wrote one student nominator. “Everyone had this same experience, even the students who had previously taken a drawing class. They saw the improvement, and it was quite a shock.”

Valentine, whose own work has been showcased all over the world, splits his time between the Columbus campus — working with graduate students and their thesis work — and Lima.

“Professor Valentine is masterful in his encouragement of students to perform well beyond their self-perceived limits,” wrote a faculty nominator. “I believe this is why he is such a highly regarded teacher and mentor.”

Valentine earned his bachelor’s at the Columbus College of Art and Design and his master’s degree at Ohio State.

Joel D. Wainwright

Assistant Professor
Department of Geography

Joel Wainwright is a master storyteller — a quality that has led many of his students to call him the best professor they’ve ever had. For one student in Wainwright’s Geography 450 class, “Making of the Modern World,” hearing Wainwright lecture was akin to verbally experiencing a best-selling novel.

“He hooks you with a great introduction and then builds an argument while offering compelling personal stories,” the student wrote. “Everything crescendos to a thrilling climax while a cathartic conclusion allows you to catch your breath and mentally prepare for the next class.”

Wainwright’s geography lessons come to life because he intertwines what he learned from his field research — such as indigenous people’s rights in Belize — with global current events. He creates an engaging lesson that taps into his personal experiences as well as other perspectives and then allows students to come up with their own conclusions.

Wainwright’s teaching is enhanced by his scholarship, which includes a critically acclaimed textbook.  His writings are often aimed at advocating in the public interest. “This helps to reinforce that his work in teaching and research bring an important global perspective to students; an outlook critical to their success and preparation,” wrote a faculty nominator.

As an evaluator wrote about Wainwright’s teaching prowess: “In short, he’s a pro.”

Wainwright earned his doctorate from the University of Minnesota and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of British Columbia. He joined Ohio State in 2006. 

Kevin Boyle

Professor
Department of History

To hear his students — and many of his colleagues — talk, Kevin Boyle is more than a history professor; he’s a veritable rock star of a teacher.

Consider the following example (one of many similar): “He was the most intellectual and interesting speaker that I have ever had the privilege to hear,” one student wrote. “I adored this class and his oratory skills.”

Of course, such high praise is nothing new for Boyle, who earned a National Book Award for his 2004 book Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights and Murder in the Jazz Age, was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in 2005 and served as fall 2009 commencement speaker.

He has taught 17 courses at The Ohio State University in the last three years and earned rave reviews in all of them, even while serving with distinction on the editorial boards of scholarly journals and mentoring numerous graduate and undergraduate students.

In addition to his work with Ohio State students, Boyle teaches a session on law and social justice each summer at the University of Michigan and helps lead a seminar on the history of the civil rights movement at the WEB DuBois Center at Harvard University.

“Professor Boyle is one of the finest teachers in the Department of History,” writes a faculty nominator. “He is a genuine star in the eyes of many students and a role model for his colleagues.”

Boyle received his BA from the University of Detroit in 1982 and his PhD from the University of Michigan in 1990. He has been at Ohio State since 2002.

James H. (Jay) Dial

Associate Professor
Department of Management and Human Resources

Though regarded as a rigorous and even demanding teacher — or perhaps because of it — Jay Dial is described by students as “inspirational” and “personally committed to the cause of education.”

His students and colleagues say he has more than earned a distinguished teaching award through his diligent and passionate educating of Fisher College MBA students and undergraduate business majors.

As one student writes, “Professor Dial has the most significant impact on my thinking and perspective of my profession of any professor I had during my MBA program.”

Not only does Dial work with students, but he has also brought a new approach to teaching complex strategy and economics courses that has inspired other Fisher faculty to change their practice and has invigorated the entire college.

He reshaped the MBA core strategy course and regularly offers his teaching expertise to colleagues both within and outside the university, further solidifying his reputation as a teacher of excellence.

“In a college that values teaching so much, Jay is viewed as one of the best all-around teachers across both the undergraduate and master’s programs,” notes a nominator.

Dial earned his BA at Old Dominion University, his MBA at the University of Chicago and his PhD at Harvard.

Richard H. Fertel

Associate Professor
Department of Pharmacology

None of Richard Fertel’s students particularly enjoy the subject he teaches — in fact, pharmacology has the reputation of being dry, boring and difficult — but they all agree that Fertel is a gifted teacher whose wit and enthusiasm turn a tough class into an engaging learning experience.

Or, as one student wrote: “Although his class was as hard as all get out, it was mainly because the material was so dense. He did a wonderful job of teaching and gets an all-around thumbs up.”

Fertel, who was the College of Medicine’s Professor of the Year in 2006, is also beloved by students in the colleges of Optometry and Dentistry for his “easygoing manner and his liberal use of humor,” notes another nominator. He has received more than 25 teaching awards over his career and is praised for being approachable and deeply interested in student learning and success in his classroom.

Perhaps the highest praise, however, comes from alumni who say they still hear Fertel’s explanations of pharmacology as they are choosing what drugs to prescribe to their patients.

“He is the top teacher I have had the opportunity to evaluate over the past 20 years,” a nominator said. “Overall, he’s an outstanding colleague at the departmental, college and university level, and maybe one of the most outstanding teachers at Ohio State.”

Fertel earned his PhD in pharmacology from Washington University in St. Louis.

Sarah K. Fields

Associate Professor
School of Physical Activity and Educational Services

Sarah Fields has a reputation around the school of Physical Activity and Educational Services (PAES) as being someone who “mixes things up.” It might be easy to take that as a critique; it’s not.

“She has no reluctance to use many varied instructional pedagogies to facilitate learning in consideration of varied learning styles,” writes a colleague. “I am impressed with Dr. Fields’ willingness to continuously question her teaching methods and styles and with her attempts to provide a learning environment that actively supports students of various backgrounds.”

For her students — both undergraduate and graduate — her flexibility and energy translate into learning experiences that are both engaging and meaningful. Her deep knowledge of her subject matter, coupled with her warmth and interactive approach with her students, helps make what can be difficult material accessible.

Part of that goal is accomplished through her own published writings. She also has made important contributions to the curriculum for the university’s program in sport humanities.

“She’s the most knowledgeable professor I have had in the college,” a former student said. “And she’s one of the best at teaching and connecting the material with the students.”

Fields earned her BA from Yale University, her master’s from Washington State University, her JD from Washington University in St. Louis and her PhD from the University of Iowa.

Richard J. Freuler

Professor of Practice
Department of Aerospace Engineering

While part of Richard Freuler’s duties include enticing students into the Fundamentals of Engineering for Honors (FEH) program of which he is faculty coordinator, the true measure of his success, his students say, is his undying passion for their success.

One former student described her experience under his tutelage thusly: “It was an incredibly empowering experience and changed the trajectory of my life,” she said. “That may sound extreme, but I was going to be a math major and move back to my hometown and teach math. Dr. Freuler showed me that I could be an engineer, and suddenly I felt I had so many other options.”

Such examples are why enrollment in FEH has increased 400 percent since 1998 under Freuler and reached an all-time high of 431 students in fall 2009.

The Engineers Council, a group of undergraduate leaders in the college, has bestowed Freuler with the Charles Ellison MacQuigg Award, which faculty are eligible for every four years, in 2000, ’04 and ’08. And Freuler received the college’s inaugural David C. McCarthy Teaching Award in 2008, which honors contributions to create more innovative and effective teaching and learning.

Freuler earned his bachelors’ of aeronautical and astronautical engineering and computer and information sciences, his master’s and his PhD from Ohio State. He joined the university's faculty in 1992.

Venkat Gopalan

Associate Professor
Department of Biochemistry

Venkat Gopalan trained in the laboratory of Sydney Altman, who won the 1988 Nobel Prize in chemistry, and has become a national expert in the field of ribonuclease P ezymology. Yet he never lets his research prowess overshadow his teaching role.

“OSU has many gifted people and researchers, and many of them know their subjects better than anyone in the country or in the world,” the student wrote. “However, Dr. Gopalan has the ability — the unique ability — to transfer what he knows to his students.”

Gopalan co-developed two early experience honors courses for undergraduates, exposing students to the latest research topics and fostering class discussion with field trips before offering them hands-on research.

He was the founder of and advisor to the Biochemistry Undergraduate Club, which fosters early interaction between students and faculty, and he was a leader in developing the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates.

Gopalan also has taught eight undergraduates in his lab, where they have co-authored major papers in prestigious journals and presented their research in various venues. Six of these students have gone on to master’s studies while two advanced to medical school.

“Never has a teacher inspired me to learn more outside of the classroom and provide self-motivation for learning a subject,” one student nominator wrote.

Gopalan holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Madras (India) and earned his PhD from the University of New Mexico. He joined the Ohio State faculty in 1998.

Margaret C. Graham

Associate Professor
College of Nursing

To say Margaret Graham is committed to her profession as a nurse and educator is an understatement. In fact, a student nominator praised her as “the epitome of what a great nurse practitioner should strive to be.”

An expert nurse practitioner, she has been educating students on nursing and health policy for more than 28 years. Along with her positions as an Ohio State professor and Department of Family Medicine nurse practitioner, Graham serves on both the Doctor of Nursing Program and College of Nursing graduate studies committees.

She has contributed her healthcare expertise to the implementation of innovative approaches to the education of nursing, such as the use of weekly case studies to provide students with a greater understanding of clinical situations. Graham also helped develop online learning opportunities for the College of Nursing through the Elluminate program. “As a result of her efforts, nursing students … have increased accessibility to learning and professional development,” a nominator wrote.

Graham’s passionate desire to challenge her students and colleagues has solidified her standing as a respected and inspiring role model throughout the College of Nursing. 

“While teaching valuable content about patient care and safety, Dr. Graham teaches other valuable lessons,” said a student. “She models compassion, helping us to see the health care system through the eyes of our patients. She gives us insight into the laws and policies affecting the nursing profession, encouraging us to let our voices be heard. And most of all, she displays a tireless commitment to our being the best nurses that we can be.”

Graham received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, her master’s degree from Vanderbilt, and her PhD from Ohio State.

Robert R. Hite

Associate Professor Emeritus
School of Educational Policy and Leadership

Walking into the first day of class, students rarely expect a handshake and personal introduction from the professor. Nor do many expect to attend an end-of-the-quarter meal in that professor’s home, or receive a birthday e-mail a year later.

To his students, Robert Hite is the epitome of what an extraordinary teacher should be.

Hite demonstrates his passion for the development of future educators through his array of contributions to the General Teacher Education program. He works as coordinator of the NCATE review team, which ensures accreditation for the teacher education programs at Ohio State. Moreover, Hite has developed seven core courses in the graduate Teacher Education Program, a contribution considered “phenomenal” by a faculty nominator.

More importantly, Hite is renowned for his extraordinarily effective interactions with students. He is known for using innovative materials and methods, which he continually updates to improve his teaching and his students’ learning.

Hite also advises graduate and doctoral students and is always available to assist and guide his students at a personal level. He encourages his students to attend conferences, establish networks and be professionally active, all while lending a helping hand and personal expertise. As one student nominator wrote, “There are not many faculty who take the time, have the patience and interest and are as willing to share their expertise with students for purely selfless reasons. Dr. Hite does all of that.”

Hite earned both his master’s and PhD from Ohio State.

Katalin I. Koranyi

Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Department of Pediatrics

Janice M. Aski

Associate Professor
Department of French and Italian

A word that many people use when talking about Janice Aski, director of the Italian language program, is “passionate.” “The passion and excitement that Professor Aski radiates as she enters the classroom is incomparable to any other professor or instructor I have experienced in my four years at Ohio State,” a student said. “I can honestly say that she opened my mind to new disciplines, ideas and theories in her field.”

Not only is Aski a respected and dynamic teacher, but she is caring and responsive to her students both in and out of the classroom. Students write of her compassion as they encountered personal difficulties and her willingness to go above and beyond her responsibilities to ensure their success in her courses. Her commitment to student learning was recognized in 2004 when she was named Colleges of the Arts and Sciences Outstanding Teacher.

Aski has been shaping the landscape of Italian studies at The Ohio State University since 2000, working to transform the Italian major into a nationally known program and creating an entirely new course on Romance languages that helped launch the new Romance linguistics major.

“Janice has been a mover and a shaker in the department, especially in the area of curriculum,” a colleague said. “And she is considered to be one of our very best teachers, whether at the beginning level where she has taught Italian language or in advanced-level graduate courses.”

Aski received her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s in linguistics at the University of Manchester, United Kingdom.

John F. Beacom

Associate Professor
Departments of Physics and Astronomy

You know you’ve got a good teacher on your hands when you get student reviews such as this one: “I’m glad I can now explain scientifically what will happen to Spongebob when Gorilla lands on him after falling from the Empire State Building.”

In other words, John Beacom possesses the rare ability to make physics both fun and educational to students of all majors. Another student put it a bit more succinctly: “Professor Beacom was everything you want in a professor: A perfect balance of knowledge, fun and desire to help his students.”

Since 2004, Beacom has been using humor and creativity to teach complicated principles to both large-lecture, introductory undergraduate classes and specialized graduate seminars in particle physics. He was awarded the Arts and Sciences Student Council’s Outstanding Teaching Award in 2008.

“Professor Beacom has demonstrated the unusual ability to teach his own, rather specialized, field of research to a wide audience, while at the same time demonstrating excellent teaching at the undergraduate level,” one colleague noted.

In addition to his teaching, Beacom has distinguished himself through extensive publications—almost 60 publications in peer-reviewed journals — and an NSF CAREER award. “What is even more impressive is how often other researchers cite Professor Beacom’s work: An average of 40 times per paper,” another colleague said.

Beacom received his bachelor’s at the University of Kansas and his master’s and doctorate from the University of Wisconsin.

Jill Clutter

Associate Professor-Clinical
School of Allied Medical Professions

Jill Clutter was instrumental in developing the College of Medicine’s health and wellness major and the courses within that major (of which she teaches four). And she did all that while simultaneously completing her doctorate in education and moving into a regular clinical faculty position after years of being in a staff position.

Now in her first year of her regular faculty appointment, she has drawn wide praise for her creative teaching techniques that engage her students and not only bring the outside world into the classroom, but also take her classroom into the outside world.

“She has this amazing ability to turn her class into a home and her students into a family,” one student said. “She sent us out into the community and the projects we did not only helped us learn but also helped the community. She makes her students want to make her proud. She taught us to find ourselves, to have opinions, to mature and to believe in ourselves and others.”

Clutter has not published textbooks or course materials, but has been responsible for development of multiple class materials used by the students in her courses. “Many of these innovative methods will lend themselves to publication,” a colleague noted. “She has been instrumental in the organization of the entire curriculum and works with PAES and the College of Public Health to integrate some of their courses into our curriculum to assure the breadth of understanding for our students.”

Clutter received her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate from Ohio State.

Brian Edmiston

Associate Professor
School of Teaching and Learning

Given his professional interest in drama as an educational tool, it should come as no surprise that Brian Edmiston’s impact on those he teaches is nothing short of dramatic. Since 1997, Edmiston has worked to shape elementary school teachers, both in the university setting and in elementary schools around central Ohio and internationally.

Students of every age — from six years old to seasoned classroom teachers—praise him for his knowledge and his equally profound interpersonal skill. “Dr. Edmiston is one of a kind,” said an elementary school teacher in whose classroom Edmiston had worked. “His way of teaching and positive influence have helped me to change my views of teaching and learning both in the school walls and out.”

And it’s not just Edmiston’s students who express this level of appreciation for his expertise. He is a frequent speaker and presenter at international conferences and was instrumental in securing the recent partnership between the Royal Shakespeare Company and Ohio State that will bring the plays of Shakespeare to new life in central Ohio. He is the author of two widely read and referenced books.

“Dr. Edmiston has a unique and hands-on way of instructing,” noted one of his graduate students. “He also seems to care very much about his students and has the most compassion for his profession that I have seen among all the instructors I have had at Ohio State.”

Edmiston received his bachelor’s from the University of Bristol in England, master’s from the University of Newcastle in England, and doctorate from Ohio State.

Ahmet Kahraman

Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Ahmet Kahraman is a committed, well-organized teacher and communicator who uses both his sense of humor and vast non-academic industrial experience to get and keep students’ attention in subjects that tend to be technical and difficult to grasp.

“Dr. Kahraman always took great care to explain exactly what he was teaching, why he was teaching it and how it fit in with everything else,” one of his students said. “And even though he was covering a class considered by many to be boring and one that was earlier in the morning than most students care to be awake, he always came in with a smile on his face—and the cheerful mood was not an act. That enthusiasm is invaluable to his students.”

The learning atmosphere of his classroom, however, only enhances what is a strong ability to teach. “Dr. Kahraman has an uncanny ability to inspire his students to take a serious interest in the subject and push them to want to learn more,” another student said. “His superior knowledge of the material is quickly evidenced in his lessons, and he uses his own personal experience in industry to show how to use both intuition and academic methods to solve problems.”

Among many notable achievements, Kahraman was honored in 2006 as a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He has published 46 journal papers and 22 refereed conference proceedings.

Kahraman received his bachelor’s and master’s from the Middle East Technical University in Turkey and his doctorate from Ohio State.

Deborah J. Merritt

Deborah Merritt makes more and better use of her 24-hour days than many of us can manage to do with our weeks. She was the first permanent director of the John Glenn Institute (2000-05); she was chair of the Moritz College of Law’s Long Range Planning Committee; and she serves on the Ohio State Bar Association’s Task Force on Legal Education—all while earning rave reviews from colleagues and students alike as one of the best teachers the college has on its roster.

“Professor Merritt is unique because while she is one of the brightest legal minds at Moritz, she is also one of the most caring and personable,” wrote one student nominator. “She puts her heart into her work and wants to see all of us succeed.” Perhaps an even higher bit of praise comes from a former student who said, “I enjoyed her class even though I do not enjoy the subject.”

Making complex subjects comprehensible and coherent is something Merritt has been doing since joining Moritz Law in 1995 as the John Deaver Drinko-Baker & Hostetler Chair in Law. She has coauthored a textbook that students praise for its accessibility and clarity, and she incorporates new technologies into her teaching, such as interactive “clickers” and a classroom wiki.

“Professor Merritt advances teaching through multiple avenues: By her engaging, caring, passionate presence in the classroom; by her building program opportunities that create new learning experiences for students; by her rigorous scholarship,” a colleague noted. “We are all the better for it.”

Merritt received her bachelor’s from Harvard University and law degree from Columbia University Law School.

Randy J. Nelson

Professor
Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience

Randy Nelson’s sense of humor is legendary among students and colleagues alike. They use words like “deadpan,” “corny” and “cheesy” to describe the jokes he peppers throughout his lectures—jokes that also help make his material more engaging and accessible.

In fact, his personable teaching style and dedicated mentoring have inspired many students, undergrad and grad alike, to pursue advanced studies and careers in highly distinguished research labs and universities around the world.

“There is no teacher in my life who has ever had such a profound impact on my life,” one student said. “I found my calling in his classroom and got to start pursuing it in his laboratory. Randy Nelson is one of the most gifted educators at Ohio State.”

Since arriving at Ohio State in 2000, Nelson’s many accomplishments, both in and out of the classroom, defy easy categorization. Among them are his four current federal research grants, his hundreds of publications—including what is considered the standard textbook on behavioral neuroscience — and his service on numerous university committees.

And yet Nelson is first and foremost a teacher. He teaches, on average, five psychology courses per year, in addition to voluntarily giving several lectures each year in courses sponsored by other departments. He mentors undergraduate students in his lab, providing unparalleled opportunities for them to engage in hands-on research and often secure awards for their scientific experience.

Nelson received his bachelor’s, master’s and two doctorates — one in psychology and one in endocrinology—from the University of California, Berkeley.

Janet S. Parrott

Assistant Professor
Department of Theatre

It’s safe to say that without Janet Parrott, there would be no video production program in the Department of Theatre.

It’s also safe to say that as a one-woman show, she has to wear a variety of hats, often at the same time. Parrott serves as the faculty advisor for the student group Reel Buckeye Productions, teaches both undergraduate and graduate lab classes, and often connects students with internship opportunities at commercial venues. She also has reshaped the curriculum to align with university and departmental goals.

“Parrott has created a strong academic study of the field of video for early career scholars to explore that capitalizes on their inherent interests and challenges them to see the potential impact of their work well beyond their current frame of reference,” one colleague wrote.

It’s a challenge her students seem to relish, judging from the popularity of her courses and the praise they offer for her teaching. “Janet is a superb teacher; she is running a video production program all on her own and she is a mentor to countless video production students, including myself,” said one of her undergrad students.

Another of her students offered this example to support how Parrott uses humor and hands-on application to teach both theoretical and practical skills: “One project she had us do to learn Avid, an editing program, was to re-edit the movie Psycho into a one-minute trailer. The results were hysterical.”

Randolph Roth

Associate Professor
Department of History

It is impossible to separate Randolph Roth, the man, from Randolph Roth, the educator. But such singularity brings about comments like this from a student nominator: “Professor Roth is a great teacher, but further than that, he is a great person that deserves acknowledgement for his teaching style and his ability to inspire.”

Always available, always affable and always engaging his students, Roth wears the hats of mentor, advisor, research facilitator (his undergraduate students’ work has been included in his published works), judge at the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum and recruiter, always volunteering to teach sample classes to prospective honors students and their parents.

Roth also is co-founder and co-editor of the Historical Violence Database, which gathers data on homicides, suicides, accidents, sexual assaults, arsons, etc., from medieval times through the present in North America and Europe. His students’ work on the Chicago and Cleveland portions of the database will be recognized and posted later this year.

In all his student evaluations, Roth has received scores well above the mean, including perfect scores in seven courses taught during the past five years. “Professor Roth is passionately committed to student education and advancement, and he sacrificially gives time and effort to promote the best interests of students,” a nominator wrote.

Roth is considered a pioneer as well, when in the 1990s he helped launch Retrieving the American Past, the department’s custom-published textbook in U.S. history that has become the bestselling book of its kind in the United States.

Roth received his doctorate from Yale University.

David H. Steigerwald

The Ohio State University at Marion

David Steigerwald is an apple that has not fallen far from the tree. An Ohio State graduate (1982), he says often that the quality of teaching he received while a student was a key factor in his decision to return as a professor.

And given the kind of feedback he gets from his students and colleagues, he’s making the same kind of impact on the next generation of scholars and teachers. “It was evident from the first time I met Professor Steigerwald that his ultimate objective was to make history relevant and interesting to the students in his class,” one student said.

Steigerwald is also a nationally recognized expert in the fields of 1960s American history and American consumer society. He has published two books and secured a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education for the K-12 program “History in the Heartland” for Ohio public school teachers.

Not only is he interested in teaching students of all ages about history, but he is also interested in making sure those students gain the writing skills to make them deft communicators. “Good writing is important to David, for he believes that clear prose reflects clear thinking, and students find his courses to be quite demanding,” a colleague wrote. “Yet student evaluations emphasize that David is not only demanding but caring, compassionate and inspiring.”

Steigerwald received his bachelor’s from Ohio State and his master’s and doctorate from the University of Rochester.

Leslie M. Alexander

Associate Professor
Department of History

Since arriving as an assistant professor at The Ohio State University in 1999, Leslie Alexander has made her mark on the history department and the university. Her background in African American history, combined with the enthusiasm she conveys to students about the material, help her show the importance of history as it pertains to present-day life.

“She really promotes how relevant history is to everyone, every day, and how current events recreate certain historical trends,” one student said.

She often uses multimedia tools in class discussion to show students that history isn’t always dry, and assigns readings to coincide with the opening of popular films so students can analyze how historically accurate the films are in their portrayals. 

It’s this ability to rally students around coursework as well as her consistent willingness to help that students often cite; several have called her the best professor they’ve had at Ohio State. Alexander has been called a “fantastic pillar of support” because of her guidance as an adviser and unrelenting drive to help her students.

“She has a genuine spirit and exhibits a larger-than-life commitment to her students that is only surpassed by the size of her heart,” another student said.

In an attempt to enhance the study of African American history, Alexander spearheaded the creation of seven new courses in the department for both undergraduate and graduate students, and helped redesign existing courses.

Alexander received her PhD from Cornell University in 1999.

Wendy P. Blakely

Assistant Professor
College of Nursing

Wendy P. Blakely’s students recognize her dedication to their education. Not only is Blakely an expert in the field of pathophysiology, but she is also passionate about conveying material to nursing students.

“She has a vast encyclopedic knowledge, but she also possesses the patience and clarity necessary to help new nursing students learn complex material,” one student said.

Blakely employs numerous means to ensure her students’ success; case studies, group discussions, clinical scenarios and other various avenues all generate participation and involvement.

She is also responsible for the evolution of the course sequence that once relied mostly on lecture and examination. By transforming the classes into learning modules, quizzes and online exercises, students are more easily immersed and engaged in the material. She also created hands-on laboratory experiences for students to get a grasp of research in the field of nursing.

“Dr. Blakely taught some of the most challenging portions of human pathophysiology, but she took great pains to make the material as interesting as possible, and to present the material in ways that would help us commit it to memory,” another student said.

Students mention her regular availability, responsiveness, thorough course preparation and enthusiasm when they discuss Blakely’s effectiveness as a teacher. Her student evaluations exceed university expectations and rank among the highest in the College of Nursing. She has also helped develop discussion questions for the most widely used nursing pathophysiology textbook in the country.

Blakely received her PhD from Johns Hopkins University in 2004.

Stephen L. Boyles

Associate Professor
Department of Animal Sciences

Stephen L. Boyles doesn’t like monotonous lectures. Anyone who has been in his “Issues Concerning the Use of Animals by People” class can see the effort he puts into making the class as informative and creative as possible.

“You never know what you are going to get when you walk into Dr. Boyles’ Animal Science 597 class,” a student said. “He uses untraditional methods of teaching to stir up interest and discussion among his students.”

Those methods can be anything from having numerous guest speakers to calling upon students to demonstrate what it’s like for a pig to be trapped inside a pen that is too small. He has even dressed up as Descartes to liven up a discussion on animal rights and welfare history and garbed himself in his animal welfare auditor gear when he explained the auditing process.

His fun approach to the lectures helped convey controversial material in a neutral way. In discussing animal rights and ethics, he would include questions from both sides of the debate to encourage class discussion.

Students mention the time and effort he puts into his teaching, including “jazzed up” Power Point presentations full of video clips and other information, as well as the daily emails he sends to the students about current events that would further enhance discussion.

“Even though many of the topics discussed had charged feelings from both sides, he was able to mediate the tension into productive and sensitive discourse on current issues,” another student said.

Boyles received his PhD from Kansas State University in 1985.

James J. Brudney

Newton D. Baker — Baker & Hostetler Chair in Law
Professor
Moritz College of Law

James J. Brudney is highly regarded among academics, particularly for his scholarship in the area of labor law. But even when students have no vested interest in this specialization, they sign up solely for the teaching methods they’ve experienced in previous classes.

“Regardless of what Professor Brudney was teaching, we would all sign up to take it in a heartbeat,” a former student said. “Coincidentally, many of us now find ourselves extremely interested in labor law.”

Called a “master in Socratic dialogue” by a fellow colleague, students marvel in Brudney’s ability to lead class discussions that captivate his students. He offers hypothetical situations to challenge an individual student’s stance on readings and solicits responses from other students as well. It is not only a way to make sure students have done their assignments, but also demonstrates that the ideas being discussed in class have a heavy impact on the study of law.           

Described as brilliant and passionate, he is also known to be challenging.

“Brudney puts the Arrgh! in Lab-arrgh Law,” one student said. Yet students agree it is the challenge that makes the experience so rewarding.

Not only has he received strong evaluations from students, but he was also voted Best Teacher of the Year in 1996 and named the Newton D. Baker – Baker & Hostetler Chair in Law in 2000. He has also been a visiting professor at Oxford University and Harvard Law School.

Brudney received his JD from Yale University in 1979.

Dennis A. Guenther

Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Students asked to describe Dennis A. Guenther’s teaching style are consistent in their praise, labeling him as innovative, enthusiastic and charismatic. He is known to keep students interested in the topic at hand — even at 7 a.m.

“His boundless energy, relevant stories and enthusiasm for the topic kept everyone engaged,” a former student said.

Guenther helps students apply the material to important issues facing the world by linking theory to real life. A popular design project allowed students to create a water purification system that would help developing nations, while another created a leg brace to help individuals with spinal disorders.

“Dr. Guenther doesn’t just teach engineering, he teaches us about ethics, professional responsibility and life,” another student said. “He makes it a point to let everyone know that we all have a duty to give back to the community and the world.”

Guenther is also well regarded in the Department of Mechanical Engineering for his breadth of teaching. He has taught courses in all four branches of mechanical engineering.

Further proof of his outstanding teaching can be found in the numerous awards he has already received, including the Mechanical Engineering Industrial Advisory Board’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 2004; the College of Engineering Lumley Research Award in 1983; and the student-chosen Charles E. MacQuigg Award for outstanding teaching in the College of Engineering in 1982.

Guenther received his PhD from Ohio State in 1974.

Bishun D. Pandey

Professor
Department of Mathematics
The Ohio State University at Marion

Bishun D. Pandey, who teaches calculus at Ohio State Marion, is recognized as a miracle worker.

“He inspired me to conquer calculus,” a former student said. “He could teach math to a brick — a dumb brick.”

Pandey is recognized for his commitment to teaching. He is known to challenge students to think for themselves and is willing to work in and out of class to make sure they understand the material.

“His reputation among students as a patient, encouraging, caring and gifted teacher is well-known and repeatedly highlighted in their evaluations,” a colleague said. Student evaluations consistently place Pandey in the uppermost levels on the cumulative student evaluation of instruction. Students respect Pandey for his teaching efforts, even when his course load is rigorous.

Pandey’s drive to help students is not limited to the classroom. He regularly serves the Office of Minority Affairs as a mentor for students and teaches at the Delaware Center, where he counsels a diverse group of students.

He also has two dozen refereed journal articles to his credit, mostly on his research in fluid mechanics focusing on shock waves and plasmic flows.

Pandey received his PhD from Banaras Hindu University Institute of Technology in India.

Robert J. Perry

Professor
Department of Physics

When the Department of Physics conducts exit interviews with graduating seniors, Robert Perry is consistently credited as being the professor who has had the most positive impact on their education.

Perry teaches numerous physics sequence courses that meet four times a week and have a reputation of carrying a strenuous workload. Students credit Perry’s teaching style with helping them understand difficult material.

“He comes to class knowing the material inside and out, and he encourages students to think for themselves instead of allowing people to be spoon-fed solutions and example problems,” one student said.

The ample amount of help he offers his students is something else he is known for. It is common to see him walking around the student lounge, volunteering his expertise to help students on homework before it is due.

“Dr. Perry would go the extra mile with us on a regular basis,” another student said. “His approach and understanding was that the real learning happened outside of the classroom.”

A large number of his students acknowledge Perry’s teaching method as preparation for their work in graduate school. He would often talk with curious students about quantum mechanics that exceeded the undergraduate level, giving them a feel for what they would delve into if they pursued further education.

In addition to his teaching, Perry is known for his research on nuclear theory and has produced more than 60 publications in peer-reviewed journals.

He received his PhD from University of Maryland in 1984.

Elizabeth Renker

Associate Professor
Department of English

Student nominators wrote that Elizabeth Renker is tough, demands quality effort, is a notoriously hard grader and that she is one of the best professors they’ve ever encountered.

“Dr. Renker is one of the most challenging instructors I have had. She challenges students to be specific, concrete, clear and organized in every aspect of their work and demonstrates these qualities in her own work,” one student said. “But she is as supportive as she is critical.”

Students describe Renker as passionate, knowledgeable, approachable and enthusiastic, and appreciate her willingness to meet them out of class for extra help. Her teaching excellence has earned her the Rodica C. Botoman Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching and Mentoring, the highest teaching honor in the College of Humanities.

Renker also helps in program development within the department, including the popular course “Poetry/Alternative: A History of English Poetry and Alternative Music,” in which she arranged videoconferences with rock stars Rivers Cuomo of Weezer and Matt Berninger of The National.

“The material was always engaging and enriching,” another student said. “The class discussions and instruction were always superb.”

“Professor Renker encouraged everyone to participate and voice opinions,” added another student. “She drew clear connections between the poetry and the other literature that we studied, while always remaining open to the interpretations of the students.”

Renker received her PhD from Johns Hopkins University.

Anthony J. Roberto

Assistant Professor
School of Communication

Anthony Roberto’s enthusiasm for teaching is apparent to anyone who enters his classroom. His ability to take complex theories and turn them into relatable life experiences makes him a sought-after professor.

“Dr. Roberto’s students regularly note that his lessons are clear and organized and that he is very knowledgeable regarding the subjects he teaches,” one colleague said. “They see him as a very passionate and enthusiastic teacher.”

In the past three years, Roberto has taught 12 undergraduate and graduate courses and has consistently received high ratings on student evaluations.

Students say his effort at group participation is one of the reasons his classes are so interesting. In a class with more than 400 students, he regularly tosses around a stuffed animal to initiate discussion.

“He tried to get students involved even though it was a very large class, and he gave a lot of examples,” one student said. “I could tell that he put a great deal of effort into his class lectures.”

Roberto’s work on persuasive communication with an emphasis on health communication campaigns has been widely published. He also has written a textbook and published numerous teaching aids, as well as four lessons in Communication Teacher, the only peer-reviewed teaching publication in the field. One of the pieces published was the recipient of the Touchstone Award for Outstanding Teaching Idea.

He received his PhD from Michigan State University in 1995.

Tracy L. Tylka

Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
The Ohio State University at Marion

Richard L. Blatti

Associate Professor
School of Music

Richard L. Blatti is “not only a good teacher, but a wise individual” who genuinely cares about his students. Colleagues admire his honesty and enthusiasm, and his creative teaching methods help students better understand concepts so that they can become better performers and conductors. For example, Blatti once took his entire class to the RPAC swimming pool to help students have a sense of the motion and expressiveness of conducting. He has performed throughout the United States, Canada, China, Asia and Europe and has been a member of several professional music associations. Blatti is known for his friendly nature and positive attitude, as well as his passion for the field. He challenges students both in class and in life and encourages them to find their own individual styles and think for themselves. Blatti received his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and his master’s degree with honors from Northwestern University. He came to The Ohio State University in 1989.

Ann D. Christy

Associate Professor
Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

A very knowledgeable, confident and caring professor, Ann Christy goes above and beyond to help students, both inside and out of the classroom. “She broke down technical concepts into terms that everyone could understand,” says one student. “She could make even the driest mandatory material seem vibrant and fascinating by using methods such as taking our HVAC design class on tours of the greenhouses and the veterinary hospital to observe agricultural ventilation systems in action.” Christy’s concern for students and creative application methods make her a top choice of students. She has served as an advisor for many undergraduate and graduate students and has been a member of several scientific, professional and honorary societies. She has won more than 15 teaching and service awards, and her work has been published in more than 70 education and technical publications. Christy earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Ohio State and her doctorate from Clemson University in 1991. She began teaching at Ohio State in 1996.

Douglas B. Downey

Professor
Department of Sociology

Douglas Downey is “not only very knowledgeable in his subject field, but conducts a classroom atmosphere that encourages creativity, classroom participation and enthusiasm,” writes one nominator. He is passionate about his lectures and helping students, in addition to his research studies. As another notes, “Dr. Downey’s knowledge in the field of sociology of education, his distinguished publications in the highest echelon of academia and his obvious outstanding in-class teaching highlight his versatility in assuming the multiple hats of teacher, researcher, mentor and doing all of them very well.” Downey has published in more than 20 journals and other publications and has received more than 20 grants and awards. He received his bachelor’s degree from Anderson University, and his master’s and PhD from Indiana University. He joined Ohio State in 1994.

Janet S. Fink

Associate Professor
School of Physical Activity and Educational Services

Janet Fink “has a passion for teaching and a connection with all of her students,” a nominator writes. Fink goes the extra mile to help support and advise her students. She is known by students as a knowledgeable mentor and by faculty as a respected colleague. Another nominator writes, “Her multi-faceted involvement over the years with the university, college and department has made her invaluable in shaping a set of courses that serve students who intend to work in the sports industry. Dr. Fink has demonstrated the kind of outstanding teaching skills both in and out of the classroom that render her favored among many students in sports management.” Her work has been widely published in peer-reviewed journals, reviews, abstracts, presentations, bulletins and reports. In addition, she has supervised 12 dissertations. Fink received her bachelor’s (1988), master’s (1994) and doctorate (1997) degrees from Ohio State and began teaching at the university in 1999.

Marcus J. Kurtz

Associate Professor
Department of Political Science

Marcus Kurtz “is encouraging and exemplifies all of the good qualities of teaching,” writes one student. “Not only is this because of his excellent teaching ability, but he also takes the time to mentor on a one-on-one basis.” Kurtz breaks down challenging material so that students understand and are enthusiastic about it. “He encouraged students to engage in independent thought and critical analysis of the arguments presented,” says another student. “His teaching style and presentation of the material allowed me to develop a deeper connection and understanding of the subject matter.” Kurtz’s publications include a book, numerous peer-reviewed articles, journal volumes and book reviews, and he has given more than 30 papers and presentations. Kurtz received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1988. He completed both his master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1989 and 1996, respectively, and joined Ohio State in October 2000.

Alan C. Michaels

Edwin M. Cooperman Designated Professor in Law
Moritz College of Law

“Very engaging lecturer and skilled in the Socratic method to illicit [sic] appropriate responses from students,” is what one student says of Alan Michaels. “Michaels is well respected by students and one of the few teachers you felt comfortable just talking to.” Another student writes, “He doesn’t just teach the black letter law, but actually delves into the gray areas, encouraging and criticizing arguments from all sides of an issue.” Michaels’ excellence extends beyond the classroom, as he has served many times as a presenter and panelist for various law programs, and his work has been published in abstracts, articles and book chapters. Michaels obtained his AB magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1983. He received his JD from Columbia University Law School in 1986 and worked for the U.S. Supreme Court and Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, as well as the District Attorney’s office of New York. He came to Ohio State in 1995.

James Phelan

Humanities Distinguished Professor
Department of English

James Phelan “is the kind of teacher that makes you work harder than you’ve ever worked before, the kind that demands and receives your very best work,” says one student. “I admire his incisive comments on papers, his passion for teaching, his unflagging devotion and loyalty to his students.” Phelan takes a more in-depth approach to his material, forcing students to think on their own. “Dr. Phelan has a vast degree of knowledge but conveys it to you in a way that you understand. He is not dogmatic; instead he allows you to work with him and together create understanding,” another notes. Phelan has published six books and more than 75 essays and has co-edited two textbooks. He also holds editorial positions for several journals and publications on literature. Phelan received his undergraduate degree from Boston College in 1972. He graduated with a master’s degree in 1973 from the University of Chicago, where he also earned his doctorate. Phelan began working at Ohio State in 1977.

Franklin Proaño

Professor
Department of Comparative Studies in the Humanities
The Ohio State University at Marion

Both humble and personable, Franklin Proaño teaches classes that students say are “motivating, engaging and thought-provoking.” “What I enjoyed most about his classes was his ability to think from another perspective and explain it in a way that made sense,” says one student. “This allowed us to simplify bigger ideas in the text, which in turn allowed us to come to our own conclusions and understanding.” But, as another student writes, Proaño “isn’t there to merely lecture. He is there to support students in any way he can.” Proaño received his bachelor’s degree from Loyola College in Quito, Ecuador, in 1956. He received a master’s degree from both Instituto Superior de Humanidades Clasicas in 1958 and also from Colegio Maximo de Filosofia in 1961. He earned his PhD in humanities from Catholic University in Quito and earned another doctorate from Ohio State in 1971. He began teaching at Ohio State Marion in 1976.

Heather Webb

Assistant Professor
Department of French and Italian

Heather Webb is brilliant both in her knowledge of Italian and literature and her ability to teach it to students. “She is the spark in the humanities department that sets students’ passion for languages ablaze,” writes one student. “Professor Webb exemplifies the qualities of leadership, enthusiasm and passion for her profession. She pushed us to grow as students, not to settle for the bare minimum, but rather to think and analyze the material.” Says another student, “Professor Webb is a very understanding teacher and explains the subject matter well. She is a professor who truly cares about her students … we are not just a number in her class.” Along with being a great teacher, Webb has several published works and has participated in more than 15 panels, lectures and presentations in her field. Webb received her BA with highest honors in literary studies from Middlebury College in 1998 and earned her PhD in Italian from Stanford University in June 2004, the same year she came to Ohio State.

Brian L. Winer

Professor
Department of Physics

Enthusiastic, organized and always willing to help, Brian Winer is a stand-out in the physics department and the university as a whole, according to his students and colleagues. Says one student, “Professor Winer is a very dedicated instructor, who seems to genuinely care about the material and the students. He was very responsive to student feedback and questions, and would vary his teaching style to ensure the understanding of the greatest possible number of students.” Another writes, “Unlike some who just do the minimum required, Professor Winer invested much time into the physics class. He did a great job covering the material needed and challenging the class.” In addition to his excellence in the classroom, Winer is supportive and helpful to students after hours. He is also an accomplished researcher. He has been published in approximately 300 publications and has won several awards and honors for his work. Winer earned his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in 1986 and his master’s (1989) and PhD (1991) degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. He came to Ohio State in 1996. 

Laura M. Deeter

Assistant Professor
Agricultural Technical Institute, Wooster

Anne L. Bower

Associate Professor
Department of English
The Ohio State University at Marion

Lee K. Abbott

Professor
Department of English

Lawrence Baum

Professor
Department of Political Science

Lawrence Baum is an old hand at receiving awards for his teaching prowess. He is already the recipient of the College of Arts and Sciences' Outstanding Teaching Award, the Pi Sigma Alpha Award for Undergraduate Instruction in Political Science, the Council of Graduate Students Outstanding Service Award and the Department of Political Science Distinguished Teaching Award. Despite the rigorous demands he makes on his students, he consistently receives top accolades from them. He has authored two highly regarded undergraduate textbooks that are used nationwide, and his courses and counsel are sought after by undergraduates, graduates and colleagues alike. He is an outstanding scholar of judicial politics, publishing in his discipline's top journals, and is one of the departmental leaders in citations to his work. As one of his students commented, "Professor Baum has certainly found his calling!" Baum earned his PhD in political science at the University of Wisconsin and joined The Ohio State University's faculty in 1973.

Joseph E. Brandesky Jr.

Associate Professor
Department of Theatre
The Ohio State University at Lima

Robert W. Backoff 

School of Public Policy & Management

Lawrence A. Brown 

Department of Geography

Philip T.K. Daniel 

Department of Educational Policy & Leadership

Thomas W. Foster 

Department of Sociology
The Ohio State University at Mansfield

Patricia A. Lather 

Department of Educational Policy & Leadership

Valerie B. Lee 

Department of English

Emmalou Norland 

Department of Agricultural Education

Frank E. Poirier 

Department of Anthropology

John D. Bonagura 

Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences

James S. Gallagher 

School of Music

Ralph Gardner, III 

Department of Educational Services

Robert G. Holmes 

Department of Agricultural Engineering

William E. Jensen 

Department of Plant Biology

Elizabeth A. Stasny 

Department of Statistics

Heimtraut F. Taylor 

Department of German

Nancy L. Zimpher 

Department of Educational Policy

E. Scott Bair 

Department of Geological Sciences

Virgil E. Blanke 

Department of Education Policy & Leadership

Vesta A Daniel 

Department of Art Education

Jane M. Fraser 

Department of Indust/Sys Engineering

Oliver G. McGee 

Department of Civil Engr/Engr Mech

James R. McLeod 

Department of Anthropology
The Ohio State University at Mansfield

Milap C. Nahata 

Department of Pharmacy Practice

Elizabeth A. Segal 

College of Social Work

John V. Chidley 

Allied Medicine & Department Anatomy

Kimberly M. Elam 

Department of Industrial Design

Lisa J. Kiser 

Department of English

Timothy J. Long 

Department Computer & Infor. Science

William I. Notz 

Department of Statistics

Charles J. Quinn, Jr. 

Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures

William R. Smith 

Department of Geography

Janet Z. Tarino 

Department of Chemistry
The Ohio State University at Mansfield

Ralph E. Boerner 

Department of Botany

Shirley F. Heck 

Department of Educ. Theory & Practice

E. Louis Lankford 

Department of Art Education

Marlene B. Longenecker 

Dept of English/Women's Studies

Sam A. Meier 

JANELL

Anna O. Soter 

Department of Educational Studies

Peggy D. Wilson 

School of Allied Medical Professions

Douglas A. Wolfe 

Department of Statistics

James W. Altschuld 

Department of Educ. Services & Research

R. Kirby Barrick, Jr. 

Department. of Agricultural Education

Roger D. Blackwell 

Academic Faculty of Marketing

Josaphat B. Kubayanda 

Department of Romance Langs. & Literatures

L. Alayne Parson 

Department of Mathematics

Helen C. Swank 

School of Music

Verta A. Taylor 

Department of Sociology

Beverly G. Toomey 

College of Social Work

Terry Barrett 

Department of Art Education

Peter W. Gano 

School of Music

James A. Knight 

Department of Agricultural Education

John A. Lott 

Department of Pathology

Emil E. Miller 

Agricultural Technical Institute

Terrell Morgan 

Department of Romance Langs. & Literatures

Williamson Murray 

Department of History

James D. Utzinger 

Department of Horticulture

William J. Tyznik 

Department of Animal Science

Mary L. Schultz 

Department of Family and Community

Terry Pettijohn 

Department of Psychology
The Ohio State University at Marion

Larry E. Miller 

Department of Agricultural Education

Bradley Chapin 

Department of History

William R. Brown 

Department of Communication

Keith Brooks 

Department of Communication

Neil Andrew 

School of Natural Resources

Daniel J. Christie

Department of Psychology
The Ohio State University at Marion

Bernard L. Erven 

Department of Agricul. Econ. & Rural Sociology

Luciano F. Farina 

Department of Romance Langs. & Literatures

M. Eugene Gilliom 

Department of Educational Theory & Practice

William L. Heward 

Department of Human Services Education

Ernest Lockridge 

Department of English

John Sena 

Department of English

Thomas M. Stockdale 

School of Natural Resources

Jack M. Balcer 

Department of History

Micheline Besnard-Coursodon 

Department of Romance Langs. & Literatures

John O. Cooper 

Department of Human Services Education

Joan E. Gritzmacher 

Department of Home Economics Education

John K. Judy 

Department of Animal Science

Grinor Rojo 

Deptartment of Romance Langs. & Literatures

Leila J. Rupp 

Department of History

Richard K. Russell 

Department of Psychology

Nancy E. Betz 

Department of Psychology

Allan R. Millett 

Department of History

Frederick C. Dahlstrand 

Department of History
The Ohio State University at Mansfield

Robert L. Hamlin 

Department of Veterinary Physiology

Craig J. Kirchhoff 

School of Music

Judith S. Mayne 

Department of Romance Langs. & Literatures

Ardine K. Nelson 

Department of Photography and Cinema

Susan J. Sears 

College of Education

Morris Beja 

Department of English

Charles Babcock 

Department of Classics

Richard W. Bjornson 

Department of Romance Languages

Bruce E. Bursten 

Department of Chemistry

James L. Golden 

Department of Communication

Joan R. Leitzel 

Department of Mathematics

Curt A. Levis 

Department of Electrical Engineering

Raymond H. Muessig 

College of Education

Goodwin Berquist 

Department of Communication

Rodica C. Botoman 

Department of Slavic & E. European Lang.

David J. Citino 

Department of English
The Ohio State University at Marion

Lawrence Herman 

Department of Law

Edward J. Kane 

Department of Banking & Monetary Economics

Charles W. Massey, Jr. 

Department of Art

Gerald M. Reagan 

Department of Educ. Research & Fdns.

John W. Vaughn 

Department of Classics

(Presented at First Annual Awards Banquet at Faculty Club 4/80)
Kevin L. Alexander 

College of Optometry

Donald R. Bateman 

Academic Faculty of Humanities Educ.

Daryle H. Busch 

Department of Chemistry

George P. Ecker 

Academic Faculty of Educal. Admin.

Gary L. Floyd 

Department of Botany

Derek Horton 

Department of Chemistry

Terry F. Pettijohn 

Department of Psychology

Joseph E. Scott 

Department of Sociology

Bennett D. Baack

Department of Economics

John B. Hough 

Dept. of Educal. Foundations and Research

Robert E. Jewett 

Department of Humanities Education

Thomas M. Ludwick 

Department of Dairy Science

Wilma K. Meckstroth 

Department of Chemistry
The Ohio State University at Newark

Henry J. Schmidt 

Department of German

Sara J. Van den Berg 

Division of Comparative Studies

Francis E. Walker 

Dept. of Agric. Econ. & Rural Soc.

Charlette R. Gallagher 

Medical Dietetics Division

W. James Harper 

Department of Food Sci. & Nutrition

Marlene Longenecker 

Department of English

Joseph H. Lynch 

Department of History

George R. St. Pierre 

Department of Metallurgical Engineering

Merritt Roe Smith 

Department of History

Gisela M. Vitt 

Department of German

Douglas J. Whaley 

College of Law

William L. Berry 

Academic Faculty of Mgmt. Science

Vera Blaine 

Department of Dance

Joan Gritzmacher 

Department of Home Economics Education

Thomas Hayes 

Department of Anatomy

George Kalbouss 

Department of Slavic Lang. & Literatures

Donald P. Sanders 

Academic Faculty of Educ. Development

Helen Swank 

Division of Music Education

Carole Widick 

Academic Faculty of Special Services

G. Adolph Ackerman 

Department of Anatomy

Robert H. Bremner 

Department of History

John V. Chidley 

School of Allied Medical Professions

David O. Frantz 

Department of English

LeRoy J. Krajewski 

Academic Faculty of Management Science

Rodney F. Plimpton, Jr. 

Department of Animal Science

David Shapiro 

Department of Economics

Ralph W. Swain 

Department of Indus. & Systems Eng.

John B. Allred 

Department of Food Science & Nutrition

Nora Ching 

Department of East Asian Languages

Julia I. Dalrymple 

College of Home Economics

Angela F. D'Ambrosia 

Department of Theatre

Philip C. Kozel 

Department of Horticulture

John F. Sena 

Department of English

John J. Slain 

College of Law

Karl K. Stevens 

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Naomi M. Allenbaugh 

School of HPER

Neil J. Andrew 

Department of Natural Resources

Barbara Rigney 

Department of Comparative Literature

Arnold E. Ross 

Department of Mathematics

Ronald C. Smith 

Department of Horticulture

Clarence E. Taft 

Department of Botany

Douglas A. Wolfe 

Department of Statistics

David A. Wolff 

Department of Microbiology

Martha Brian 

School of Journalism

George J. Demko 

Department of Geography

Dorothy Jackson 

Department of Psychology

James R. Kincaid 

Department of English

Wayne P. Lawson 

Department of Comparative Literature

Ross L. Mooney 

Department of Educational Development

Vincent T. Ricca 

Department of Civil Engineering

Dana F. Vibberts 

Department of Photography & Cinema

Barbara N. Armstrong 

College of Home Economics

Pierre Astier 

Department of Romance Languages

Robert L. Chazan 

Department of History

Charlotte S. Huck 

Department of Educ. Theory & Practice

Marlin L. Languis 

Department of Educ. Theory & Practice

Grayce M. Sills 

College of Nursing

J. Robert Warmbrod 

Department of Agricultural Education

William B. Shook 

Department of Ceramic Engineering

Johanna S. Belkin 

Department of German

Jack H. Cline 

Department of Animal Science

Paul A. Colinvaux 

Department of Zoology

William F. Cowen, Jr. 

School of Natural Resources

David Hothersall 

Department of Psychology

Hollis N. Matson 

School of HPER

B. William Poland 

School of Music

Morgan E. Shipman 

College of Law

E. Milton Boone 

Department of Electrical Engineering

Simon Dinitz 

Department of Sociology

W. Thomas Lippincott 

Department of Chemistry

William A. Lyell, Jr. 

Department of East Asian Languages

Frieda I. Shirk 

College of Nursing

William J. Tyznik 

Department of Animal Science

Milton Wyman 

College of Veterinary Medicine

Joseph J. Quaranta 

Department of Educ. Theory & Practice

David W. Cole 

Academic Faculty of Finance

Ernest E. Good 

School of Natural Resources

John E. King 

College of Optometry

Charles C. Ritter 

Department of Theatre

Lura Jane Stewart 

Department of Educ. Theory & Practice

Albert L. Clovis 

College of Law

Robert K. Dentan 

Department of Anthropology

Rodney F. Plimpton, Jr. 

Department of Animal Science

Clara G. Weishaupt 

Department of Botany

Andrew A. Wojcicki 

Department of Chemistry

S. Earl Brown 

Department of Geography

Roger K. Burnard 

Department of Zoology

Charles J. Fillmore 

Department of Linguistics

James G. Gottling 

Department of Electrical Engineering

Mark P.O. Morford 

Department of Classics

Thomas B. Calhoon 

Department of Physiology

Ernest O. Doebelin 

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Leo A. Estel 

Department of Sociology & Anthropology

Gordon K. Grigsby 

Department of English

Sidney E. White 

Department of Geology

James F. Fullington 

Department of English

William F. McDonald 

Department of History

John A. Prior 

College of Medicine

Harold Shechter 

Department of Chemistry

William T. Morris 

Department of Industrial Engineering

Meno Lovenstein 

Department of Economics

Linden Edwards 

Department of Anatomy

Henry Wenden 

Department of Geology & Mineralogy

Hoyt L. Sherman 

Department of Art

Clyde Allison 

Department of Botany & Plant Pathology

Edgar Dale 

College of Education

Lois Gilmore 

College of Home Economics

Harold J. Grimm 

Department of History

Robert C. McMaster 

Department of Welding Engineering

Samuel Saslaw 

College of Medicine

Theodore N. Beckman 

Business Organization

Jack G. Calvert 

Department of Chemistry

Dwight M. Delong 

Department of Zoology & Entomology

Alma Herbst 

Department of Economics

Samuel Renshaw 

Department of Psychology

C. Mary Borelli 

Department of Romance Languages

Harold P. Fawcett 

College of Education

Ralph A. Knouff 

Department of Anatomy

John H. Sitterley 

Dept. Agric. Econ. & Rural Sociology

F. Carlin Weimer 

Department of Electrical Engineering