4/9/99
Attention editors: At the end of this news release is a list of photos of the five University Professors that can be downloaded from the Web.
ATHENS, Ohio -- After a year of reorganization and efforts to increase visibility, the University Professor program has recognized five Ohio University faculty for teaching excellence.
Second-time recipients of the University Professor award are Professor of Interpersonal Communication David Descutner, Assistant Professor of Mathematics Gene Kaufman and Associate Professor of Virology Calvin James in the Biomedical Sciences Department of the College of Osteopathic Medicine. First-time winners are Associate Professor Marcy Nighswander in the School of Visual Communication and Associate Professor of Political Science Ronald Hunt.
The student-run University Professor awards program began in 1970 as a way for students to recognize outstanding teaching by nominating professors in the fall, with winners chosen by members of the University Professor Selection Committee during the winter quarter. University Professors receive $2,000 each and are expected to teach two courses on topics of their choice the following academic year.
Because few students nominated professors during the 1997-98 school year, no University Professors were named. But student leaders have revamped the program this school year by making the nomination process easier for the Athens campus' nearly 20,000 students.
Instead of relying on students to turn in nomination cards, members of the University Professor Organizing Committee set up voting booths throughout campus during three days in October and solicited more than 4,000 nominations from students. "I'm glad the program is back because the awards help students decide what classes they should take, and it awards faculty for excellent teaching," said senior Russell Grimshaw, chair of the selection committee. "I think the future of the program will remain solid."
Descutner, who has taught interpersonal communication courses since 1979, was named a University Professor in 1987. "This award means a lot," he said. "After all, who knows better how you teach than the audience that watches you all quarter?" As part of the award, he has decided to teach a class next school year called "Dangerous Knowledge" that involves students reflecting critically on the books, films and music that have influenced their lives and helped create their identity.
Kaufman, who has taught mathematics at Ohio University for the past 19 years, was recognized as a University Professor in 1984. "It's particularly gratifying to win the award this year because the students worked so hard to save this," he said of the awards program. Next school year, he plans to teach a class about the relationship between mathematics and fine art called "Playing with Patterns" that will involve recognizing patterns in music, art and dance.
James, who has taught a combination of virology and biology classes at Ohio University since 1989, won the University Professor award about six years ago. He plans to teach a class about the applications of modern biotechnology in daily life, including the production of medicine and the generation of fuel. "I'm honored to receive the award," he said. "When you're teaching, you always hope to spark something in your students. I simply try to help motivate and challenge them."
Nighswander, who is in her fourth year teaching photography at Ohio University, is thrilled that her students have recognized her teaching style. "I never taught before I came here, so I had to go back and remember what it was like when I was in college. I had to force myself to think of what it's like knowing nothing about photojournalism," said Nighswander, who was an Associated Press photographer in Washington, D.C., for seven years before coming here. She plans to teach a class called "Our Eyes on the World" about various aspects of photojournalism, covering everything from ethics to what makes a good photo.
Hunt, who has taught political science at Ohio University since 1968, plans to teach a class involving issues of gender, sexual orientation and politics. "After teaching here for 31 years, I would say this is the capstone of my teaching career," he said. "I became a professor because I was interested in interacting with students, and this award is in recognition of my primary ambition in becoming a teacher."
Photos: Calvin James at http://www.ohio.edu/news/pix/CALVIN.JPG
Ronald Hunt at http://www.ohio.edu/news/pix/HUNT.JPG
Marcy Nighswander at http://www.ohio.edu/news/pix/NIGHSWANDER.JPG
David Descutner at http://www.ohio.edu/news/pix/DESCUNTER.JPG
Gene Kaufman at http://www.ohio.edu/news/pix/KAUFMAN.JPG
