6/10/97 Contact: Ann Brown, Ohio University, 614/593-2725

ATHENS, Ohio -- Kelly Johnson, assistant professor of physiology, and Sandra Sleight-Brennan, assistant professor of telecommunications, have been named Outstanding Tutors by the Honors Tutorial College at Ohio University.

College Dean Joseph Berman will present each recipient with a $500 award during a commencement reception at 7 p.m. Friday (June 13) in Baker Center. The college's Mary Mundy Endowment funds the awards.

Current students and alumni nominated tutors for the award. The recipients were selected by a student panel and the college's Board of Visitors. The college began the recognition program three years ago.

Sleight-Brennan was described by former students as creative and challenging. "With Sandy I was able to learn enough about a subject I knew next-to-nothing about to produce and edit a radio feature on my own," one student wrote. "She understood my goals, also, which I believe helps in the tutor-student relationship."

Those nominating Johnson called her inspiring, motivational and thoughtful. "I had the opportunity to see an experiment through from start to finish and now have the skills to design my own studies," a student wrote. "I have gained an exceptional amount of laboratory experience and knowledge through this tutorial."

The competition was established in honor of Honors Tutorial College alumnus Baer, who was interested in research and work which bridged traditional disciplinary boundaries, particularly those involving mathematics. The award is designed to recognize excellence and achievement in multi- or transdisciplinary thinking. Athens campus full-time undergraduates are eligible for the prize; students' papers must receive faculty endorsement.

Sasson, a telecommunications major in the Honors Tutorial College, has been a student trustee since 1995. He will receive $500 for his prize-winning paper during the commencement reception Friday.