Regents' Teaching Award Winners
Introducing the 2005-06 Board of Regents Teaching Award Winners
The 2005-06 winners of the Board of Regents Teaching Award will hold a panel discussion on Friday at 10:30, where they will discuss the “one important thing” that they never fail to include in their courses. We wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to the panelists and share some of their experiences.
David Durr
David Durr, Professor of Economics and Finance, received his Ph.D. in finance from the University of North Texas in 1995. He has been with MSU since 2003. David primarily teaches classes related to investments management, but occasionally teaches insurance and risk management, and finance principles. He reports that his favorite class to teach is Investments because it successfully bridges the gap between finance theory and practical finance. Additionally, “an understanding of investment principles is vitally important to so many people.” David measures his success by the success of former students. “My most rewarding career-related moments almost always center on the accomplishments of our students.”
Susan Edington
Susan Edington received her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy studies from the University of Kentucky. Before coming to Murray State five years ago, she had taught in a variety of educational systems including an independent school, a high school, two community colleges, and Miami of Ohio-Hamilton for a total of 26 years. Since arriving at MSU she has taught Teaching Strategies, School Law/Structure, Reading Across the Content Area, as well as Motivational and Learning Theory. Susan is most proud of the fact that in two of its five graduating classes Murray/Madisonville has had the Outstanding Elementary Education graduate for MSU. Susan particularly enjoys teaching EDU 303 Teaching Strategies. “First the students are eager, enthusiastic and determined to make a difference in their chosen professions. As a result they take risks and are open to new ideas and technology, and they believe anything is possible. Second, the class encompasses the content of all nine New Teacher Standards, which provides students multiple opportunities to learn, evaluate, and reflect on the best practices in pedagogy. As a result, lively discussions, creative activities, authentic assessments, and critical thinking dominate the classroom—my kind of classroom!”
Marcie Johnson
Marcie Johnson, Senior Lecturer, English and Philosophy / Coordinator, Humanities Program, has taught in MSU’s English department beginning in the 1980s. For most of the 1990s she served as Director of the Center for International Programs, returning to the English and Philosophy department in 1998. Among many other campus activities, Marcie has chaired the Europe in Transition program planning committee and several years ago worked with five colleagues to pilot an experimental HUM class. Over the past few years she has taught Humanities 211 and 212 and English 104, 201, 221 and 404. One rewarding classroom moment came this summer when students volunteered the observation that HUM 212 is meaningful, fun, and relevant. Her former students keep in touch via e-mail with news of what they are reading as follow-ups to their course with her. While she has many favorite classes, “HUM 212 has been unfailingly exciting, but I have to say I haven’t yet met a course that can’t be wonderful.”
Dana Manley
Dana Manley, MSN, ARNP, is a Senior Lecturer and has taught at Murray State for five years following the completion of her BSN and MSN at Murray State. Dana stated that her favorite course to teach is Community Health Nursing because, “it allows me the opportunity to share the passion that I have for population-focused nursing. The course offers the best of both worlds, as I have the privilege to share classroom and clinical experiences with the students.” Her most rewarding time in the classroom is when students apply classroom concepts in the clinical setting.
Alysia D. Ritter
Alysia D. Ritter, Professor of Psychology, received her B.A. from the University of New Orleans and her Ph.D. from the University of Houston. She joined MSU’s Psychology department in 1989. Since that time she has received a variety of awards for teaching excellence, including the Distinguished Undergraduate Student Award (1982), and the Award for Teaching Excellence from the College of Humanities and Fine Arts Professional Development Committee (2002). In 2004-05 she was elected to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. One of Alysia’s major goals is to involve students in performing, presenting and publishing their research. “Research accomplishments are vital to going to graduate school. Thus far, I have co-authored 18 publications with undergraduates (including two in our very own Chrysalis), and 41 presentations at local, regional, and international conferences.”
Jamie Rogers
Jamie Rogers, Assistant Professor of Engineering and Physics, received his MS and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in Mechanical Engineering. He teaches Methods of Engineering Physics, Mechanics of Materials, Heat Transfer, Introduction to the Principles of Design and Physics I. He reports that the favorite part of his job is the one-on-one with students. It gives him the best opportunity to teach and also allows him to get to know the students personally. He tries to find out where they’re from, their career interests, etc. “I feel if I can make a personal connection, they’ll be more motivated to learn.” Jamie’s favorite class is Mechanics of Materials. This is a foundational class in mechanical engineering and is unique in the fact that at two times in the semester all the material comes together in a very clear, elegant way that he finds exciting. “Sometimes it even excites the students.”
Pat Williams
Pat Williams, Assistant Professor of Horticulture, arrived at Murray State in 2001 having received his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. Over the past few years he has taught 23 different classes. Last year Williams was the 2005 Max Carmen Outstanding Teaching Award recipient. His most rewarding moments in class are when someone says that he made a difference in their life. He most enjoys teaching AGR 160, Horticulture Science. He loves having new freshmen for their first college class...“there is nothing like it!”
