California State University (CSU), Stanislaus Provost James T. Strong has announced the recipients of the Outstanding Professor Awards for the 2011-12 academic year.
Outstanding Professor: Dr. Stephanie Paterson
Outstanding Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Professor: Dr. Bret E. Carroll
Outstanding Community Service Professor: Dr. David Colnic
Outstanding Service in Faculty Governance: Dr. Paul O’Brien
Elizabeth Anne B. Papageorge Award: Dr. Anne Weisenberg
Outstanding Professor: Dr. Stephanie Paterson
Stephanie Paterson, Professor of English, has been selected as the Outstanding Professor. Letters and IDEA comments from current and former students illustrate her excellence in teaching and the meaningful impact she makes on our students. Professor Paterson teaches writing, including all of the fundamental skills required to effectively communicate through writing, in courses ranging from English 1000 (Introduction to Composition) to English 5894 (Teaching Composition and Literature). However, her most notable contribution to student learning involves inspiring and motivating students to enjoy writing. Professor Paterson approaches struggling students as “developing writers,” not as remedial or “basic” writers. As a result, students thrive in her classes and praise her teaching skills on IDEA forms and letters. Student comments spanning all of her classes had similar themes: newfound love of writing, self-reflection, and improved confidence in writing. One student wrote that “I learned that writing is essential not only for academics but for the soul as well.” Throughout her career at CSU Stanislaus, Professor Paterson has continued to publish and pursue scholarly interests, but she also inspires her students to seek publication and confidently share their work. She demonstrates her commitment to professional growth by developing her online literacy skills and learning to be a “21st century teacher.” Professor Paterson is well respected by her colleagues for her dedication to our students, consistent scholarship, and engagement in our local community.
Outstanding Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Professor: Dr. Bret E. Carroll
Bret Carroll, Professor of History, has been selected as the Outstanding Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Professor. By all accounts, Professor Carroll is an exemplary scholar. He has made significant contributions to the field of U.S. religious history, and his groundbreaking research has distinguished him as one of the nation’s foremost authorities on Spiritualism and masculinity studies. Perhaps most notable is the fact that Professor Carroll’s research and scholarship has served as the foundation for his teaching. He utilizes his scholarly work to encourage insightful analysis and critical thinking in the classroom. Not only does he consistently pursue research and pioneer scholarly frontiers, but his students benefit from instruction featuring current research by an accomplished scholar. Professor Carroll’s commitment to lifelong research and scholarship is commendable, and a colleague wrote that “he has been an engaged and productive scholar throughout his professional career while ensuring the highest level of commitment to outstanding teaching.”
Outstanding Community Service Professor: Dr. David Colnic
David Colnic, Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Administration, has been selected as the Outstanding Community Service Professor. Colleagues and students write with enthusiasm and praise about his dedication to our students and local community partnerships. One colleague commended Professor Colnic’s community service efforts when he wrote that that “his actions reflect and reinforce the positive impact members of the University community have on the surrounding region.” Professor Colnic’s incorporation of community service into his courses, as well as his efforts to locate and successfully place students into local internships, demonstrates his commitment to community engagement. His leadership of the Council for Sustainable Futures and facilitation of the annual Conference for Sustainable Futures motivates students, colleagues, and community members to advance sustainable practices locally and globally. One student wrote that “it is one thing to understand concepts from a textbook, and completely another to have a comprehensive experience of the concepts.” Professor Colnic provides his students and the broader community with these comprehensive experiences and encourages critical thinking and reflection.
Outstanding Service in Faculty Governance: Dr. Paul O’Brien
Paul O’Brien, Professor of Sociology, has been selected as the Outstanding Service in Faculty Governance Professor. Professor O’Brien has a distinguished record of active participation in faculty governance, and he has served and represented his colleagues at both the campus and system-wide level. His extensive participation in faculty governance includes dedicated committee membership, including nine years as the CSU Stanislaus campus representative on the State-wide Academic Senate (SWAS). Professor O’Brien’s impressive list of faculty governance membership includes, but is not limited to, representative on the CSU SWAS Executive Committee; chairman of the State-wide Health Advisory Committee and State-wide Teaching and Learning Committee; member of the CSU Stanislaus WASC Special Visit Research Team; membership on UBAC and FBAC; and chair of the HSS College Chairs’ Council. Professor O’Brien is well respected by his colleagues for his dedication and professional integrity, and he has demonstrated exceptional service and commitment to shared governance.
Elizabeth Anne B. Papageorge Award: Dr. Anne Weisenberg
Anne Weisenberg, Assistant Professor of Teacher Education, has been selected as the recipient of the Elizabeth Anne B. Papageorge Faculty Development Award. This award recognizes and encourages outstanding achievement by probationary faculty members. By all accounts, Professor Weisenberg is an exemplary teacher-scholar. Students appreciate her passion for teaching and her “hands-on” approach, which provides the students opportunities to work with children and enhance their understanding of effective teaching strategies. Professor Weisenberg demonstrates a commitment to teaching, pedagogical growth, and outstanding scholarly potential. Excellent teaching is informed by ongoing research, and she utilizes her scholarly work to provide insightful, real world lessons while encouraging students to reflect on their own experiences. Students excel under her guidance, as evidenced by her IDEA evaluations and student comments, and they are inspired and enthused by her teaching philosophy that learning should be “fun.” Professor Weisenberg is deeply respected by her colleagues, and nomination letters from colleagues repeatedly mentioned her passion for teaching, unquestioned integrity, personal reflection and creativity, and engagement with the campus and local community. Not only does she serve the campus by teaching and serving as the Coordinator of the Multiple Subject Credential Program, but she also builds meaningful relationships with the local community, such as her dedicated efforts at Wakefield Elementary School.
Outstanding Professor: Dr. Stephanie Paterson
Outstanding Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Professor: Dr. Bret E. Carroll
Outstanding Community Service Professor: Dr. David Colnic
Outstanding Service in Faculty Governance: Dr. Paul O’Brien
Elizabeth Anne B. Papageorge Award: Dr. Anne Weisenberg
Outstanding Professor: Dr. Stephanie Paterson
Stephanie Paterson, Professor of English, has been selected as the Outstanding Professor. Letters and IDEA comments from current and former students illustrate her excellence in teaching and the meaningful impact she makes on our students. Professor Paterson teaches writing, including all of the fundamental skills required to effectively communicate through writing, in courses ranging from English 1000 (Introduction to Composition) to English 5894 (Teaching Composition and Literature). However, her most notable contribution to student learning involves inspiring and motivating students to enjoy writing. Professor Paterson approaches struggling students as “developing writers,” not as remedial or “basic” writers. As a result, students thrive in her classes and praise her teaching skills on IDEA forms and letters. Student comments spanning all of her classes had similar themes: newfound love of writing, self-reflection, and improved confidence in writing. One student wrote that “I learned that writing is essential not only for academics but for the soul as well.” Throughout her career at CSU Stanislaus, Professor Paterson has continued to publish and pursue scholarly interests, but she also inspires her students to seek publication and confidently share their work. She demonstrates her commitment to professional growth by developing her online literacy skills and learning to be a “21st century teacher.” Professor Paterson is well respected by her colleagues for her dedication to our students, consistent scholarship, and engagement in our local community.
Outstanding Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Professor: Dr. Bret E. Carroll
Bret Carroll, Professor of History, has been selected as the Outstanding Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Professor. By all accounts, Professor Carroll is an exemplary scholar. He has made significant contributions to the field of U.S. religious history, and his groundbreaking research has distinguished him as one of the nation’s foremost authorities on Spiritualism and masculinity studies. Perhaps most notable is the fact that Professor Carroll’s research and scholarship has served as the foundation for his teaching. He utilizes his scholarly work to encourage insightful analysis and critical thinking in the classroom. Not only does he consistently pursue research and pioneer scholarly frontiers, but his students benefit from instruction featuring current research by an accomplished scholar. Professor Carroll’s commitment to lifelong research and scholarship is commendable, and a colleague wrote that “he has been an engaged and productive scholar throughout his professional career while ensuring the highest level of commitment to outstanding teaching.”
Outstanding Community Service Professor: Dr. David Colnic
David Colnic, Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Administration, has been selected as the Outstanding Community Service Professor. Colleagues and students write with enthusiasm and praise about his dedication to our students and local community partnerships. One colleague commended Professor Colnic’s community service efforts when he wrote that that “his actions reflect and reinforce the positive impact members of the University community have on the surrounding region.” Professor Colnic’s incorporation of community service into his courses, as well as his efforts to locate and successfully place students into local internships, demonstrates his commitment to community engagement. His leadership of the Council for Sustainable Futures and facilitation of the annual Conference for Sustainable Futures motivates students, colleagues, and community members to advance sustainable practices locally and globally. One student wrote that “it is one thing to understand concepts from a textbook, and completely another to have a comprehensive experience of the concepts.” Professor Colnic provides his students and the broader community with these comprehensive experiences and encourages critical thinking and reflection.
Outstanding Service in Faculty Governance: Dr. Paul O’Brien
Paul O’Brien, Professor of Sociology, has been selected as the Outstanding Service in Faculty Governance Professor. Professor O’Brien has a distinguished record of active participation in faculty governance, and he has served and represented his colleagues at both the campus and system-wide level. His extensive participation in faculty governance includes dedicated committee membership, including nine years as the CSU Stanislaus campus representative on the State-wide Academic Senate (SWAS). Professor O’Brien’s impressive list of faculty governance membership includes, but is not limited to, representative on the CSU SWAS Executive Committee; chairman of the State-wide Health Advisory Committee and State-wide Teaching and Learning Committee; member of the CSU Stanislaus WASC Special Visit Research Team; membership on UBAC and FBAC; and chair of the HSS College Chairs’ Council. Professor O’Brien is well respected by his colleagues for his dedication and professional integrity, and he has demonstrated exceptional service and commitment to shared governance.
Elizabeth Anne B. Papageorge Award: Dr. Anne Weisenberg
Anne Weisenberg, Assistant Professor of Teacher Education, has been selected as the recipient of the Elizabeth Anne B. Papageorge Faculty Development Award. This award recognizes and encourages outstanding achievement by probationary faculty members. By all accounts, Professor Weisenberg is an exemplary teacher-scholar. Students appreciate her passion for teaching and her “hands-on” approach, which provides the students opportunities to work with children and enhance their understanding of effective teaching strategies. Professor Weisenberg demonstrates a commitment to teaching, pedagogical growth, and outstanding scholarly potential. Excellent teaching is informed by ongoing research, and she utilizes her scholarly work to provide insightful, real world lessons while encouraging students to reflect on their own experiences. Students excel under her guidance, as evidenced by her IDEA evaluations and student comments, and they are inspired and enthused by her teaching philosophy that learning should be “fun.” Professor Weisenberg is deeply respected by her colleagues, and nomination letters from colleagues repeatedly mentioned her passion for teaching, unquestioned integrity, personal reflection and creativity, and engagement with the campus and local community. Not only does she serve the campus by teaching and serving as the Coordinator of the Multiple Subject Credential Program, but she also builds meaningful relationships with the local community, such as her dedicated efforts at Wakefield Elementary School.