Ten Grad Students Display Outstanding Teaching Abilities With Awards

4-1-96
University Park, Pa. -- Penn State will present 10 students with Graduate Assistant Awards for Outstanding Teaching during the Student Awards Reception Monday, April 8, at 4:30 p.m. in the Nittany Lion Inn.

The award, jointly sponsored by the Graduate School and the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education, recognizes graduate students for superior teaching in the areas of physical science and engineering, life sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and the arts and humanities.

The selection committee judges nominees on several criteria, including effectiveness of their presentations, use of clear and fair evaluation procedures, accessibility to their students and sensitivity to individual differences in the classroom.

The 1996 award winners are: Brian B. Anderson from Arlington, Va., political science; Kelly Sue Bricker from Angels Camp, Calif., leisure studies; Susan Carpenter from Sydney, Australia, geosciences; Matt DiCintio from Reading, educational psychology; James F. Fairbank from Riverside, Calif., management and organization; David A. Gall from Christ Church, Barbados, art education; J. William Hug from Pine Grove Mills, science education/curriculum and instruction; Harvey Quamen from Sioux Falls, S.D., English; Gregg V. Thomas from Seattle, Wash., theatre arts; and Ethel Wheland from Tyrone, mathematics.

Anderson has taught five different political science courses in addition to independent sections of two courses, an assignment reserved for the department's most promising scholars and very best teachers. Students and colleagues alike describe Anderson as a dedicated teacher who always attempts to bring real-life experiences into classroom discussions.

Bricker is currently in her second year as a teaching assistant in leisure studies, and was so successful in teaching one of her courses that she was later asked to assume responsibility for it. Her reputation for solid preparation has caught the attention of many of her peers, and some professors admire her abilities so much that they have invited her to be a guest speaker for their own classes.

Carpenter, who has taught three different geosciences classes, is considered by her department to be one of the best of its more than 20 graduate instructors. Also, Carpenter has played an important role in developing new laboratory material and experimenting with innovative teaching methods. She was asked to be the head teaching assistant in one of the department's larger undergraduate laboratory courses.

DiCintio was one of five student teachers who handled a large undergraduate course during the 1992-93 academic year, and was so successful that he later assumed teaching responsibilities for an educational psychology course. DiCintio uses various instructional techniques to challenge students to learn new information and use it in many ways.

Fairbank is responsible for three different management courses, and often uses discussion, group activities and audiovisual aids to help illustrate the application of course concepts. Fairbank grounds his work in his teaching philosophy, and strives to serve as a catalyst in making the classroom a place of interactive and collaborative learning.

Gall, a Fulbright scholar from Barbados who has lived in India for several years, has taught several sections of the University's introductory art course. His international flavor is often applauded as a source of multicultural perspectives in the classroom. Colleagues say he presents difficult concepts clearly, and students have been impressed by his emphasis on interaction in the classroom.

Students have rated Hug's instructional abilities in science education so high that they far exceed University averages and are considered exemplary for any teaching category, even that of full-time faculty. He has been highly praised for his ability to connect with his students, which often transcends differences in cultural backgrounds.

Quamen, who has teaching responsibility for sections of the English department's basic writing and rhetoric and composition classes, has been applauded for creating an atmosphere of respect and trust in the classroom. Students admire his ability to spark interest in almost any topic, often involving even the shyest students in the process.

Thomas' work with three theatre courses at Penn State have not been limited only to teaching, but have also entailed substantial stage directing responsibilities as well. His dedicated interest and patience in the classroom recognizes students' successes and fosters in them a sense of self-confidence.

Wheland has taught numerous math courses, including two for which she has teaching responsibilities. Her high expectations encourage her students to excel. Also, students admire Wheland's ability to break down complex concepts into simple and easy to understand terms.

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For more information contact Alan Janesch (axj12@psu.edu) or Christy Rambeau (cmr7@psu.edu) at (814)865-7517