Ten Grad Students
Recognized For Outstanding Teaching

3-27-97

University Park, Pa. -- Penn State will present 10 students with Graduate Assistant Awards for Outstanding Teaching during the Student Awards Reception at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, April 6 at the Penn State Scanticon.

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 1997 winners are: James Anthony, mathematics; Brett D. Guenther, electrical engineering; Elisabeth A. Hale, ecology; Heather Hayton, comparative literature; Eric D. Johnson, mathematics; Paula Maccini, special education; Kelly Marsh, English; Jennifer M. Ritter, curriculum and instruction; Bruce Skaggs, business administration; and John J. Wall, psychology.

Anthony has taught four different courses ranging from remedial math to calculus for science and engineering majors. Students and faculty alike admire his dedication and enthusiasm for teaching and his effectiveness in building a rapport with students. A recipient of the Charles H. Hoover Award for Outstanding Teaching, Anthony offers weekly study and review sessions in addition to holding regular office hours.

Guenther led four recitation sections of Electrical Engineering 305, introduction to electronic measuring systems. During the fall of 1996 he was a graduate assistant for Electrical Engineering 414. Students appreciate the examples he presents in class, which are derived from his work experiences in industry. Guenther has maintained a 4.0 grade point average as a Ph.D. candidate in electrical engineering and has co-authored several journal articles.

Hale was a lecturer for biological sciences and a laboratory instructor for Wildlife and Fisheries Science 453. She also had opportunity to develop curriculum and serve as program assistant for a 4-H Aerospace/Environmental Camp NASA and NASA's Wallops Island Summer Research Experience. Hale is creative in her use of teaching aides, creating posters, handouts and color-coded twisty-tie models to explain complex topics such as DNA division.

Hayton is known in the English and comparative literature departments for her ability to inspire students to better express themselves through writing and to achieve their life goals. She has demonstrated great versatility, having taught a wide range of courses in comparative literature in addition to English 15.

Johnson served as a teaching assistant for Math 110 and 111 and has shown a knack for explaining material in a way that is accessible to students. Winner of the Charles H. Hoover Teaching Award, Johnson believes that a love for the subject matter and a relaxed but focused teaching environment, combined with organization and careful preparation, are key to effective instruction.

In addition to creating and implementing an instructional sequence that won rave reviews, Maccini is known for her work on undergraduate instruction. She is currently part of a research team investigating the use of case-based instruction by special education faculty nationwide. Maccini has taught Math Education 420 and Curriculum and Instruction 495B plus numerous special education courses.

Marsh began graduate work at Penn State as an M.A. candidate in English in 1991. Now she is working on her dissertation and has already had an article published in one of the most prestigious journals in English studies. Having taught seven different courses in English, writing and American literature, Marsh has consistently received top marks for her ability to facilitate learning.

Ritter has been a teaching assistant for Science Education 458 and Curriculum and Instruction 495, also serving as team leader for one of five teams charged with evaluating and coordinating a block of required courses. She engages students with an extensive repertoire of teaching strategies and has designed instruction that supports both individual and collaborative learning.

Skaggs has taught principles of management, strategic management and business and society and had responsibility for course design and grading. Skaggs' teaching philosophy emphasizes the development of both skills and knowledge by focusing on the reasoning process. Drawing upon his own enthusiasm and sense of humor, Skaggs challenges business students to dissect complex cases in a group setting and deliver well-supported presentations of their ideas.

For the past three years Wall has taught lab sections of Psychology 201W, an introductory research methods course required for all students majoring or minoring in psychology. Wall has served as a mentor and role model for new teaching assistants in the department. He strives to act as a catalyst for learning and encourages students to pursue their own interests, relating examples that fit the context of what he is teaching.

**kiw**

Contact: Karen Wagner (814) 863-4512 (office) kiw1@psu.edu
Christy Rambeau (814) 865-7517 (office) cmr7@psu.edu