Outstanding OSU faculty honored by regents, share teaching philosophies
Friday, September 10, 2010
Eight Oklahoma State University faculty members in Stillwater were honored Sept. 10 when they were named the 2010 recipients of the Regents Distinguished Teaching Award.
This was the 20th year in which outstanding faculty members were recognized for their expertise and dedication to teaching. The awards were approved during the meeting of the Oklahoma State University/A&M Board of Regents. Receiving the prestigious awards are:
• Leon J. Spicer, animal science professor
• John I. Gelder, chemistry professor
• Patricia L. Hipsher, political science associate professor
• Kevin E. Voss, marketing associate professor
• Mary Jo Self, teaching and curriculum leadership associate professor
• Sohum A. Sohoni, electrical and computer engineering assistant professor
• Lenka H. Shriver, nutritional sciences assistant professor
• Sandra E. Morgan, physiological sciences associate professor
They will receive a permanent annual salary increment of $1,000, plus fringe benefits.
Each college nominates up to three people for the award. A review and selection committee composed of an undergraduate and a graduate student, two faculty members at large, two department heads and the provost, identifies the winners. Each college has one recipient except the College of Arts and Sciences, which has two recipients due to the large number of faculty.
Spicer received his B.S. in animal science from the University of Minnesota, his M.S. in animal science and endocrine physiology from the University of Idaho, and his Ph.D. in dairy science/reproductive endocrinology from Michigan State University. He joined the OSU faculty in 1988. “I strive to maintain a scholarly approach to teaching and learning,” Spicer said. “I work hard to be a student of teaching with as much passion and energy as I expect of my students.”
Gelder received his B.S. from Western Washington University and his M.S. from the University of Wisconsin, both in chemistry, and his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the University of Arizona. “Since I began teaching at OSU in 1977, not only have students changed but the technology available to students to learn and for teachers to teach has significantly changed,” Gelder said. “The use of technology in my teaching is an exciting opportunity to me. The challenge is to use technology effectively in a way that makes learning more effective.”
Hipsher received her B.A. degree in political science from Kansas State University, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in comparative politics from Cornell University. Prior to joining the OSU faculty in 1996 she spent three years as an assistant professor at Quinnipiac College. “To the extent possible, all teaching and learning should be authentic,” she said. “Students should have plenty of opportunities to explore, discuss and meaningfully construct their own knowledge by making connections between new knowledge and prior knowledge.
Voss received his B.A., M.B.A., and Ph.D. from Washington State University, all in business administration. He joined the OSU faculty in 1999. “I have adopted a set of policies that seem out of date with our times,” he said. “I do not reply to student e-mail. If students want to have a conversation with me, they need to come to my office and talk face-to-face. My goal is to force as many students as possible to visit my office so that I can get to know them on a personal basis.”
Self received her B.S. in vocational home economics from OSU, her M.S. in home economics professional services from the University of Central Oklahoma, and her Ed.D. in occupational and adult education from OSU, and joined the OSU faculty in 2000. “Teachers are asked every day to change—change their practice and change students’ levels of knowledge,” she said. “I try diligently to model for others a positive and proactive approach to change, whether it is in courses I teach, assignments I might give or in the manner in which I advise students.”
Sohoni received his B.E. in electrical engineering from the Government College of Engineering in Pune, India, and his Ph.D. in computer engineering from the University of Cincinnati. He joined the OSU faculty in 2005. “I’ve always viewed education as something more than a transfer of information from faculty to students,” he said. “At the core of the college experience is a student’s growth in creativity, critical thinking, maturity and awareness of society.”
Shriver received her B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in nutritional sciences from OSU, and joined the faculty in 2006. “I am passionate about teaching and I love sharing my nutrition knowledge, experiences and enthusiasm with my students both in the classroom and outside the classroom environment,” she said.
Morgan received her B.S. degree and her doctor of veterinary medicine from OSU and joined the OSU faculty in 1987. “After 28 years of teaching veterinary students, I would like to think that my best accomplishment is the fact that I believe that I have achieved my original goal of helping veterinary students to be better prepared for whatever road they decide to go down,” she said.