Four colleges presented faculty members with awards for excellence in teaching, research and creativity at the close of the spring semester.
The Darden College of Education presented the Sarah and Rufus Tonelson Faculty Award to David Swain, associate professor of exercise science, research and professional service.
Swain's work on exercise prescription, in which he created the concept of VO2 Reserve, changed the national guidelines for prescribing exercise, said Charlene Fleener, instructor of educational curriculum and instruction, who presented the award.
Students consistently praise Swain in their evaluations, according to Brian Leutholtz, assistant professor of exercise science, physical education and recreation, who nominated Swain for the award. Evaluations have included such comments as: "I have learned sooo much in this course. I wish he taught every class in this program!" and "I have greatly enjoyed his lectures and feel I have gained tremendously from the class."
Additionally, Swain has increased revenues for the Wellness Institute and Research Center by more than $50,000 since taking over the direction of the institute in 1993. He was featured earlier this year in a Virginian-Pilot story about the creation of a supervised exercise program for older adults called ElderFitness.
The College of Arts and Letters presented the Robert L. Stern Award for Excellence in Teaching to Carolyn Lawes, assistant professor of history. The sole criterion for the award is quality of teaching.
In a nomination letter, Annette Finley-Croswhite, associate professor of history, wrote, "Lawes is deeply committed to teaching excellence and embodies what the term teacher-scholar really means. She brings her own research into the classroom and inspires her students to work hard and excel."
Student evaluations reflected this as well, including such comments as: "I only wish that she taught more classes that are in my curriculum" and "Dr. Lawes has an exceptional ability to convey material under diverse circumstances. She is also sensitive to the needs of all of her students" and "She made class worth getting up at 7:00 in the morning."
Susan Kent, professor of sociology, was presented the Charles O. and Elisabeth C. Burgess Faculty Research and Creativity Award. Kent has published, either as sole author or editor, seven books, and has numerous articles either in press or published in journals in her field. In addition, she has reviewed many journals, manuscripts and books.
Kent has traveled to the Kalahari Desert for her research and also has received support to survey and excavate African Stone Age sites during the summers of 1998 and 1999. In addition, she has an interest in gender and health issues, including the role of iron levels in the human body.
In a letter of support for Kent's nomination, a faculty member at Syracuse University wrote, "Sue's work is substantively very strong and innovative." A faculty member at the University of Alberta's anthropology department wrote, " I am constantly amazed at her productivity as a scholar, and her ability to conduct research in often trying physical circumstances."
The College of Arts and Letters also presented its Distinguished Adjunct Teaching Award to Mary El-Kadi. She was selected for the award based on student and colleague evaluations. El-Kadi, who has been with the department since 1994, has taught everything from basic general education courses to linguistics to an occasional graduate course.
The College of Health Sciences presented the Gene W. Hirschfeld Faculty Excellence Award to Evelyn M. Thomas-Lakey, senior lecturer of dental hygiene. In a letter of recommendation, Deanne Shuman, chair of the Hirschfeld School of Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting, wrote, "She has an excellent presentation style and is a clear and enthusiastic communicator." She added, "Students are highly complimentary in their student evaluations of her instruction. They particularly appreciate her personal involvement in their learning and availability for review of their assignments, tests and radiographs as well as answering questions outside of class time."
In another letter of support, a student wrote, "Her vivacious and friendly personality makes her class a pleasure. She is an excellent instructor whose passion for her profession is contagious!"
The morning before accepting the award, Thomson-Lakey ran a 5K race with fellow members of the Tidewater Striders running club. An active member, she also edits the club's 40-page monthly newsletter.
This spring, for the first time, the College of Engineering and Technology presented College Excellence Awards to faculty and staff members. The awards were established by Dean William Swart "to recognize the excellent performance of our faculty and staff in key areas . . . as judged by an appropriate committee of peers or customers."
The period of performance the nominees were judged on covered Jan. 1, 1996, through Dec. 31, 1998. Those honored were:
The college also recognized John "Jack" Stoughton, professor of electrical and computer engineering, for his outstanding contributions to making the master's and doctoral tracks in modeling and simulation a reality.
