ODU Honors Four Tenured Faculty Members with “University Professor” Title
February 19, 2015
On the recommendation of the University Professor Committee, the designation of University Professor was recently conferred by Provost Carol Simpson on four tenured faculty: Annette Finley-Croswhite (History), Ling Li (Information Technology and Decision Sciences), Ed Gomez (Human Movement Sciences) and Charles Hyde (Physics).
The 2015 awardees will be recognized at the University's annual Faculty Awards and Retirement Reception Dinner scheduled for Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 5.30 p.m. in the North Café/ Hampton Newport News Rooms of the Webb University Center.
The University Professor designation honors the best teachers among the tenured faculty at Old Dominion University. The designation is held as long as the faculty member is employed at Old Dominion University and carries a financial stipend for four years.
Annette Finley-Croswhite has taught history at Old Dominion University since 1991. She won the Robert L. Stern for Excellence in Teaching in the College of Arts and Letters, in 1994, and the Kate Broderick Faculty Award for Excellence in Promoting Educational Accessibility, in 2014. One student wrote of her, "While attending her classes, it was very clear how passionate she was about the subject matter she was teaching. She was also very helpful and attentive to her students, as their success was imperative to her."
Ling Li won the Outstanding Teaching Award of the College of Business in 2013 and the Provost's Award for Leadership in International Education in 2014. She has taught sixteen different courses at Old Dominion University. A student states, "Dr. Li is a phenomenal professor and role model. Her teaching style is interactive and informative while her breadth of knowledge is unparalleled. As a female within the business sector, I was so impressed upon meeting Dr. Li as she resembled much of what I aspire to be.".
Ed Gomez, associate professor of human movement sciences, has taught Old Dominion students since 2000. He won the Teaching Innovation and Excellence Award of the Darden College of Education in 2009 and the College's Service Award in 2012. He was also awarded a Champion of Diversity Award in 2013. He has taught 13 undergraduate courses in his field and is undergraduate program coordinator of the parks, recreation and tourism undergraduate program. One of his students remarked, "Dr. Gomez is a great teacher who has a way of keeping you engaged and focused on the material being taught in class."
Charles E. Hyde, professor of physics, has taught at Old Dominion University since 1993. He has won the faculty excellence award in the College of Sciences (2006); the Provost's Award for Leadership in International Education (2014) and was recognized as college outstanding undergraduate advisor (2013). His work in promoting interaction and learning in the classroom has won the praise of his peers. A student commented that Hyde is "by far my favorite professor for physics. I am retaking this class and I have learned more than I ever expected."