Inaugural Winners of University Distinguished Teacher Award Announced
Betsy Kennedy
Terry Kubichan
Nathan Luetke
Betsy S. Kennedy (Recreation and Tourism Studies), Terry Kubichan (Accounting) and Nathan Luetke (Engineering Technology) are the first winners of the new University Distinguished Teacher Award. They will be recognized at Old Dominion's annual Faculty Awards and Retirement Dinner on May 6.
This award was created in 2013 to recognize outstanding teachers at the undergraduate level from among non-tenure track faculty members. It parallels the University Professor Award, which is open to tenure-track and tenured faculty.
Faculty members who are designated University Distinguished Teacher will hold the title permanently, be so identified in university publications, and receive an annual monetary award of discretionary funds to support their professional development for four years following their designation. Recommendations for the award are made to the provost by a faculty committee.
Kennedy is a senior lecturer of recreation and tourism studies in the Department of Human Movement Sciences. She joined ODU in 1993 and has taught undergraduate courses on therapeutic recreation, including its clinical aspects and medical documentation, as well as courses on disabilities and aging. Students praise the service learning experiences that she has developed. Kennedy has received a recognition award for excellence in leadership and distinguished service from the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.
Kubichan is senior lecturer in the Department of Accounting. She joined the ODU faculty in 1995. She has taught basic principles of accounting classes for many years and has also taught upper-level undergraduate courses through distance learning. She is known as a rigorous grader who cares about her students and gets excellent student evaluations.
Luetke is a senior lecturer in the Department of Engineering Technology. He joined the university in 2006. He has taught courses on thermo-fluids, engineering graphics and solid modeling. He coordinates the Thermo Fluids Lab and the Material Science Lab and is faculty adviser to two student groups. His students comment on his effectiveness in class and his readiness to help.