From left, award winners Julie Tannenbaum,
Susana Terrell, Radhika Mongia, Paul Ortiz, and Jerome Neu are
joined by Committee on Teaching chair Charles McDowell, and
Chancellor Denton. Photo: Victor
Schiffrin, UCSC Photo Services
Academic Senate Announces 2004-05 Excellence
in Teaching Awards
By Louise Donahue
Six faculty members and 11 graduate teaching assistants who
have demonstrated “exemplary and inspiring teaching”
have received top honors from the UC Santa Cruz Academic Senate
Committee on Teaching and the Graduate Council.
The 2004-05 Excellence in Teaching Awards were presented by
Chancellor Denice D. Denton and Committee on Teaching chair
Charles McDowell on May 27 at University House.
Nominations for the annual honor are submitted by students.
The committee also reads a statement on teaching written by
the nominee, as well as a letter from the department chair.
The committee looks for evidence that the nominee has thought
deeply about teaching and learning, and effectively applies
that thinking in the classroom.
Teaching assistant award winners are selected by the Graduate
Council from nominations by faculty.
The awards include $500 in cash for faculty members and $200
for graduate students.
Faculty winners, followed by the text on their certificates,
are:
Radhika Mongia, women’s studies, “for challenging
and sensitive teaching of women’s studies, for difficult
questions, close reading, and constructive feedback, for outstanding
commitment to students’ intellectual and personal growth.”
Jerome Neu, humanities, “for inspirational and interdisciplinary
teaching of philosophy, for offering intellectual challenges,
guidance, feedback, and respect, for engaging students in a
search for knowledge, and self-knowledge.”
Paul Ortiz, community studies, “for exceptional
dedication in teaching community studies, for understanding
that reading, critical thinking, and collaboration are empowering,
for matching high expectations with encouragement and mentoring.”
Grant Pogson, ecology and evolutionary biology, “for
extraordinary commitment to teaching evolutionary biology, for
fascinating examples, clarity of presentation, and sensitivity
to students, for sharing the excitement of science with the
next generation of biologists.” The Committee on Teaching
selected Pogson for a new award added this year, the Ron Ruby
Award for Teaching Excellence in the Division of Physical and
Biological Sciences.
Julie Tannenbaum, philosophy, “for engaging
and effective teaching of philosophy, for fostering shared inquiry
through listening, critical thinking, and self-reflection, for
connecting philosophy with experience.”
Susana Terrell, art, “for exceptional creativity
in teaching drawing, for encouraging personal expression along
with technique and discipline, while fostering a community of
artists in the classroom.”
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award winners are Krista
Lynes, history of consciousness; Jo Ann Sison, psychology;
Garima Vasishtha, international economics; Barbara
Barnes, sociology; David Namie, literature; Ethan
Arenson, computer science; Daniel Simon, physics;
Oren Rosen, mathematics; Tamara Ball, education;
Jessica O'Reilly, anthropology; Elise Ferree,
EE biology.
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