|
The 2006 Teacher of the Year is Dr. Robert Watson (right), an associate professor of political science in the Dororthy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters. Dr. Watson will receive the award at the 2006 Honors Convocation, to be held on April 11 at 5 p.m. The Honors Convocation has been held annually since 1969, making it one of FAU’s longest-running traditions.
Dr. Watson is the author or editor of 25 books. He has also published more than 100 scholarly articles and chapters on such topics as the presidency, women in politics, environmental policy, civil rights, election reform, national security and American politics. A frequent media commentator, he has been interviewed several hundred times by local and national news outlets, including CNN, MSNBC, ABC and USA Today, and he has appeared on C-SPAN's Book TV program.
Dr. Watson has served on the boards of several scholarly journals, educational associations, and presidential foundations, convened a half-dozen national conferences on the presidency and lectured at universities and historic presidential sites across the country. An active volunteer in the community, he has won awards such as the "Children's Hero Award" (Children's Advocacy Council) for the numerous civic programs he offers to area schools and community groups. He is a past winner of both the International Abraham Lincoln award for his service to the study of the presidency and FAU's faculty service award.
"I think the key to successful teaching is to respect your students," Dr. Watson says. "To lead by example -- how would it look if I were to challenge them to serve their communities if I were not actively involved in such service? -- and to not only impart to them facts and information but, more important, a love of learning and a challenge to be the best that they can be."
The Teacher of the Year selection process starts when student committees from each college review nominations submitted by students. Each college submits a finalist to a University-wide committee comprised of student representatives from all the colleges. The committee reviews each finalist’s personal statement, resumé and portfolio. The finalists also interview with the committee and offer short teaching presentations. In addition to Dr. Watson, this year's finalists are Dr. Valerie Bryan, adult and community education, College of Education; Dr. Shirley Gordon, nursing, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing; Dr. Mary Ann Gosser Esquilin, Spanish and comparative literature, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College; Dr. Pradeep Korgaonkar, marketing, College of Business; Dr. Peter Magyar, architecture, College of Architecture, Urban and Public Affairs; Dr. Monica Rosselli, psychology, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science; and Dr. Zvi Roth, electrical engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science.
The ceremony will also recognize the following awardees:
UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS for 2005-06
College of Architecture, Urban and Public Affairs – Kate Van Wormer
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters – Amy Price
College of Business – Maira Masood
College of Engineering and Computer Science – Stephanie Brown
Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College – Meg Selby
Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing – Myrland Maingrette
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science – Jordan Zeigler
PHI KAPPA PHI SCHOLARS for 2005-06
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters – Harrison Fluss
College of Business – Alecia Wachtstetter
FEMALE STUDENT ACADEMIC ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 2005-06
Makra Condill, volleyball, business
MALE STUDENT ACADEMIC ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 2005-06
Frederick Marshall, basketball, political science
UNIVERSITY CLUB SCHOLAR 2005-06
Amanda Kennedy, Harriet L. Wilkes Honor College
STAN AND RENEE WIMBERLY SCHOLAR 2005-06
Alex Opritsa, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2005-06
Dr. Gregg B. Fields
Professor of the Year – Sponsored/Project Oriented, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Dr. Rozzano C. Locsin
Professor of the Year – Scholarly/Creative, Nursing
Dr. Iris Berent
Associate Professor of the Year – Sponsored/Project Oriented, Psychology
Dr. Andrew Furman
Associate Professor of the Year – Scholarly/Creative, English
Dr. Salvatore D. Lepore
Assistant Professor of the Year – Sponsored/Project Oriented, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Dr. Christopher B. Strain
Assistant Professor of the Year – Scholarly/Creative, History/American Studies
UNIVERSITY TEACHING AND ADVISING AWARDS 2005-06
Excellence and Innovation in Undergraduate Teaching
College of Architecture, Urban and Public Affairs – Dr. Aron Temkin
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters – Dr. Patricia Kollander
College of Business – Dr. Karen Chinander
College of Engineering and Computer Science – Dr. Daniel Raviv
Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College – Dr. Wairimu Njambi
Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College – Dr. Eugene Smith
Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing – Dr. Cynthia Blum
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science – Dr. Natalie Belenky
Excellence and Innovation in Undergraduate Advising
Academic Support Services, Undergraduate Programs – Betty Colson
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letter – Stacie Lee Rossow
Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College – Paul Kirchman
The Alumni “Degree of Difference ” Award will also be announced at the event.
|