Andison, Barlow Awards Recognize Faculty Excellence
Randy Jacques and Stephany Slaughter are the 2011 recipients of the Andison Awards for Excellence in Teaching at Alma College, while Nicola Findley and Catherine Fobes have received this year’s Barlow Awards for Faculty Excellence.
The Andison Awards, supported by a gift from Thomas Andison, recognizes excellence in teaching through pedagogical innovation, creative activities with students, and superior teaching. Faculty members nominate their colleagues for the award. The president selects the recipients, who each receive $1,000 cash grants.
Randy Jacques
Jacques, professor of business administration, has taught at Alma College since 1977. His nominators praised him for his “thoughtfulness about the classroom, including the way he carefully assesses and revises his classes to make complex subject matter more clear.”
He also was commended for his patience, congeniality and skill at inspiring students across a wide range of abilities. According to his nominator, “His long record of successful placement and alumni success provides compelling evidence of the thoroughness with which he prepares his students to confront a rapidly changing discipline.”
Jacques is a member of the American Accounting Association. He has an MBA from Wayne State University.
Stephany Slaughter
Slaughter, assistant professor of modern language-Spanish, joined the Alma faculty in 2008. She was nominated for “her deep commitment to fostering critical thinking in her students” and her desire “to interact with students both in class and around campus.”
A field producer for the Oscar-nominated documentary “Which Way Home,” Slaughter also was commended for her ability to help students rethink migrant labor and immigration issues in Michigan. “In her activities, Stephany urges students to do more — and to do it better than they are used to doing,” wrote a nominator.
Slaughter has research interests in modern Latin American literatures and cultures, border studies, cultural studies and cinema studies. She has a Ph.D. from Ohio State University.
The Barlow Awards, first presented in 1982, recognize faculty members for excellence in teaching, scholarly or creative work, and college and community service. Recipients receive $1,000 cash grants.
Recipients are nominated by faculty, administrators, alumni and student Barlow Trophy nominees and reviewed by the Faculty Personnel and the Barlow Award committees. The president selects the awardees.
Nicola Findley
Findley, associate professor of education and chair of the education department, was nominated for her efforts in conforming the College’s teacher education program to State of Michigan requirements and standards.
“Her service to the College is exemplary,” wrote her nominator. “She has risen to the challenge of making sure our Education Department not only is in compliance with state regulations but also provides an excellent foundation for our students.”
A member of the Alma faculty since 2001, Findley has research interests in curriculum and instruction, civic engagement and service learning, interdisciplinary teaching and learning, literacy and language arts, and social studies education. She has a Ph.D. in curriculum, teaching and educational policy from Michigan State University.
Catherine Fobes
Fobes, professor of sociology and anthropology, was nominated for her passion for teaching and demonstrating social justice through in-class demonstrations, presentations and performances.
“It is not uncommon for her to exclaim boisterously or run across the classroom during lecture points of great importance,” wrote one of her nominators. “Her antics are not premeditated or mere strategies of teaching, but are natural and fueled by a sincere enthusiasm for sociology. Her zealous teaching style inspires her students.”
A member of the Alma faculty since 1998, Fobes has research interests in aging, work, gender, women’s health, family, complex organizations and sociological methods. She has a Ph.D. from Florida State University.
The Barlow Awards are made possible by a gift from Joel Barlow to recognize faculty members who have “contributed the most, by their work and example, often at personal sacrifice, to furthering the education mission of the college.”
Posted: Thu, April 28th, 2011 at 8:12AM
