Sarah Buchanan, associate professor of French
2007 recipient

Nominated by colleagues, current students, and alumni, Buchanan is noted for a teaching style that exudes infectious energy and enthusiasm—contagious to both students and colleagues.

Tammy Berberi, assistant professor of French, states: "Sarah is a passionate and capable teacher…popular and highly respected.”

A member of the UMM faculty since 2000, Buchanan teaches a variety of courses including French, French Cinema,West African Francophone Cinema, Contemporary France, and Feminist Theory. She leads two study abroad programs: Morocco: Myth, Stories, History and July in Paris. An avid study abroad advocate, she says, “Americans can travel four or five days before entering another country. We risk being rather insular. It is therefore vital for Americans to go abroad, to learn about other people, their histories, their cultures, their languages, and their ways of solving problems. Living and studying in another country pushes one intellectually and individually, but even more important, it’s fun!”

Buchanan earned a doctorate in 20th century francophone literature and film from the University of Minnesota; a master of arts in French literature from the University of Utah, Salt Lake City; and a bachelor of arts in French from St. Olaf College, Northfield.

(From the 2007 news story)

Janet Schrunk Ericksen, associate professor of English
2006 recipient

Nominated by teaching colleagues, current students, and alumni, Schrunk Ericksen is noted for a teaching style that emphasizes high expectations of each and every student and a willingness to help her students be successful, in and out of the classroom. As colleague Jim Togeas, professor of chemistry, states: “Janet’s courses are not the place for loafers. She is a demanding teacher and a tough grader.” But students seek her out for the thoughtful, caring individual attention they receive, and her lively, enthusiastic classroom presence.

A faculty member since 1998, Schrunk Ericksen teaches a variety of courses including Norse Sagas, British Literature, Analysis of Poetry, and Medieval Literature. She has served as discipline coordinator, as assistant chair of the Humanities Division, and as a mentor to tenure-track Humanities Division faculty. Her fields of scholarly study include Medieval language and literature including Old English, Old Norse, German, French, Icelandic, and Latin.

Schrunk Ericksen earned a master of arts and doctorate in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She earned a bachelor of arts in art history and English from the University of Hull, Northumberland, United Kingdom, and the University of Kansas.

(From the 2006 news story)

Pareena Lawrence, associate professor of economics and management
2005 recipient

Mention daily assignments and some college students might groan—not so for students in Pareena Lawrence’s economics courses. Their appreciative thanks for her unique teaching style, which includes daily assignments at the end of each lecture period, and accolades from her colleagues earned Lawrence the honor of receiving the UMM Teaching Award.

Lawrence holds fast to three basic teaching principles: treat students as active partners in the learning process; communicate high academic and personal expectations for students; model and teach critical thinking skills. The group exercises she assigns to reinforce each day’s lecture materials illustrate these tenets. Problem solving, discussions, simulations, and service learning activities provide immediate opportunities to reinforce and to apply concepts presented in lecture.

“While these exercises are instrumental in learning the material,” notes Joshua Hilman ’00, Benfield, Inc. senior analyst,“they also force students to critically think and develop analytical skills. These abilities that were developed in her classes are the driving factors in my success in the work place since graduation.”

Lawrence began her UMM career in 1994 after completing a doctorate in economics at Purdue University in 1993. She earned a master of science in economics at Purdue University in 1990 and a master of arts in economics in 1989 at the University of Delhi in Delhi, India, where she also completed her undergraduate degree in 1987.

(From the 2005 news story)

Gwen Rudney, associate professor of elementary education
2004 recipient

Gwen Rudney earned teaching certification, a bachelor of science, a master of science, and a doctorate from the University of California, Riverside. She joined the UMM faculty in 1991. “Morris was the only interview where students were clearly involved and active in the entire interview process,” remembers Rudney. “That was very important to me.

Rudney expressed gratitude for receiving the award. "To have other people choose me, it’s indescribable. It’s exciting because teaching is so important to me. To be honored for it is amazing.”

In addition to teaching responsibilities, Rudney serves on a committee that coordinates the elementary education program at UMM. Her research involves multicultural education, student teacher mentoring, and parent-teacher relationships. She authored Maximum Mentoring: An Action Guide for Teacher Trainers and Cooperating Teachers, published in 2003, and is currently writing a second book. Rudney serves her profession as chair of the selection panel for the Minnesota Teacher of the Year.

Rudney is proud to teach her students the skills they will use to teach their own students one day, and says, “All students deserve good teachers.”

(From the 2004 news story)

Pieranna Garavaso, professor of philosophy
2003 recipient

A member of the philosophy faculty since 1991, Garavaso earned a bachelor of arts and a master of arts in philosophy from the University of Padova in Italy. She holds a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

Garavaso works to integrate multi-cultural and gender perspectives into the philosophy curriculum. As she points out, most analytic philosophers have not included issues of race, class, gender, or social discrimination in their curricula. With the help of a Minority Partner, Garavaso tackled this difficulty by surveying students concerning the public image of philosophy at UMM. It was concluded that philosophy is usually regarded by students as abstract, even abstruse, and impractical. Responding to these perceptions, she added a service learning component to an introductory course in feminist philosophy.

"Pieranna possessed the ability to challenge and engage students. Her students were active learners. I have used her example daily during my two years as a Peace Corps volunteer and as a teacher in inner-city schools," states Jana Hilleren Garcia '94.

Kevin Klement '95, assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, states: "I cannot think of a single instructor whom I try more to emulate. Because students generally come to college with no training in logic and many struggle with its most simple and basic concepts, logic instructors find themselves having to find a way to reach students whose standpoint is almost entirely alien. Pieranna is able to reach these students in almost every case due to her endless patience and sympathy."

(From the 2003 news story)

Nancy Carpenter, associate professor of chemistry
2002 recipient

"Dr. Carpenter puts her students ahead of everything else in her career," states student Kelly Gorres and Van Gooch, professor of biology, in making this nomination.

Carpenter uses a variety of teaching methods in order to engage each student in active learning. She uses helpful analogies such as comparing magnetic anisotropy to preparing for winter in Minnesota, chemical bonding to shopping with a friend, and the mechanisms of nucleophilic substitution to dealing with a less-than-perfect roommate. The fundamental principle that underlies her teaching is her stubborn insistence on trying "to help students learn to think. I want them to take with them the process of problem solving."

Carpenter's advising is an extension of her teaching style. It is much more than course selection and checking graduation requirements. Many students have attributed, in a major way, their success of getting into graduate school or obtaining their first job to her valuable guidance.

Carpenter is an educational leader. She saw semester conversion, the lack of a program in biochemistry, and the need for more undergraduate research opportunities not as problems but rather, as a plan waiting to be assembled. She brought the issues together through curriculum proposals, attending committee meetings and writing grants. The result has been a stronger chemistry curriculum and a biochemistry option for students.

A faculty member since 1989, Carpenter earned a master of science and doctorate in chemistry at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

(From the 2002 news story)

Paula O'Loughlin, assistant professor of political science
2001 recipient

Paula O'Loughlin combines her naturally entertaining, caring, exuberant personality with content and techniques that challenge and expand students' experiences.

She took advantage of the unusual Minnesota governor's race in 1998 by having students design their own research on Jesse Ventura's campaign success and eventual victory. Students have critically assessed the problem of low voter turnout, especially among young voters. They have used that information to implement ways to "get out the vote" using voter education and registration drives—an important service-learning activity. O'Loughlin works tirelessly as an adviser and in searching for the "right" quality internship experiences for students at local, state, and federal government levels. In addition, O'Loughlin's teaching activities include research with individual students through directed studies, Morris Academic Partners, and the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.

Roland Guyotte, professor of history, states: "Paula has revitalized the political science offerings by introducing timely and important courses on media and politics, political participation and voting behavior, American political culture, the cross-national study of women and politics, and the cross-disciplinary political psychology course. Paula is certainly leaving her imprint on the academic offerings at UMM."

Paula earned a bachelor of science from Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota.

(From the 2001 news story)

Jon Anderson, associate professor of mathematics
2000 recipient

Andy Lopez, professor of computer science, and Engin Sungur, associate professor of mathematics, and UMM statistics major Gina Garding '99, state: "...Dr. Jon Anderson is a rare jewel that shines even in an institution that is blessed with an unusually high number of gifted teachers. He helps his students to gain their confidence with his relaxed and informal style and leads them to success with various innovative techniques and tools. His endless energy, enthusiasm, personality, and knowledge continuously make a huge positive impact on the academic success of his undergraduate students."

Anderson has written extensively in the area of mathematics and, in 1997-98, received a grant from the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs for further analysis of domestic violence survey data. He served as a co-investigator in 1996-97 for a survey on domestic violence in west central Minnesota.

Anderson joined the UMM faculty in 1994. He earned a doctorate in biostatistics, a master of science in statistics, and a bachelor of science in economics from the University of Minnesota.

(From the 2000 news story)

Bart Finzel, associate professor of economics and management
1999 recipient

Bart Finzel earned a bachelor of science in economics from Valparaiso University, Indiana, and a master of arts and doctorate in economics from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. He joined the UMM faculty in 1989. The nominations committee states: "Almost immediately upon his arrival on this campus, students were enthused about his classroom performance. This enthusiasm has persisted, and it has become clear that it accompanies demanding and highly effective instruction."

Finzel holds his students to high standards. "Students are wary of this reputation [of being tough] but never shy away from taking his classes. As students, we realized that the tougher the course, the more we learn, and the more we would retain," states Angel Gibson '96.

Reid Sorenson '98 states: "Bart believes that we will take what we have learned and create our own thoughts and ideas. He forced us to quit following and to start thinking for ourselves."

In addition to teaching and research, Finze is viewed as a remarkable adviser and mentor. He is accessible, approachable, and familiar with student situations.

The nominations committee states: "The most effective undergraduate education entails high expectation for all students, active forms of learning, coherent curricula, and effective out-of-classroom opportunities. These characteristics describe Bart Finzel's philosophy and practice of teaching. Moreover, he embodies these principles in a way that transforms his students.”

(From the 1999 news story)

Peh Ng, assistant professor of mathematics
1998 recipient

As chair of the UMM Functions and Awards Committee, Elizabeth Blake states: "The Committee was impressed by Peh's obvious enthusiasm for teaching and by her extraordinary dedication to students, including such evidence as her informal meetings with them, her home page on the Web, and her participation in extracurricular student activities. It is clear that her courses and research projects are challenging. Yet, because she provides support to help students get through the work successfully, they giver her extremely favorable evaluations."

In his letter of support, Michael Korth, chair of the division of science and mathematics states: "Peh is an exuberant teacher who displays tremendous enthusiasm for her subject and a great deal of energy in presenting it to her students. She utilizes a variety of teaching methods in order to engage each student in an active learning experience in her classroom. She is known among students to be a very challenging teacher, but one who provides students with support that helps them rise to the challenge. Her teaching emphasizes student participation both in the classroom and in hands-on projects."

Among her many professional achievements, Ng was awarded a grant in 1996 from Northwest Airlines Corporation to study mathematical modeling for onboard services, and also from the UMM Faculty Enrichment Program funded by the Bush Foundation. Ng earned a bachelor of science in mathematics and physics from Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan, and a master of science and doctorate from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.

(From the 1998 news story)

Christopher Cole, associate professor of biology
1997 recipient

A faculty member since 1989, Cole teaches genetics, plant biology, molecular biology, and conservation biology.

"I teach out of fascination with and love for the living world and gratitude to the teachers who opened this biology to me. I feel honored by the curiosity and effort students bring as I get to pass this on to them. I go into classes looking forward to the people there and to this opportunity," Cole says.

In nominating Professor Cole for the award, several students cited his "dynamic teaching style, experience in research, broad knowledge of current research, and friendly personality." They appreciate his "open door" policy and accessibility as an adviser and mentor.

A Minnesota native, Cole earned a bachelor of science from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and master of science and doctorate from the University of Minnesota.

(From the 1997 news story)