The 2003 Outstanding Teachers of the Year Awards, designed to reward professorial excellence and accomplishment by UNM faculty, will be presented today to several instructors who have excelled in their positions.
Created to honor the most important activities performed by professors, the awards also recognize the hard work and dedication of faculty members, said Susan Deese Roberts, director of the Center for Scholarship, Teaching and Learning at UNM, which sponsors the annual awards.
"Most of these instructors spend countless hours outside of class preparing for the time they spend in the classroom," Deese Roberts said. "The best teachers not only mentor students, but they continually challenge them to do their best work, thereby improving the level of student learning."
The awards recognize three levels of teachers: tenured faculty, adjunct professors who have taught at UNM for at least four years and teaching assistants who have been on contract for the 2002-03 academic year.
The Outstanding Teachers of the Year award recipients include Michael Nakamaye, a professor of mathematics and statistics and Gordon Hodge, a psychology professor who said the award is the culmination of 26 years of teaching.
To be eligible for the award, faculty members are nominated by colleagues, alumni, deans or students.
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"I've received a number of awards over the years, but because this is a student-oriented award, I consider it to be my highest achievement," Hodge said.
He said he believes his use of multi-media teaching methods, incorporating as many types of material as possible to keep students enthused, attentive and interested in the subject, is one of the aspects of his teaching style that makes him successful.
Hodge added that he is proud of the part he has played in redesigning the introductory psychology courses at UNM to include online quizzes that students must repetitively take until they pass them, increasing the passing rate of students taking the classes by nearly 20 percent over the last three years.
"I believe students appreciate the effort we put into providing the highest quality education possible," Hodge said.
Nakamaye and Hodge will receive $2,000 and a plaque, to be presented by Provost Brian Foster. Lisa Broidy, a sociology professor, received honorable mention.
Adjunct Teachers or Lecturers of the Year Award recipients include John Caffo, a lecturer within the Physics and Astronomy Department; Dan Wolne, a lecturer in the Religious Studies program and Marissa Clark, an English Department lecturer.
"I'm utterly happy to receive this award," Clark said, adding that she is fortunate to teach a great group of students who come prepared to learn and love the class, which she said makes her job easier.
"The community spirit that exists in my classes helps me tremendously in being a successful teacher," she said. "I consider myself extremely lucky to be in such a great environment."
Nominees for the Adjunct Teacher of the Year Award can be nominated by colleagues, students or alumni. Recipients will receive $250 and a plaque, to be presented by Deese Roberts.
Outstanding Teaching Assistants of the Year recipients are Jana Giles, English; John Kemp, history; Patricia Catoira, Spanish and Portuguese; Christelle Gonthier, French; Brenda Nicodemus, linguistics; and Mary Rooks, English.
Nominees for the award can only be nominated by their department chairperson. Recipients will receive $400 and a plaque, to be presented by Teresita Aguilar, dean of graduate studies .
All of the awards are reviewed based upon a personal statement including the individual's teaching philosophy, the quality of recommendation letters from students and colleagues, student evaluations and samples of teaching materials.
The ceremony is from 2 - 4 p.m. at University House and is open to the public.
