UCF Honors Outstanding Faculty at Founders' Day

By Courtney Gilmartin April 1, 2009

Photo: Jacque Brund

Eric Van Stryland (right), a professor in the College of Optics and Photonics, receives his award from MJ Soileau, vice president for Research and Commercialization.

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The following honors were awarded to UCF faculty members at the annual Founders’ Day ceremony.  Stories on the winners of the Pegasus Professor Awards, professors who were granted emeritus status and students who were awarded Founders Day honors are featured separately.

University Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching: Peter Larson, College of Arts and Humanities. Larson, an assistant professor of History, specializes in Medieval English History.  In three years, he has taught seven different undergraduate courses and three different graduate courses, and his courses are always among the first in his department to fill. In addition to teaching, Larson has made significant contribution to the UCF community by working with many campus organizations, including the Burnett Honors College and the President’s Scholars Study Abroad Program.

Winners from each college were: Harry Coverston, Tison Pugh and Terry Ann Thaxton, College of Arts and Humanities; Melissa B. Frye and Anne Marie Whyte, College of Business Administration; Michelle J. Kelley and Karen W. Verkler, College of Education; Larry Chew and Kevin R. Mackie, College of Engineering and Computer Science; Kristen C. Schellhase and David Segal, College of Health and Public Affairs; Ken Teter, College of Medicine; and George Bagley, Terri Susan Fine, Haripada Saha, Walter Sotero and Laurence von Kalm, College of Sciences.

University Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching: Jennifer Kent-Walsh, College of Health and Public Affairs.  Kent-Walsh joined the UCF faculty in 2003 and specializes in Communication Sciences and Disorders.  She has incorporated her love for helping children with communication disorders into the students’ curriculum by establishing a service-learning program that enables her students to interact professionally and personally with people who have disabilities. Her peers praise her for exceeding departmental expectations while always maintaining a high level of enthusiasm. 

Winners from each college were: Melody A. Bowdon, College of Arts and Humanities; Michael R. Caputo, College of Business Administration; Oliver W. Edwards, College of Education; Quanfang Chen, College of Engineering and Computer Science; Mary Lou Sole, College of Nursing; Patrick LiKamWa, College of Optics and Photonics; and Tosha Dupras, College of Sciences.

University Award for Excellence in Distinguished Research: Eric W. Van Stryland, College of Optics and Photonics.  As a pioneering contributor to nonlinear optics, Van Stryland has created standards throughout his industry.  His early research achievements include holding the world record for producing the shortest optical pulse. Van Stryland served as the College of Optics and Photonics’ dean for nine years and still maintained a vigorous research profile and served as a role model for other faculty. He was named a Pegasus Professor in 2003-04.

Winners from each college were: Shaun Gallagher, College of Arts and Humanities; Raj Echambadi, College of Business Administration; Debbie Hahs-Vaughn, College of Education; Juin J. Liou, College of Engineering and Computer Science; Robertico Croes, Rosen College of Hospitality Management; Alexander M. Cole, College of Medicine; Lee Chow, College of Sciences; and Jiyu Fang and Denise Nicholson, Institutes and Centers.

University Award for Excellence in Faculty Advising: Stephen Heglund, College of Nursing, and Scott Waring, College of Education. 

Heglund has been at UCF since 2004 and has tackled the complex task of advising nursing students with tremendous agility. In addition to his time spent advising, he actively recruits students from local facilities and community colleges and has become an expert in teaching Web-based classes. Heglund’s passion and skills have led to his reputation as an excellent clinician, teacher, mentor, scholar and advisor. Based at UCF's Cocoa campus, he also is pursuing a doctoral degree in Nursing at UCF.

Waring joined the Social Science department of the College of Education more than three years ago and quickly mastered the nuances of advising education students.  His co-workers credit his hard work and quick thinking. Waring’s tremendous rapport with students has helped him recruit students to the Social Science Education master’s and doctoral programs.

University Award for Excellence in Professional Advising: Delia Garcia, College of Arts and Humanities.  As director of the college’s student advising, she has constructed her department from the ground up -- creating a budget, hiring staff and designing their workplace. Garcia’s coworkers praise her for her “advising expertise” and her ability to understand students’ needs and help them graduate in a timely manner.

Award for Excellence in Librarianship: Richard H. Harrison II, Reference Department.  Harrison has worked as an associate librarian in UCF’s Reference Department for more than seven years. He has successfully integrated the old mode of reference work with new technology, offering patrons the best reference materials UCF has to offer.  Thoroughly versed in all aspects of librarianship, Harrison’s knowledge and professionalism help him provide excellent service to the UCF community.

University Awards for Excellence in Professional Service: Aubrey Jewett, College of Sciences, and Diane Wink, College of Nursing.

Jewett, an associate professor of Political Science, has provided superior leadership to the UCF and Orlando communities. As the coordinator for his department’s internship program, Jewett has placed more than 450 students in internships throughout Florida and Washington, D.C., during the past three years  The president of the Florida Political Science Association, Jewett also is one of UCF’s most frequently quoted faculty members in local, state, national and international media. He is secretary of the Faculty Senate, and he serves as assistant director and a board member for the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government.

Wink, a tenured nursing professor, has served as a role model for her peers and for students.  A key player in the establishment and maintenance of the graduate nursing program, she serves as a UCF ambassador to practice sites throughout the Central Florida community. Wink’s contributions to the College of Nursing’s service-learning efforts have served as a model for other UCF departments, and her expertise has made her a sought-after speaker about issues within the field of nursing. She also serves on the Faculty Senate, and she held the office of secretary for six years.

Recognition of Service to the University, 40 Years of Service: Robert Nash Gennaro and Roseann S. White, College of Medicine; James Brophy, Chris Clausen and Frank Kujawa, College of Sciences.

Recognition of Service to the University, 30 Years of Service: Roy Pickering, College of Arts and Humanities; Marcia R. Veit, College of Business Administration; Amar Mukherjee, College of Engineering and Computer Science; David Slaughter, College of Health and Public Affairs; Charles J. Cromer and Philip Fairey, Division of Research and Commercialization; and David Mealor, Regional Campuses.

Recognition of Service to the University, 20 Years of Service: David L. Brunner, Bernard H. Decker, José M. S. Maunez Cuadra and Maria T. Redmon, College of Arts and Humanities; Paul M. Goldwater, Richard A. Hofler, Foard F. Jones, Patrick J. Moskal, Linda Beats Putchinski and Pamela Barton Roush; College of Business Administration; Rita Buchoff, Martha S. Lue Stewart, Debby Mitchell and Enrique Ortiz, College of Education; Takis Kasparis and Jiann-Shiun Yuan, College of Engineering and Computer Science; Gillian Dreilinger, College of Health and Public Affairs; Dorilyn J. Hitchcock, College of Medicine; Maureen M. Covelli and Linda M. Hennig, College of Nursing; Patrick LiKamWa and Martin C. Richardson, College of Optics and Photonics; Cynthia Benson, Terri Susan Fine, David A. Gay, Xin Li  and John P. Lynxwiler, College of Sciences; Carlos J. Colon, Neelkanth G. Dhere, Richard A. Raustad, Debra R. Reinhart, Barry D. Wick and Charles R. Withers, Jr., Division of Research and Commercialization.

Recently Retired and Retiring Faculty: Beth Barnes, President’s Office; Carole Adams and Finley Taylor, College of Arts and Humanities; Djehane Hosni, College of Business Administration; Yasser Hosni, Michael Mullens and James Taylor, College of Engineering and Computer Science; Ronald W. Kazoroski, A. Jeanne Miller and Gary Orwig, College of Education; Jeffery E. Ludy and Patricia Welker, College of Health and Public Affairs; George Stegeman, College of Optics and Photonics; David Jones, College of Sciences; David Dees, Undergraduate Studies; Linda Chapin, Division of Community Relations; Marilyn Snow and Jeannette A. Ward, Information Technologies and Resources; and Thomas Huddleston, Jr. , Marketing, Communications and Admissions.

UCF Stands For Opportunity: The University of Central Florida is a metropolitan research university that ranks as the 5th largest in the nation with more than 50,000 students. UCF's first classes were offered in 1968. The university offers impressive academic and research environments that power the region's economic development. UCF's culture of opportunity is driven by our diversity, Orlando environment, history of entrepreneurship and our youth, relevance and energy. For more information, visit http://news.ucf.edu.

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