The Gigax Faculty Scholarship Award is presented to a faculty member for outstanding scholarship and encouragement of scholarship among faculty and students. This year’s winner, Indira Gesink (history), has recently finished a book, Islamic Reform and Conservatism: al-Azhar and the Evolution of Modern Sunni Islam which is scheduled for publication in October. She also has had several articles published in prestigious journals and reference books focused on the Middle East. Gesink has engaged students in a local project related to the Adams St. Cemetery in Berea. What began as an attempt to locate the graves of veterans, has expanded into a larger research project that has engaged more students and resulted in a graduate scholarship and assistantship for one, and possible publications and presentations for others.
Daniel Hoyt (English) is the recipient of the Bechberger Award for Human Development. One student nominator called Hoyt a “guardian” adding, “Other professors sometimes shy away from asking that personal question: ‘how are you doing?’ but he does so with sincerity and genuine concern for the well-being of his students. It is never an obligating question, but a constant and reassuring one that shows he is ready to support you should you be in need.“Under his guidance, I have grown as a student, but more importantly…as a human being. He inspires me to do all the great things I am terrified to do. He fosters in all his students a confidence that grows.”
Recently, Hoyt has won two other awards: the Juniper Award for fiction and an Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award for 2009.
Andrew Mickley (neuroscience) and Dale Grubb (psychology) shared B-W’s Strosacker Award for Excellence in Teaching this year.
This has been a banner year for Mickley who earlier was named Ohio Professor of the Year. In nominating him for the Strosacker Award, a colleague noted, “one of his greatest gifts as a teacher is his commitment to listening. He devotes himself to fostering students’ ideas and allows them to express themselves fully. He encourages as students work through solving their own problems.” Mickley founded the Summer Scholars program, which, through his leadership, has grown to the year-round Faculty Student Collaborative. Both programs support student/faculty research partnerships. He also established Nu Rho Psi, the national honorary for neuroscience majors.
Dale Grubb is known for his teaching skills as well as his sense of humor. A student nominator said, “Our first semester was filled with overwhelming information, but he was able to put us at ease and supported us in every way. Laughter came hand in hand with learning.”Another nominator lauded Grubb’s, “incredible ability to keep a cheerful attitude in just about any situation. This not only helps to motivate his students, but also creates a sense of excitement about the topic at hand. He has the ability to make the most mundane topic seem interesting, even during an early morning class."
Grubb also served as the president of the Faculty Senate this year.
Tom Sutton (political science) received the Student Senate Faculty Excellence Award. Members of the senate nominate a professor who has supported students in many ways, both in and out of the classroom. Students said that Sutton is a dedicated, valuable advisor to Student Senate and the wider student body as well. He demonstrates excellence in the classroom and is skilled in advising students in regard to academics, extracurricular activities and their futures. Sutton also has gained a positive reputation in the Cleveland area for his on-air and in-print commentary, particularly during the 2008 presidential campaign and election.
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