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TWU
to honor faculty at Honors Convocation
4/15/05
DENTON —
Texas Woman’s University will honor its faculty members
in a celebration of excellence Thursday, April 21, during
Honors Convocation. Ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. in the Margo
Jones Performance Hall, located at Oakland and Sawyer streets
on TWU’s Denton campus.
The Distinction in Service Award is presented to TWU faculty
who are developing distinguished records of service to their
component, the university, their professional field of study
and/or the community. This award will be presented to Dr.
Daniel Miller, professor of psychology.
Miller was founding president of the Texas Association of
School Psychologists in 1993 and is the immediate past president
of the National Association of School Psychologists. One of
his nominators credited Miller’s NASP presidency with
increasing the number of applicants to TWU’s programs
in school psychology. “Many of our applicants have reported
they want to come to TWU because of Dr. Miller’s professionalism
and his enthusiasm for the training we provide. With his continued
guidance, the TWU School of Psychology programs are well-respected
throughout the world.”
The Humphries Award for Dedication to TWU is presented to
faculty who have, through their loyalty and actions, proved
to be a model to all and a treasure to TWU. The recipient
of this award is Lanelle Blanton, professor of music.
Blanton will retire this spring following 36 years at TWU.
She has taught hundreds of voice students during her career
at TWU, many of whom have gone on to successful careers as
professional performers, music educators and music therapists.
She has performed regularly on the concert stage, frequently
singing her own compositions or musical arrangements. In nominating
Blanton for the award, one colleague wrote, “She has
demonstrated, through the areas of teaching, mentoring, university
service and creative scholarship, that she is a model to all
and a TWU treasure.
The Mary Mason
Lyon Award is presented to junior faculty members who are
developing excellent records of teaching, research and service.
Award recipients this year are Dr. David Nichols, assistant
professor of kinesiology, and Dr. Shannon Rich, assistant
professor of psychology.
As a junior faculty
member, Nichols already has a national and international reputation
as a scientist in the area of bone health. He is a fellow
in the American College of Sports Medicine, and serves on
the editorial board for the scientific journal, Medicine and
Science and Sports and Exercise. “He is, without a doubt,
one of the best prepared, well published and competent individuals
I have had the opportunity to work with on a regular basis,”
one of his nominators wrote. Nichols also is an avid fan and
supporter of TWU’s Athletics Department, volunteering
countless hours in helping to officiate and set up equipment
for athletic events.
Rich has served
as director of the undergraduate psychology program since
2001. “It is a bit unusual for a junior faculty member
to take on such a high level of administrative duties,”
one of her nominators wrote, “but she has taken on these
duties with a professional attitude.” Rich has balanced
her duties as director with a heavy teaching load and an active
research agenda. “Her students respect her, and she
has helped to elevate research to a top priority among the
undergraduates in her department,” one colleague wrote.
“Her strength and desire to always do her best have
inspired students and faculty alike.”
The Cornaro Award
recognizes an outstanding faculty member for excellence in
teaching, scholarship and achievement. The award is named
in honor of Elena Lucrezia Cornaro de la Piscopia, the first
woman to receive a doctoral degree (University of Padua, 1678).
The 2005 recipient is Dr. Ronald French, professor of kinesiology.
French is a leader in the area of adaptive physical education,
and his colleagues give him much of the credit for the international
reputation of the university’s APE program. “His
scholarship activity is nothing short of phenomenal,”
one colleague wrote, citing French’s 21 books, chapters
or pamphlets, as well as numerous articles and national and
international presentations.
Another colleague
wrote that while French’s vita demonstrates his dedication
to scholarship excellence, his love is teaching. “He
is totally dedicated to quality education and is a true advocate
for each and every student in his trust.”
In nominating French for the award, an Alief ISD teacher wrote,
“How do you honor a man (who) has changed the face of
teaching? Ron has done exactly that. By attending workshops
where he presented, I was inspired to live up to his vision
of how an APE teacher should be.”
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For Further Information Contact:
Karen Treat
Senior Copywriter
Tel: (940) 898-3456
e-mail: ktreat@twu.edu |
