Wilkes University recognized 12 faculty and staff members with nine awards for excellence in teaching and advising at the 2017 Teacher Recognition and Effectiveness Committee (TREC) Awards Ceremony. The recipients of this year’s awards are:
Lisa Kadlec, associate professor of biology, received the Carpenter Award for Teaching. The award, considered Wilkes’ highest honor for teaching, recognizes an outstanding member of the faculty and includes a $1,000 award and framed certificate. The awardee is nominated by his or her full-time colleagues and must have been a full-time employee for at least three years.
Kadlec is a developmental biologist who is broadly trained in cell and molecular biology and genetics. She teaches courses in genetics, developmental biology, and cell and molecular biology, all of which include intensive laboratory exercises. Kadlec also works with four students over the summer and throughout the academic year to maintain an active research program. She held a post-doctoral research fellowship from Princeton University, a doctorate from Duke University and a bachelor’s degree from Haverford College.
In nominating her for the award, Mike Steele, biology department chair, wrote, “Lisa’s teaching contributions to the department continue to be indispensible. Her evaluations continue to indicate a very high performance in the classroom, and emphasize her enthusiasm for teaching, knowledge and command of the subject matter, and approachability.”
Other awards and honorees are:
Jason Wagner, courseware application developer in the Office of Technology for Teaching and Learning, received the Academic Support Award. This award is given to a member of the Wilkes University staff who facilitates classroom or experiential initiatives and learning among students. Academic support is defined as an individual who is not on faculty at Wilkes, but participates in educational offerings including classroom activities, laboratory activities, or coordination of experiential learning opportunities.
Wagner is a 2009 graduate of Wilkes with dual bachelor of science degrees in computer science and mathematics and a minor in computer information systems. He completed his master of business administration degree with a concentration in operations management in August 2013 and is also a graduate of the Leadership Wilkes-Barre Core Class of 2014.
Thomas Franko, assistant professor of pharmacy and Kalen Churcher, assistant professor of communications,received the Interdisciplinary Teaching Award. The award is given annually to recognize one cross-disciplinary team of teachers that demonstrates outstanding initiatives in the classroom to further the ideals of interdisciplinary learning. Franko and Churcher developed and taught a course in healthcare communications for pharmacy and communication studies students.
Thomas Franko, assistant professor of pharmacy, received the Outstanding New Faculty Award. The award recognizes one full-time, nonvisiting faculty member in his or her second or third year of full-time teaching at Wilkes University who demonstrates excellence in teaching, advising, and service. The awardee is nominated by his or her department chair.
Thomas Baldino, professor of political science, received the Alumni Mentoring Award. The alumni-nominated award recognizes a teacher who continues to mentor students post-graduation.
Amy Kuiken, associate professor of French, received the Innovative and Non-Traditional Teaching Award. The student-nominated award recognizes a teacher who successfully incorporates innovative or nontraditional strategies into at least one class. Teaching innovation includes effective small group, collaborative methods; advanced use of technology in the classroom; consistent student-centered, interactive classroom experience; engagement in outside-the-classroom learning experiences that enrich student mastery of concepts and theories; and engaging students in joint faculty-student research projects.
Abas Sabouni, assistant professor of electrical engineering, received the Scholarship Award. This is awarded to a faculty member who demonstrates commendable success in the area of research and scholarly activity that influences Wilkes University and its students. Sabouni’s research is focused on microwave imaging techniques for cancer imaging, deep brain stimulation and designing biocompatible electromagnetic sensors.
Francis Dave Rash, accounting and finance professor, was awarded the Adjunct Faculty Award. The award goes to an adjunct faculty instructor who demonstrates excellence in teaching through innovative practices and forming relationships with students. Rash taught taxes and advanced taxes as well as financial accounting and decision making to undergraduates in the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership.
The Outstanding Advisor Award is a student-nominated award that recognizes one academic advisor from each college who demonstrates excellence in academic advising based on load, advising philosophy and testimony by advisees. This year’s recipients are:
- Anne Thomas, faculty of practice of education, received the Outstanding Advisor Award for the School of Education.
- Megan Jones, Act 101-program coordinator, Outstanding Advisor Award for University College.
- Shaokang Wang, assistant professor and MBA director, Outstanding Advisor Award for the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership.
- Ajay Bommareddy, associate professor of pharmacy, Outstanding Advisor Award for the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy.
- Abas Sabouni, assistant professor of electrical engineering, received the Outstanding Advisor Award for the College of Science and Engineering.
