Dr. James Farrar, associate professor of Plant Science, has been awarded the top teaching award at California State University, Fresno.
Dr. Jeri Echeverria, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, named Farrar as recipient of the 2006 Excellence in Teaching Award. The provost also has honored the following:
• Dr. Elaine Garan of the Department of Literacy and Early Education for the Distinguished Achievement in Research, Scholarship or Creative Activities Award
• Dr. Tim Stearns of the Department of Management and director of the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship for the Faculty Service Award
• Dr. Alejandro CalderOn-Urrea of the Department of Biology for the Graduate Teaching and Mentoring Award
• Dr. Ida Jones of the Department of Finance and Business Law for the Technology in Education Award
• Five faculty members for the Promising New Faculty award: Dr. Mark Arvanigian of the History Department, Dr. Honora Howell Chapman of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures, Dr. Wade Gilbert of the Department of Kinesiology, Dr. Alam Hasson of the Department of Chemistry and Dr. Angela Hudson of the Nursing Department.
“It is truly an honor to recognize these outstanding professors for their exceptional contributions and service to our students and to our academic community,” said Echeverria. “I would also like to congratulate the outstanding individuals who were nominated this year, as there were many exceptional and deserving faculty nominated for consideration.”
The awards include a stipend of $5,500 for the Excellence in Teaching recipient and $3,000 each to the other awardees.
Dr. James J. Farrar received this year’s Excellence in Teaching Award. An associate professor of plant pathology and chair of the Department of Plant Science, Farrar specializes in the diseases of plants and fungal biology. He strives to help his students attain knowledge and skills and never has taught the same class the same way twice. He is known for his accessibility to students and also seeks to make the learning process meaningful.
Dr. Ida Jones (Technology in Education Award). A professor of finance and business law, she has been a regular participant in functions for the Center for Enhancement of Teaching and Learning. According to her students, Jones has a gift for interactive teaching methods.
Dr. Timothy M. Stearns (Faculty Service Award). A professor of management, Stearns designed, implemented and continues to manage the curriculum for the university’s entrepreneurship programs. He launched the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Fresno State in 2001 and is a community leader in the Collaborative Regional Initiative.
Dr. Alejandro CalderOn-Urrea (Graduate Teaching and Mentoring Award). He is an associate professor of biology who is strongly committed to mentoring students and was the principal investigator for a grant that helps train minority students for biomedical study and employment.
Dr. Elaine Garan (Distinguished Achievement in Research, Scholarship or Creative Activities Award). An associate professor of literacy and early education, she has a range of scholarship that has gained national recognition. She has contributed to numerous prestigious journals of education.
Added in 2006 was the Promising New Faculty Award to recognize exemplary achievements in teaching, research/creative activities and/or service among non-tenured, tenure-track faculty. The recipients are:
Dr. Mark Arvanigian, an assistant professor of history, is a master historian and scholar. His is known for his dedication to archival research and publication, and in three years at Fresno State has published eight articles and has three more under revision or forthcoming. His love of foreign travel and research has inspired many students to seek opportunities for overseas travel and study.
Dr. Honora Howell Chapman, an assistant professor in the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department, is known for her dynamic teaching style and infectious enthusiasm. She mentors students and is co-chair of the Josephus Group, an international group of 25 scholars who study Josephus within the context of Hellenistic Judaism and Graeco-Roman culture.
Dr. Wade Gilbert, an assistant professor of kinesiology, is a leading scholar in the psychology of coaching. He initiated the School-based Healthy Activities Program for Exercise, a collaborative that promotes youth fitness in the community. He has published articles, is guest reviewer and serves on editorial boards for several sports psychology journals.
Dr. Alam Hasson, an assistant professor of chemistry, has mentored economically disadvantaged high school and university students in the McNair Program. He is an expert in atmospheric chemistry who has established an internationally recognized research program at the university and organized Air Quality Action Day to draw attention to the Valley’s air pollution issues.
Dr. Angela Hudson, an assistant professor of nursing, is adept in lecture delivery, current nursing practice and direct student supervision in hospital and primary care clinic settings. She assumed a leadership role in the department with online course conversions and helped develop the Central California Center for Excellence in Nursing.
