Faculty at the West Virginia University College of Human Resources and Education are garnering awards and winning national attention.
Joy Faini, a professor in the Department of Educational Theory and Practice, and Linda Shuster , associate professor of speech and hearing science in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, won the colleges outstanding teaching awards.
Judy Abbott, an associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, received the colleges outstanding researcher award.
Sam Stack , associate professor in the Department of Advanced Educational Studies, has been awarded a West Virginia Humanities Council Fellowship.
“This has been an outstanding year for the faculty at the College of Human Resources and Education,”said Dean William Deaton.”Their hard work and dedication are deserving of respect and praise at WVU and statewide.”
In nominating her for the award, colleagues at WVU and within the public school system call Joy Faini-Saab both a compassionate and impassioned teacher.
“A few years ago, I became aware of Dr. Saabs expertise when I enrolled in one of her classes as part of my goal to continuously improve the quality of my teaching,”said Donna Hoylman Peduto, a fourth grade teacher at East Dale Elementary.”As a result of this class, I became renewed and excited about the profession of teaching. I am constantly amazed by her energy level, innovative activities and useful techniques for creatively instructing public school teachers,”she said.
Speech Pathologist Linda Shuster received commendations from students and faculty alike for her effective teaching methods, many of which utilize computer technology to enable students to study real examples of normal and pathological speech and language behavior. In addition to being highly knowledgeable, her students describe her as friendly and outgoing.
“Dr. Shuster is the best instructor Ive ever had,”said one former student.”I really have enjoyed all her classes and benefitted tremendously by her command of the field. Keep up the good work Dr. Shuster.”
Judy Abbott received recognition for her research and dedication in the area of literacy education and for her work to better understand writing and self determination among elementary school children.
In nominating her for the award, Steve Rinehart, a professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, applauded Dr. Abbotts research, calling four of her refereed articles that appeared in national-level journals”timely articles that offered important contributions in the field of literacy education.”
Dr. Stack, an associate professor in advanced educational studies, was one of nine to receive a West Virginia Humanities Council Fellowships to complete a project titled The Arthurdale Community School 1934-1936.
“It is a book project that tells the story of one of the few progressive rural/community schools in the country during that era,”Stack said.”I also am currently writing a biography of the principal and director of community affairs during those years, Elsie Ripley Clapp. Clapp was a student of John Dewey who was considered an expert in progressive rural/community education. Dewey believed Arthurdale was a success in experimental education.”
Earlier this semester, Eric Pyle , a WVU associate professor of education in the Colleges Department of Educational Theory, won both a University-wide Outstanding Teacher Award and a Fulbright Senior Specialist grant to teach and consult with faculty in Croatia.
Additionally, the colleges impressive five-year teacher education program got a shot in the arm this spring when the West Virginia Legislature chose to provide significant funding to the program, including the Benedum Collaborative. Most recently, Harvard University invited Director Van Dempsey to its campus to discuss the teacher education program, which may soon become a model for the prestigious schools teacher education program.
Dennis Ruscello , professor, Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology and co-director of the WVU Cleft Palate Clinic, has been named 2002 Outstanding Alumnus by the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of Arizona.