Tuesday, August 21, 2001

WILMINGTON, NC – Philip Gerard, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Master of Fine Arts Degree at UNC Wilmington in 1996, was awarded the UNCW Board of Trustees Teaching Excellence Award today at the fall faculty meeting.

He was among six faculty members recognized for their teaching excellence and scholarship. This spring the university honored five individuals with the Chancellor’s Teaching Award and recognized six graduate students for their teaching excellence.

The UNCW Board of Trustees Teaching Excellence Award was given to Gerard in recognition of his significant contributions to higher education through dedication and service to students. First presented in 1978, this award is designed to exemplify the university’s commitment to teaching excellence, with the recipient receiving a one-time stipend of $1,500 and a Distinguished Teaching medallion.

Gerard was also one of three faculty members to receive the Distinguished Teaching Professorship. The others were Janet M. Ellerby, associate professor in the English Department, and Sherrill V. Martin, professor in the Music Department. Distinguished Professorships recognize faculty who make outstanding contributions to teaching at UNCW and come with a three-year $5,000 stipend and a medallion. Nominations were solicited from each department or school and all full-time tenured faculty were eligible.

Awards for faculty scholarship were presented to Robert J. Kieber Jr., professor in the Chemistry Department, and D. Ann Pabst, associate professor in the Biological Science Department. These annual awards, which are given to up to three faculty members, recognize significant contributions to the university and the academic community through commitment to scholarship, research and creativity. Current full-time faculty are nominated for this honor by their peers and receive a $1,500 award.

Kieber’s research interests in ozone depletion and global warming are central areas of scholarship within chemistry and environmental sciences and advance the concerns of today’s global society. He has written more than 30 papers for scientific journals and given more than 50 presentations at scientific meetings. He has nurtured the development of undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students, as well as colleagues who have co-authored many of these papers and presentations.

Pabst is an internationally recognized expert on marine mammology. She has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed papers, twice written chapters for textbooks on the subject and received 21 separate grant awards years totaling more than $1.6 million in funding She has presented more than 50 papers at scientific meetings in the last five years with undergraduate and graduate students as co-authors, indicating her commitment to fostering growth of students through scholarly activities. In addition, she coordinates the marine mammal response team, which provides learning opportunities for students and valuable research data, and serves the community by educating people about marine mammals.

Richard M. Dillaman, professor in the Biological Sciences Department, was given the Graduate Mentor Award which recognizes faculty who have excelled at teaching at the graduate level and who have an established record of mentoring students who earned master’s degrees. He received a $250 award and a certificate.

Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award for 2001 were awarded this spring to: Sally P. Cummings, associate professor, School of Nursing; Michael D. White, associate professor, creative writing; L. Drew Rosen, associate professor, information systems and operations management; Sherrill V. Martin, professor, music; and William J. Bolduc, associate professor, communication studies. This award, established in 1991, recognizes faculty who demonstrate outstanding teaching in the classroom. Each recipient received a $750 award and medallion.

Graduate Teaching Excellence Awards for 2001 went to Thomas B. O'Shaughnessy, earth sciences; Lauren S. Blanchard, English; Patricia M. Croker, English; Kathryn A. Hayslett, education; Vicki S. Stegall, biological sciences, and Mark V. Wainright, chemistry. Recipients were honored for demonstrating exceptional competence in teaching and mentoring undergraduate students.