97-04-15 Distinguished Teachers & Scholars 16 FACULTY RECEIVE HIGHEST AWARDS FOR TEACHING, RESEARCH COLUMBUS -- Sixteen faculty members have been chosen as this year's recipients of The Ohio State University's highest honors, the Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching and the Distinguished Scholar Award. The 10 recipients of the teaching award and six recipients of the scholar award will be honored at a dinner April 23 at the Faculty Club. They were notified of their selection for the awards in mid- March, when President E. Gordon Gee paid surprise visits to their classrooms or laboratories to make the announcement. The Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching honors faculty members who have done a superior job of teaching. Recipients are nominated by students and colleagues, and chosen by a committee of alumni, students and faculty. They receive a cash award of $3,000 and a $1,200 increase in their base salaries. Teaching Award recipients also are inducted into the Academy of Teaching, which provides leadership on improving teaching at Ohio State. The Distinguished Scholar Award recognizes exceptional scholarly accomplishments by senior professors who have compiled a substantial body of research, as well as the work of younger faculty members who have demonstrated great scholarly potential. Recipients are nominated by their departments and chosen by a committee of senior faculty, including several past recipients of the award. Distinguished Scholars receive a $3,000 honorarium and a $20,000 research grant to be used during the next three years. Funding for the awards is provided by private donations to the university and by The Ohio State University Alumni Association. DISTINGUISHED TEACHERS John Chidley, Joseph Ferrar, Richard Furnstahl, Stuart Lishan, Micheal Mangino, Stephen Melville, Franklin Proano, Ronald Solomon, Kathleen Stone, Norman Uretsky John Chidley of WORTHINGTON Assistant Professor of Allied Medicine School of Allied Medicine Chidley teaches anatomy at the introductory and advanced undergraduate level, as well as therapeutic exercise and kinesiology. His teaching is so outstanding that this is the third time he has received this award; he was a recipient in 1976 and 1990 as well. "This man is the essence of what makes Ohio State a great university," wrote one student. Another said, "Physical therapy is a profession of caring individuals and no other individual represents this better than Mr. John Chidley." A faculty member for three decades, Chidley is the admissions coordinator for the physical therapy division, a task described as "time-consuming, often thankless, but necessary, (and one) that Professor Chidley handles extremely well". Joseph Ferrar of WORTHINGTON Professor of Mathematics College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences Although he mostly teaches advanced undergraduates and graduate students, Ferrar also takes on a three-course beginning mathematics sequence in which his use of small group activities and discussions is a model for aspiring school teachers. Students uniformly praise his patience, teaching ability, fairness, preparation and personality. Said one: "I can only use his example to set a high standard for myself, one that I will endeavor to replicate with my own students." A mathematics education doctoral student tells of enrolling in an extra course just so she could experience his teaching. She said, "To sum things up mathematically: There is a one-to-one correspondence between the set of qualities contributing to distinguished teaching and the Ferrar model of instruction." Richard Furnstahl of WORTHINGTON Associate Professor of Physics College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences Furnstahl has been known to buy his own, better-quality chalk so students in the back of the room can clearly see the blackboard. On the other end of the technology spectrum, his students also use computerized simulations to learn the laws of physics and he maintains a web page of useful information for his students. He teaches the entire range of students, from freshmen non- scientists to doctoral students. An administrator reported that Furnstahl's colleagues and students particularly revere him for "radical and wonderful changes he has brought to our undergraduate major program." One student noted Furnstahl helped reduce the number of students who dropped out of the program in despair. And he did it without reducing "content level or rigor." Stuart Lishan of MARION Associate Professor of English Marion Campus Lishan turns often intimidating subjects into subjects of fascination. A student remembered a difficult British literature class, "Dr. Lishan began to read it to us. It was his voice -- hearing the sound of the language -- that finally made Old English not only beautiful, but understandable. To tell the truth, I'd love to hear him read it again." For many, the fascination endures. "Professor Lishan took us on a journey," another said, "not only into the pages of James Joyce, but also into the writer's life and Irish homeland. I found that I had rather enjoyed Joyce, despite my earlier trepidation. Even after the quarter had ended, I picked up the work and enjoyed it." Michael E. Mangino of WESTERVILLE Professor of Food Science and Nutrition College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Mangino practices every kind of education, from individualized instruction to mega classes. In a typical year, he may teach 700 students as diversely divided as five high schoolers working on science fair projects, 650 freshmen non-scientists in Biology 101, 50 undergraduate food science majors and three doctoral students. Mangino tirelessly prepares study guides, and has posted lecture notes, past exams and exercises on the World Wide Web. A nominator noted, "He has an open door policy that makes his office one of the busiest places on our campus." A student said, "On top of it all, he's one nice guy." Stephen Melville of COLUMBUS (43201) Associate Professor of History of Art, Art, and English College of the Arts, College of the Humanities Even fellow faculty admit they struggle to understand what Melville teaches -- the philosophy of art history. However, a colleague said, "Professor Melville brings to his field an amazing clarity in thinking and expression, noted frequently by his students." A nominator said, "Study is not just (rote) learning in his class. It's a process of developing creative thinking." A graduate student reported Melville is "very, very kind and patiently explains difficult material." A second said, "Dr. Melville is thoughtful, encouraging and most generous with his time, knowledge and experience." Another said, "He is the trump card that draws students from around the country." Franklin Proano of WORTHINGTON Associate Professor of Comparative Studies Marion Campus Proano teaches about literature, Spanish and women's studies. Above all, he teaches students to think. "Dr. Proano makes me think about ideas long after the class is over," a student wrote. "He not only demands that students think, he believes that they can." Another said, "Dr. Proano urges us to quarrel with our opinions -- to change them, to shape them, or, if the case may be, to strengthen them." Students so value his teaching, many come back for more. "I signed up for as many courses as I could with this instructor, and I always came away with a new body of knowledge," wrote one nominator. Yet another testified, "Students return to this campus from Columbus in order to take additional courses from him." Ronald Solomon of COLUMBUS (43201) Professor of Mathematics College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences Solomon is one of the world's leading authorities in algebra, but he's still willing to use student comments to improve his classes. A student noted, "Despite his obvious experience (in classrooms), he is clearly still learning himself." Solomon uses history and humor to illustrate his lectures, and grace and wit to motivate his students. One group was so motivated they showed up at his home to ask for assistance and insight. An undergraduate mathematics major said, "I found I could approach him with any question, basic or complex." An administrator said, "He expects hard work and excellent performances from his students, and he gets it." Kathleen Stone of WORTHINGTON Professor of Adult Health and Illness College of Nursing Stone teaches graduate level classes in human physiology and pathophysiology as well as theoretical foundations of advanced nursing, a course which she revised to reflect the changes in nursing roles at the advanced level in the health care delivery system. "Her passion for teaching and education is evident through her ability to motivate and captivate students through her multimedia lectures," one student wrote. "She takes a true and genuine interest in her students." Another said, "The minute you meet her you know she loves to teach and knows her stuff." Norman J. Uretsky of UPPER ARLINGTON Professor of Pharmacy College of Pharmacy Uretsky teaches introductory and upper-level classes in pharmacology, as well as ocular pharmacology to senior students in the College of Optometry, and pharmacology for advanced nursing practice to graduate students in the College of Nursing. "His dedication to his students has been shown by his actions both inside and outside of the classroom," wrote one student. "It is this dedication that has had a lasting impact on the multitude of pharmacy students that have graduated from Ohio State." Another noted, "Professor Uretsky is not only a scholar but a true teacher and mentor with compassion and genuine concern for his students." DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS Walter Burnside, Kevin Cox, Joseph Lynch, Alan Randall, Barbara Reskin, Neil Robertson Walter Burnside of COLUMBUS (43220) Professor of Electrical Engineering College of Engineering Burnside is a professor of electrical engineering who pioneered mathematical tools and computer codes to analyze the performance of antennas on aircraft, spacecraft, and satellites. Currently, his computer codes aid antenna research and development in over 200 aerospace-related industries and in laboratories around the world. According to one of his nominators, "Professor Burnside's accomplishments have not only benefited NASA, but they have also benefited the United States aeronautics industry, both civilian and military. As a result, Professor Burnside, in his own innovative way, has fostered United States competitiveness in the world marketplace." Kevin R. Cox of COLUMBUS (43235) Professor of Geography College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Geographers say Cox has transformed their field twice. In the 1960s, he first used sophisticated quantitative models and tools. His careful analysis revealed people are influenced by more than their social class or occupations. They are also enmeshed in their neighborhoods and social relationships. In the 1980s, Cox focused on urbanization, at first studying neighborhood activism and later on the politics of local economic development. His influence has helped place Ohio State's Department of Geography in the top five in the country. He has written three books and edited six others, and received four National Science Foundation grants. Joseph Lynch of Columbus (43214) Professor of History College of Humanities A noted scholar on medieval religious life, Lynch has published three books, including The Medieval Church, described by one colleague as "the most comprehensive and up-to-date history of the most important institution in medieval Europe." A fourth book is nearing completion. Among the accolades for Lynch from colleagues across the country were these comments: "acute, discerning and playful mind"; "Professor Lynch has the distinction, rare for a historian, of having discovered a new field: spiritual kinship"; and "his work on godparentage is highly significant and absolutely original." His service to the university and to the scholarly community has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching, presented in 1978. Alan Randall of WESTERVILLE Professor of Agricultural Economics College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Randall is an environmental scientist of international reputation. He has made important contributions to theory and practice of benefit cost analysis, and his research was key in developing methods for evaluating environmental benefits. He has helped develop policies to enhance pollution control monitoring and enforcement and to control introduction of nonindigenous invasive species in the Great Lakes and elsewhere. In the words of one nominator, "Alan Randall is a broad-ranging but rigorous thinker and scholar, an innovative and productive researcher, an effective mentor, a major and continuing contributor to his discipline, and an unselfish servant to his university." Barbara Reskin of WORTHINGTON Professor of Sociology College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Reskin is one of the nation's leading researchers studying gender and work. She has focused recently on gender inequality in the labor market, particularly the sources and consequences of gender segregation in the workplace. She is author or editor of five books, 25 publications in refereed journals and 15 book chapters. One nominator wrote, "By any standard, Reskin is a sociologist who would merit a Distinguished Scholar Award in any university in the country. And I really mean any." G. Neil Robertson of WORTHINGTON Professor of Mathematics College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences Robinson is a professor of mathematics who formulated key concepts in graph structure theory, the study of path connections on surfaces. His work finds applications in computer science, where it describes the connections between transistors on computer chips, and in industry, where it solves telephone network problems. "This monumental work has no parallels in graph theory and very few in modern mathematics," wrote one nominator. "Not only did it settle a number of long-standing open research problems, but it also endowed the theory of graphs with new powerful tools, thus allowing new methods of attack on a wide range of open problems." # Contact: Ruth Gerstner, University Communications, 614) 292-8424. [Submitted by: Von Vargas (vargas.12@osu.edu) Wed, 16 Apr 1997 09:05:59 -0400 (EDT)] All documents are the responsibility of their originator.