Trine faculty, staff awarded

Honors given at annual commencement breakfast

 

Trine University honored excellent faculty and staff members during its annual commencement breakfast Saturday, May 8 prior to its 125th commencement.

 

Kathy Pomeroy, a professor in the Franks School of Education, received the Gerald H. Moore Overall Excellence in Teaching Award. She received a cash stipend, development grant and plaque for the honor. Pomeroy also received the Helen Smith McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award.

 

The Barrenbrugge Faculty Excellence Award went to Professor Craig Laker, left, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice, Psychology and Social Sciences. He received a cash stipend and honorary plaque.

Professors Dr. Allen Hersel, Dr. Majid Salim and Dr. John Wagner received the Professor Gerald H. Moore Chemical Engineering Faculty Award, presented by Hal Moore, the son of the Trine professor from which the award takes its name, Dr. David Finley, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Dr. John J. McKetta Jr., Trine trustee.

 

Professor emeritus rank was granted to Dr. Dolores Tichenor, above center, retiring after 43 years, and Dr. Lawrence Samuelson, below center, retiring after 27 years. Tichenor retired as professor of mathematics, Assistant Vice President for Study Abroad and Director of Institutional Planning and Development. Trine has recognized her many contributions with numerous awards throughout the years. Dr. Samuelson, of the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, also earned numerous teaching and faculty awards.

Dr. Jeanine Samuelson, Department of Language & Humanities adjunct professor, and Jim Simons, mathematics and education adjunct, were given meritorious service awards.

Trine music director Mark Kays, center, earned the Jannen Renaissance Faculty Scholar award for his breadth of accomplishment.

Excellence in Teaching Awards went to Dr. Cindy S. Neyer, Dr. Dennis W. Petrie and Dr. Haseeb A. Kazi, arts and sciences; Dr. Sameer Sharma, Dr. Andrea Mitofsky, Dr. Majid Salim and Dr. William Barry, engineering; and Dr. Susan Anspaugh, business. Kazi also earned the Faculty Scholarship Award, while Trine Middle College coordinator Kelly Stout received the Faculty Service Award.

Outstanding adjunct professors also picked up awards, including Dr. John McGrath for the Trine School of Professional Studies (SPS) and Carter Snider for the main campus.

 

Trine President Earl D. Brooks II also honored staff members with the President’s Award for Excellence in Performance. Admission counselor and cheerleading adviser Kasey Jones received an award for her volunteer effort in advising the cheer squad, doubling its size and helping to make it an “enthusiastic, classy and dedicated group who are great Trine ambassadors,” according to Dr. Brooks.

Safety staff member Bruce Knox, left, received an award for his implementation of CPR training for the safety staff. Dr. Brooks recounted a Sept. 10, 2009 incident in which Knox conducted CPR on a department member, leading to the preservation of the staff member’s life and his speedy return to a normal life after a heart attack.

Dr. Brooks also awarded Cheri Ditto, assistant director of admission at Trine Fort Wayne, for her “high energy and extra attention to students, contributing to our our high retention rate.” He said Ditto was instrumental in forming a partnership with Ivy Tech in Fort Wayne, was active in the Fort Wayne community and a vital link between SPS and the main campus.

Dr. Brooks said he looks forward to the faculty and staff awards during commencement festivities each year. “On our most important day of the year, the culmination of all we do, we recognize our outstanding faculty and staff who prepare our students to reach the place where they stand today,” he said.