Trine honors faculty, staff

Trine University honored faculty and staff members with awards during its annual commencement breakfast on Saturday, May 5.

Several faculty received the McKetta-Smith Excellence in Teaching Awards, established for the faculty by trustee emeritus and 1937 alumnus Dr. John J. McKetta in 1989:

• Catherine Benson, assistant professor in the Ketner School of Business, was awarded the Professor Gerald H. Moore Overall Excellence in Teaching Award and the Charles William, Nelle Paris and Mary Ann McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award in Business.
• Kandee Heisler, lecturer in the Department of the Humanities and Communication, was awarded the Helen Smith McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award.
• Angela Bojrab, DPM, associate professor in the Department of Science, was awarded the Robert Ewing and Gail Stewart Smith Excellence in Teaching Award.
• Jeanette Goddard, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Humanities and Communication, was awarded the Robert Andrew and Anne Ewing Smith Excellence in Teaching Award.
• Tricia Hersel, lecturer in the Department of Criminal Justice, Psychology and Social Sciences, was awarded the Merle J. and Anna Mae McKetta Thomas Excellence in Teaching Award.
• Jon Koch, Ph.D., associate professor in the Wade Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, was awarded the Charles and Sue Ragan Gelet Excellence in Teaching Award in Engineering.
• Sameer Sharma, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was awarded the Steve and Mary Yacynch McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award in Engineering.
• Amanda Malefyt, Ph.D., associate professor in the McKetta Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, was awarded the Frank and Julia Gelet McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award in Engineering.
• Brett Batson, Ph.D., professor in the Wade Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, was awarded the John J. and Mary Gelet McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award in Engineering.

Three retiring faculty were honored with the rank of professor emeritus: Ann Benson, associate professor of chemistry; Kathie Wentworth, assistant professor, academic support services; and Jean Deller, Ph.D., associate vice president for academics.

Academic Service Awards were presented to Cisco Ortiz, instructor in the Department of Criminal Justice, Psychology and Social Services, and Chandra VanAken, administrative assistant to the Dean of the Jannen School of Arts and Sciences and the Office of International Services.

Steve Sullivan, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, was awarded for Teaching Excellence in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.

Outstanding adjunct faculty awards were presented to Mike Davis, physics lab instructor in the Department of Mathematics and Physics, for the main campus; Mary Morgan from Trine’s Mishawaka Education Center for the College of Graduate and Professional Studies undergraduate program; and Angela Sokol for graduate programs.

The President’s Award for Excellence in Performance was presented to staff members John Cilla, Help Desk manager, and James Tew, director of communications.

The winners of two faculty awards — Sarah Young, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Humanities and Communications, recipient of the Barrenbrugge Award for Faculty Excellence; and Christina Zumbrun, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Physics, recipient of the Jannen Renaissance Scholar Award — also were announced during the breakfast. At the close of the program, faculty chair Haseeb Kazi, Ph.D., presented a certificate of appreciation from the faculty to A. Allen Hersel, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs.

Photo: Catherine Benson, assistant professor in the Ketner School of Business, center, received the Professor Gerald H. Moore Overall Excellence in Teaching Award and the Charles William, Nelle Paris and Mary Ann McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award in Business. She is pictured with Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., Trine University president, at left, and A. Allen Hersel, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs.