Faculty, staff honored at Commencement Breakfast

Trine University honored faculty and staff members with awards during its annual Commencement Breakfast on May 4.

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. John J. “Mike” McKetta III, son of Dr. McKetta and a former Trine University trustee, helped present the awards.

Maria Gerschutz, Ph.D., associate professor in the Jim and Joan Bock Biomedical Engineering Department, was awarded the Professor Gerald H. Moore Overall Excellence in Teaching Award and the Charles and Sue Ragan Gelet Excellence in Teaching Award in Engineering.

Brittany Winn, instructor in the Department of Science, was awarded the Helen Smith McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award.

Eric Goddard, Ph.D., lecturer in the Department of Psychology and Social Sciences, was awarded the Robert Ewing and Gail Stewart Smith Excellence in Teaching Award.

Jennifer Staude, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Science, was awarded the Robert Andrew and Anne Ewing Smith Excellence in Teaching Award.

Justin Bock, assistant professor in the Franks School of Education, was awarded the Merle J. and Anna Mae McKetta Thomas Excellence in Teaching Award.

Danny Powell, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Ketner School of Business, was awarded the Charles William, Nelle Paris and Mary Ann McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award in Business.

R. Thomas Trusty, associate professor in the Department of Design Engineering Technology, was awarded the Steve and Mary Yacynch McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award in Engineering.

James Canino, Ph.D., associate professor in the Wade Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, was awarded the Frank and Julia Gelet McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award in Engineering.

Jeremy Rentz, Ph.D., associate professor in the Reiners Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, was awarded the John J. and Mary Gelet McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award in Engineering.

Four retiring faculty were honored with the rank of professor emeritus: William Maddock, associate professor in the Ketner School of Business; Donald Jones, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Humanities and Communication; Majid Salim, Ph.D., associate professor in the McKetta Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering; and Debra Ann Van Rie, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Mathematics and Physics.

The Academic Service Award was presented to Valda Colbart, administrative assistant in the Ketner School of Business.

Allen Hersel, Ph.D., dean of the Allen School of Engineering and Technology, was awarded for Outstanding Faculty Scholarship. Hersel recently co-authored Transport Processes and Separation Process Principles, considered the complete, comprehensive, current guide to transport and separation processes.

Jenna Encheff, Ph.D., associate 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 Matthew Tibbs in the Department of Humanities and Communication for the main campus; Cory Howard from Trine’s Logansport Education Center for the College of Graduate and Professional Studies undergraduate program; and Regina Schinker, Ph.D., for graduate programs.

Timothy Tyler, Ph.D., professor in the Reiners Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, received the Barrenbrugge Award for Faculty Excellence; and Amanda Malefyt, Ph.D., chair and associate professor of the McKetta Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, received the Jannen Renaissance Scholar Award.

The President’s Award for Excellence in Performance was presented to staff members Leslie Sidwell, senior program analyst, and Tracey Floto, director of assessment.

Photo: Maria Gerschutz, Ph.D., associate professor in the Jim and Joan Bock Biomedical Engineering Department, center, receives the Professor Gerald H. Moore Overall Excellence in Teaching Award from Trine University President Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., left, and John J. “Mike” McKetta III, son of Dr. John J. McKetta and a former Trine University trustee. (Photo by Dean Orewiler)