2008 CHSBS Faculty Awards

CHSBS Teaching Excellence Award

Jeffrey Weinstock, an associate professor of American literature and culture, was selected to receive the 2007-08 College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences' Excellence in Teaching Award, which recognizes a faculty member who goes above and beyond what is expected in creating exceptional learning opportunities for students.

"I'm absolutely thrilled and very grateful to my colleagues and students for the honor," said Weinstock. "It's very gratifying to have one's efforts recognized and appreciated."

A committee, composed of representatives from each department in the college, selected Weinstock as this year's winner based on his expertise in the field of American literature and culture, the outstanding organization and preparation of his courses, and the inspiration that he bestows upon his students.

Weinstock has taught 18 different undergraduate and graduate levels courses in American literature and theory. His students and fellow faculty members acknowledged him as, "an inspirational teacher and mentor" who "encourages his students to push themselves to be better."

"Dr. Weinstock was one of several outstanding faculty nominations received by the Excellence in Teaching Committee," said Pamela Gates, associate dean of the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences. "After careful review, however, the committee agreed that the accolades received from students and faculty about Dr. Weinstock's commitment to teaching and learning merited this award recognition."

Weinstock, an authority on popular culture, American literature and literary criticism, is the author of numerous books, including The Rocky Horror Picture Show (see pages 16-17).

He also is editor of several academic collections, including Spectral America: Phantoms and the National Imagination and Nothing That Is: Millennial Cinema and the Blair Witch Controversies. His work has been published in journals such as American Literature, Studies in American Fiction, and Pedagogy.

President's and Provost's Awards

CHSBS faculty members Brigitte Bechtold and Solomon Getahun have been selected as this year's recipients of the university's most prestigious research awards.

Bechtold, a professor of sociology, anthropology and social work, received the President's Award, which recognizes the career achievements of senior faculty members. Getahun, an assistant professor of African history, received the Provost's award, which honors the accomplishments of junior faculty members.

Brigitte Bechtold Bechtold is an expert on minimum wage and infanticide. Her work and long list of professional publications span many disciplines in the areas of econometrics, qualitative and statistical analysis, social policy, gender wage gaps, fertility, and others. She joined CMU in 1982 and spent 15 years in the economics department before joining the department of sociology, anthropology and social work in 1997.

Outside of academe, Bechtold has worked as a formal economist in areas related to macroeconomic monetary and tax policy and served as the senior economist on the presidential and congressionally mandated Minimum Wage Study Commission from 1971 to 1981. Her accomplishments, along with a notable list of awards and honors, affirm her career-long contributions to research, outreach and service.

Solomon Getahun Getahun came to Central Michigan University in 2004, earning his Ph.D. from Michigan State University the following year. An expert in African history, he has sparked interest worldwide through his research on African migrations to the U.S., Ethiopian culture, customs and urban development, and Ethiopian and African immigrant and refugee communities in the U.S. His list of scholarship includes two books, with one forthcoming, an encyclopedia entry and numerous articles that have been published by distinguished peer-reviewed journals.

Each award recipient receives $1,200 for professional development and will be given release time from teaching responsibilities to focus on research. In addition, each recipient's name is listed on a permanent plaque hanging in Park Library.

Faculty Distinguished Service Awards

This award, created by the Provost in 2002, is designed to honor faculty whose record of sustained service to the University and/or profession has been particularly distinguished.

Service may have been to a department or college, the university as a whole, or to a broader community through professional or public service to the faculty member's discipline.

Only service that is sustained and truly distinguished is worthy of this recognition. It must evidence the qualities of excellent service defined by CMU: caring, knowledge, availability and follow-through.

The 2008 recipients are:

Roger Hatch (PHL & REL)
Jim Jones (FLLC)

Roger Hatch Roger Hatch, professor of philosophy and religion, has displayed exemplary service to the university in terms of social justice for more than 30 years.

Since his arrival to CMU in 1976, Hatch has served on more than 100 committees. His service on the Academic Senate for 13 years included one year of duty as chair of the senate and six years on the senate executive board.

Throughout his years, Hatch has held a number of leadership roles within the faculty association and served on several committees dedicated to education, honors and curriculum, including the position of department chair for 13 years.

Jim Jones Jim Jones, professor of foreign languages, literatures and cultures, has served the university through leadership and diversity for 20 years.

He has served as director of the office of gay and lesbian programs, chair of the Academic Senate and chair of his department. Jones also served 11 years on the Academic Senate and 10 years as the adviser for Delta Phi Alpha, a German honor society.

Jones is an advocate and a voice for diversity on CMU's campus and is regularly sought out as a speaker in the area of gay and lesbian issues. He also has served on numerous committees advocating for diversity and inclusion at CMU.

Research Excellence Funds Awards

Susan Jacob (PSY), "Center for Research, Training, and Consultation on GLBTQ Youth Issues"
Mary Senter (SASW) and Jean Toner (SASW), "Meta-Analysis of Mid-Michigan Rural Needs Assessments: The CMU/Mid-Michigan Rural Partnership Initiative"

Created by the State of Michigan in 1996, this fund was designed to support high quality research and the creation of research centers. Originally, the funds were to promote economic development, lead to technological discoveries, or improve the quality of life in Michigan.