2009 CHSBS Faculty Awards
Robert Stecker receives Fulbright Award
December 1, 2009
Philosophy professor Robert Stecker received a 2009-2010 Fulbright Award from the Council for International Exchange of Scholars. Stecker will be based at Lingnan University from January through June where he will teach a philosophy of art course. He also plans to host lectures at other universities in Hong Kong and Asia and conduct research for his new book, Intersections of Value, in which he'll discuss the ways ethical, aesthetic and other central values interact in art, our thinking about the environment, and the pursuit of a good life.
The Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES), under a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of State, administers the Fulbright Scholar Program for faculty and professionals. Each year, the traditional Fulbright Scholar Program sends some 800 U.S. faculty and professionals to 140 countries to lecture, research, or participate in seminars.
CHSBS Excellence in Teaching Award
April 2009
Political science professor Joyce Baugh received the 2009 Excellence in Teaching Award presented by the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The award recognizes a faculty member who goes above and beyond what is expected in creating exceptional learning opportunities for students. CHSBS dean E. Gary Shapiro and associate dean Pamela Gates surprised Baugh with the award presentation April 22 during one of her classes.
I was absolutely speechless and deeply moved by the award presentation," said Baugh. "I joked with my students that they never see me speechless, but this was a different story. It definitely took me a few minutes to regain my composure to teach the day's lessons."
A committee of faculty representatives from each department within the college, with Gates serving as chair, chooses the winner. The committee solicits nominations from faculty, staff, students and alumni. The individuals who nominated Baugh were clear in their admiration for her teaching style.
"Dr. Baugh deserves to be named the CHSBS teacher of the year, because for me, and for so many students at CMU, she has been the teacher of a lifetime," wrote one individual.
Another compared a semester with Baugh to training for a marathon.
"You might think that you are at the top of your game and could not possibly go any further, but Dr. Baugh acts as a motivational power force throughout the semester. She dares you to take learning to new heights and ask questions along the way."
Baugh says it is rewarding to watch her students become excited about learning.
"The 'light bulb' moments and the looks on their faces when they understand a concept that they've had difficulty with are priceless. I also appreciate working with first-generation college students and teaching them that they can be successful even if they don't come from families where higher education has been the norm."
Baugh joined the political science faculty in 1988. She teaches courses on constitutional law, civil liberties, judicial process, American government and the Civil Rights Movement.
Other comments from individuals who nominated Joyce Baugh:
"Once in a rare while, people encounter teachers who are larger than life and leave a profound impact on them for the rest of their lives. For me, that teacher is Dr. Joyce Baugh."
"Because of the amount of compassion and effort she demonstrates while teaching, it is impossible not to become excited about learning."
"Her job description as a teacher is not just to communicate material that she is already an expert on, she makes it her priority to get through to students at the individual level and instill the gift of learning in them."
"In a corporate world of self-centered, jaded professionals, it is incredibly refreshing to witness someone who loves their work. The passion that she demonstrates in her classroom every day gives me hope that someday I will love my job as much as she does. By challenging me more than any teacher ever has, she have given me confidence in myself and helped me to recognize that I am capable of being a life-long learner and overcoming any obstacle in my path."
"She has taught me that there are endless boundaries for our dreams if we are willing to work harder than we ever thought possible and maintain a positive attitude."
CHSBS faculty honored during Book Recognition Event
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Central Michigan University celebrated National Library Week by hosting its fifth annual Book Recognition Event April 16. The ceremony honors all CMU faculty, staff and emeriti who authored, co-authored, edited, co-edited, illustrated or translated books published during 2008. More than half of the books recognized were written or edited by faculty members from the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Click here to view the full list of CHSBS faculty members
President's and Provost's Awards
March 2009
The President's and Provost's Awards are Central Michigan University's most prestigious awards for outstanding research and creative activity. The President's Award recognizes the career achievements of senior faculty members, while the Provost's Award honors the accomplishments of junior faculty members. This year's recipients include two faculty members from the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences.
President's Award: Tim Hartshorne, psychology
Tim Hartshorne is an international leader in research on CHARGE syndrome, which is the leading cause of congenital deaf-blindness. His work has been featured in numerous publications, and his presentations around the world have created awareness among the medical, psychological and educational communities about the complications of CHARGE. Hartshorne also is a past recipient of the Excellence in Teaching and Faculty Distinguished Service awards from CMU, making him only the second person to receive all three awards.
"Dr. Hartshorne has presented new data on these children and young adults which are fundamental for the treatment of these persons and the improvement of their quality of life," a colleague wrote. "It is his greatest achievement to create awareness of the psychological and educational aspect of the syndrome."
Provost's Award: Moataz Fattah, political science
Moataz Fattah is a leading analyst in Middle Eastern politics and Islamic studies. His research focuses on the relationship between Islam, democracy and democratization, as well as the difference in economic philosophy between Islamic and Western countries. His book, "Democratic Values in Muslim World," was deemed one of the best academic publications in 2006 and has been widely adopted by professors and universities throughout the world.
A former professor described Fattah as "a very promising young scholar who combines intellectual curiosity with a thirst for proper method and analysis," and another wrote, "Dr. Fattah takes his research very seriously and knows how to courageously and scientifically tackle the thorny questions of Middle Eastern politics. He will be among the best, if not the best, Arab political scientist of his generation."
Research Excellence Funds Awards
Created by the State of Michigan in 1986, 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.
Richard Backs, psychology
"Development of Software for Driver Assessment and Rehabilitation"
