At the May 3rd faculty meeting the Distinguished Teachers for 2006 were announced. Each year Plymouth State presents its Distinguished Teaching Awards to one undergraduate faculty, as well as to two graduate faculty. Nominations are accepted from faculty and staff, as well as students, past and present. It was a pleasure for me to announce the following:
The recipient of the 2006 Distinguished Teaching Award is Dr. Wendy Palmquist, Professor of Psychology. Her citation is as follows:
Wendy J. Palmquist
In recognition and appreciation of your years of outstanding and dedicated service to Plymouth State University, you have been chosen by your students, colleagues, alumni, and staff to receive the 2006 Distinguished Teaching Award.
You are so honored because:
* You convey and live the qualities of fairness, tolerance, and compassion in your roles of teacher, scholar, and community member. * Your broad, extensive knowledge of higher education, general education, and pedagogy has, more than anything else, facilitated the institution’s movement toward student-centered education. * You care for students, their academic success, and fulfillment as human beings. * You translate knowledge in ways that students find accessible, meaningful, and relevant, and do so in an atmosphere of rigor and respect. * You inspire and motivate both students and colleagues to understand that critical thinking is the cornerstone of a Plymouth State University education.
The recipient of the 2006 Distinguished Graduate Teaching Award in the MEd program is Dr. Meg Petersen, Professor of English.
Meg J. Petersen
In recognition and appreciation of your years of outstanding and dedicated service to Plymouth State University, you have been chosen by your students, colleagues, alumni, and staff to receive the 2006 Distinguished Graduate Teaching Award in the MEd Program.
You are so honored because:
*Your dedication to the PSU community and your commitment to the success of your students stand out as exemplary. * You are dedicated to reflecting on your own practices, modeling for your students a key concept in successful teaching. * You are a truly inspirational teacher, going above and beyond what is required and providing for your students the maximum in learning experiences. * You are a true leader, as demonstrated in your role as co-director and founder of the Plymouth Writing Project. You inspire teachers to become involved and stay involved. * Your personal commitment to excellence in your roles as “educator” and “mentor” has earned you the admiration of your peers and the respect and love of your students.
The recipient of the 2006 Distinguished Graduate Teaching Award in the MBA program is Dr. William Benoit, Professor Emeritus of Business.
William R. Benoit In recognition and appreciation of your years of outstanding and dedicated service to Plymouth State University, you have been chosen by yourstudents, colleagues, alumni, and staff to receive the 2006 Distinguished Graduate Teacher in the MBA Program.
You are so honored because:
* In your many years of teaching, you have shared with your students your own diverse life experiences which has brought to life the theories upon which business is based. * You have selflessly given of your time and expertise to your students to assure that they have learned, understood, and been able to apply the important concepts that will contribute to their success in the business world. * You have been an enthusiastic and passionate teacher, engaging your students in your classes and sharing your passion for all things business. * Your involvement in ACBSP was instrumental in securing the accreditation of the MBA program. *Your students respect you for the knowledge and professionalism that you bring to your classroom and the relationships you establish with your students, which go beyond the classroom and with them into their chosen careers. By making these awards we honor both the teaching profession and three people who exemplify its finest qualities. At the same time, we reaffirm our belief that teaching is of central importance to our mission at PSU. It is an honor to share this news with the PSU community. Please be sure to congratulate these Distinguished Teachers when you see them around campus.
Virginia M. Barry
Provost and Vice President
for Academic Affairs