Past Staff Awards

2010: R. Michael L. Brown

2009: Anne Fletcher, associate professor of theater, was credited with revitalizing THEA 101: Theater Insight.  She tailored the class content in order to use current departmental theater productions in the curriculum, lending a practical component to the classroom theory and vastly improving the content of the course. Fletcher also teaches undergraduate courses on theater history and literature, and dramaturgy. In dramaturgy, she employs script analysis, theater history, critical theory and performance studies, all combined with active learning techniques. She teaches graduate courses in American political theater and contemporary developments.  Fletcher earned her doctoral degree from Tufts University. She taught at Winthrop University in South Carolina, including “voyage teaching” during a “Semester at Sea.” Her publications include The New England Theatre Journal, Theatre Journal and Theatre Symposium.

2008: Michelle Hughes Miller is a professor of sociology. Miller, who has taught sociology at SIUC since 2000, earned a bachelor's degree in 1986 from Nebraska Wesleyan University. She then earned a master's degree in sociology in 1990 from the University of Nebraska Lincoln and a doctorate in sociology in 1997.  Since her arrival at SIUC, Miller has been instrumental in raising the bar for the department's instruction in core classes.  Her core class is Soc 223: Women and Men in Contemporary Society.  But she also felt the need for a new graduate seminar after her personal struggle in teaching a core course for undergraduate students from multiple majors and with varying levels of interest and motivation. Upon reflecting on her own experience, she began to worry about graduate students facing the same challenges but with far less training and experience.  Her solution was to create Soc 518: Teaching Sociology, which helps graduate teaching assistants become better instructors and understand students and the dynamics of a diverse classroom.

2007:  Psychologist Meera Komarraju (right).  Core Curriculum winners must demonstrate excellence in a specific area, such as innovative course design, thoughtful assessment strategies, effective communication skills or the ability to bring the curriculum’s goals to life.  Komarraju began her teaching career at SIUC in 1986 as a lecturer in both the psychology and management departments, becoming an assistant professor of psychology in 2005.  She has a bachelor’s degree, three master’s degrees and doctorate from Osmania University in India and a second doctorate earned in 1987 from the University of Cincinnati.

2006: Microbiologist Jack Parker, dean of the College of Science. Parker, who has no required teaching assignments, teaches the core course in human genetics and human health, a course he designed from scratch for students with no background in science. Along with a teaching partner, he has taught this course, which focuses on the principles and complexities of human genetics, both fall and spring semesters since autumn 1996.

The course provides basic background information and an overview of the latest changes in genetic testing, forensic genetics, biotechnology and treatments for genetic diseases.
Parker earned his bachelor’s degree in 1967 from North Central College in Naperville. He earned his doctorate in 1973 from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.

2005: Stephen D. Ebbs, an associate professor of plant biology. Ebbs teaches a basic plant biology course that draws some 240 non-majors each term to lectures that include everything from popular “science fiction” film and TV clips to governmental Web sites to specially produced color animations of complex biological processes.

Ebbs earned his bachelor’s degree in 1990 from McKendree College in Lebanon and master’s and doctoral degrees in 1995 and 1997 respectively from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

2010: No winner named.

2009: John Paul “J.P.” Dunn, a specialist with Library Affairs, is responsible for the campus Blackboard and WebCT servers and all related training issues. He presents workshops to faculty on the creation of Blackboard and WebCT courses. He works with students on using the Blackboard and WebCT resources and supervises graduate and student assistants as they create resources for multimedia presentations. Dunn earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electronics management in 1987 at SIUC. He earned a Master of Science in curriculum and instruction with a specialization in computer-based education in 1993, also at SIUC.

2008: Susan C. Edgren is acting director of the Division of Continuing Education. She led SIUC’s distance learning initiative, which included online semester-based courses with about 135 enrollments in Information Systems and Applied Arts and 109 in Workforce Education and Development. Average enrollment in online courses each semester was 375-400. In the Division of Continuing Education, her experience includes working at the distance learning facility, as instructional developer, program manager, assistant director and as associate director. She earned her bachelor’s degree in home economics education, master’s in consumer economics and her doctorate in educational administration and higher education, all from SIUC.

2007: Kathleen Plesko (right), director of Disability Support Services. She became director of Disability Support Services in 1991. She began her career at the University as a rehabilitation counselor in the Evaluation and Development Center in 1984. She coordinates delivery of services to hundreds of permanent and temporary students who identify themselves as needing accommodations ? including sign language or signed English interpreters, tutors, readers, notetakers, adapted materials, advocacy and counseling, pre-admission planning and housing referrals. Plesko earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature and education and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, both from SIUC.

2006: Clare H. Mitchell, assistant dean of student affairs in the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts. Her association with SIUC began in 1983 when she worked as a graduate assistant in the Student Recreation Center. After finishing her master’s degree in 1987, she taught as a lecturer in what was then the Department of Recreation, remaining there until 1998 when she moved to her current position. As assistant dean, Mitchell works with students, faculty and staff. She serves as the college’s chief academic adviser, oversees its recruitment and retention efforts and coordinates special events. Her responsibilities include the college’s peer adviser and ambassador programs. Mitchell earned her undergraduate degree in 1979 at Michigan State University.

2005: Donna M. Margolis, director of placement, College of Business and Administration. Margolis set up and runs the college’s first placement center, which served more than 1,700 students in the last two years. She speaks to classes, coaches students, develops relationships with firms and recruiters, manages the intern and extern programs and oversees a 100-level business class. She also plans, organizes and coordinates Accounting Career Day for the School of Accountancy. She is a two-degree graduate of SIUC, earning both a bachelor’s in 1983 and a master’s in 1984 from the business college.

2004: Michael S. Harbin, academic adviser for the Crime, Delinquency and Corrections Center. He is the administration of justice academic adviser, recruiting, orienting, advising, scheduling and counseling more than 400 majors. As most majors are transfer students, he works with community college administrators to keep them abreast of changing curriculum requirements, and he regularly visits the colleges to speak directly with students. He also plays a key role in his unit’s internship program, as well as handling the bulk of the organization work in putting together the department’s annual career and internship fair.