May 3, 2004 Western Presents Top Awards for Teaching, Research, and Service Gibbs Knotts, winner of the Chancellor’s Western presented its top faculty Distinguished Teaching Award, is completing his fourth and staff awards for teaching, year as a member of the Western faculty. In addition to research, and service for the 2003-04 teaching undergraduate political science classes, Knotts is academic yearFriday, April 23, at its director of Western’s Master of Public Affairs Program. “He empowers students by providing them with the tools annual spring General Faculty for lifelong learning and fulfilling careers,” Bardo said in Meeting and Awards Convocation. announcing the award. “He generates student excitement Gibbs Knotts, assistant professor and inspires them to become civically engaged. He wants of political science and public affairs, students to develop an interest in the political process and a sense of efficacy about the political system.” won the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award. The Paul A. Reid Service Award for faculty went to Sharon Jacques, associate professor Gibbs Knotts of nursing, while the Paul A. Reid Sharon Jacques, winner of the Reid Service Award for administrative faculty award, has been a member of staff went to Gene McAbee, director Western’s nursing education faculty of university police. since 1974. She teaches and advises students in the Capstone program that Brian Railsback, professor of enables registered nurses with two-year English, received the University degrees to complete their four-year Scholar Award. degrees, and she has led the nursing Sharon Jacques The honors were announced by department in distance education, converting the entire Capstone program so it is offered online. “Dr. Jacques is the Western Carolina Chancellor John backbone and ‘go to’ person on the nursing faculty. Her many years of experience and W. Bardo, who also presented the wealth of knowledge make her invaluable not only to the Department of Nursing, but to Academic Program of Excellence Continued on page 3 Award to the College of Business’ Mimi Fenton Named One of UNC System’s entrepreneurship education program. Other major awards recognized at Premier Teachers the convocation include The A Western faculty member who regularly wins praise from University of North Carolina Board students and colleagues for the knowledge and passion that illuminate her teaching has been named one of the best teachers of Governors Award for Excellence in The University of North Carolina system. in Teaching, won by Mimi Fenton, Mimi Fenton, associate professor of English, is among associate professor of English; the 16 recipients of the UNC Board of Governors Awards for Excellence in Teaching. The award will be presented at a Collaborative Education Experience recognition luncheon May 14 in Chapel Hill. Winners Mimi Fenton Award; and the Scholarly Develop- receive a commemorative bronze medallion and $7,500 cash prize. ment Assignment Program awards. Fenton’s teaching at Western ranges from introductory courses for freshmen to Renaissance and 17th-century British literature for seniors and graduate students. Continued on page 3 Faculty Senate Announces Staff Forum Election Results Holds Election The results of the 2004 university-wide election The Staff Forum recently held elctions. Keith Ashe is the new chairman; for the Faculty Senate resulted in the following: Terry Riouff, vice chair; and Dawn Coward, secretary. Chair of the Faculty Faculty Assembly Alternate (two-year term): (three-year term): New members also were elected. Newton Smith, Arts and Sciences Austin Spencer, Business They are: Clerical/Secretarial– 3 Seats: Dawne Coward, executive Vice Chair Post-tenure Review Appeals Committee assistant, administrtion and finance; (two-year term): (three-year term): Scott Philyaw, Arts and Sciences Candace Boan, Education and Allied Alicia Estes, administrative secretary, Professions; Roger Higgs, Business; enrollment management; and Michele Athletics Committee Terry Rose, Education and Allied Sutton, motor pool manager, facilities (three-year term): Professions. management. Denise Wilfong, Applied Sciences (2003-2006 Term) Craftsman–1 seat: Terry Riouff, PM Sabine Rundle, Arts and Sciences Faculty Grievance Committee coordinator, facilities management. (three-year term): Committee on Nominations, Elections, Executive/Administrative–1 seat: Marilyn Chamberlin, Arts and Sciences Councils, and Committees (CONECC) Linda Beja, accountant, controller’s office. (2003-2006 term) (three-year term): Maintenance/Service–3 seats: Brian Gastle, Arts and Sciences; Roger Dale Carpenter, Education and Allied Ronnie Amster, grounds worker, Higgs, Business; Beth Jones, Business; Professions; Mark Holliday, Arts and facilities management; Marvin Sabine Rundle, Arts and Sciences Sciences; Nancy Newsome, Library; Austin Spencer, Business Baumgarner ; and Clifton Fisher, Faculty Hearing Committee grounds supervisor, facilities management. (three-year term): Council on Faculty Affairs Professional–2 seats: Julie Walters- Kevin Ayers, Education and Allied (three-year term): Steele, director of the University Center; Beverly Jacobs, Education and Allied Professions; Marilyn Chamberlin, and Glenna Young, adminsitrative Arts and Sciences; Terry Nienhuis, Professions; Bill Papin, Education and secretary in law, equity, law, and auditing. Arts and Sciences; Sabine Rundle, Allied Professions; Deborah Paulson, Arts and Sciences Library; Sandra Saunders, Arts Technical–1 seat: William Frady, and Sciences consultant, IT services. Western to Bestow Two Honorary Doctorates at Spring Commencement Western Carolina University The Alumni Award for Academic will bestow honorary doctorates and Professional Achievement will on a longtime dean and on a be given to Loretta P. Dodgen, who former chairman of its board provides management consulting of trustees, and present a major services from coast to coast through alumni award, as the university her company, Multiple Choice Inc. holds spring commencement exercises Saturday, May 8. Commencement will begin Gurney Chambers Joseph Crocker at 2 p.m. in the Ramsey Center. An honorary doctorate of An honorary doctorate of Approximately 750 students are education will be presented to humane letters will be awarded to candidates for undergraduate Gurney E. Chambers, who served Joseph D. Crocker, an executive and graduate degrees, pending as dean of Western’s College of with Wachovia Bank and final examinations and review. Education and Allied Professions Western trustee for eight years. for 17 years before his retirement. Loretta Dodgen May 3, 2004 • The Reporter Western Presents Top Awards continued from page 1 the university as a whole,” Bardo said. The recipient of the Reid staff award, director of University Police Gene McAbee, is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the full array of duties performed by a local police department— including law enforcement, investigations, building and property security, crime prevention, crowd control, Chancellor Bardo, left, presents the Academic Award of parking and traffic, and general Excellence to left to right, Roger Lirely, Joann Carland, and assistance to campus residents James Carland,representatives of the entrepreneurship and visitors. “His job is one that program. Gene McAbee often places him and those with professor of history, and student Nathan Best, for whom he deals in confrontational—even threatening— “Masterstroke History Simulation,” an online World War I situations,” Bardo said. “He is regularly challenged to find the role-playing exercise. right balance between strict enforcement of the law and helping a Recipients in the Scholarly Development Assignment student step away from a life-ruining mistake.” Program are James Costa, associate professor of biology; Brian Railsback, who won the University Scholar Award, is a Rob Young, associate professor of geosciences and natural nationally acclaimed scholar and author on the works of John resources management; Mark Holliday, associate professor Steinbeck. His first novel, an eco-thriller titled The Darkest of mathematics and computer science; LeVon Wilson, Clearing, was published earlier this year and has been characterized professor of marketing and business law; Gael Graham, by distinguished Southern author Fred Chappell as “one helluva professor of history; Bruce Henderson, professor of ride,” Bardo said. “Dr. Railsback’s interests are wide-ranging— psychology; Scott Philyaw, associate professor of history; journalism, film, professional writing, Mary Adams, associate professor of English; Betty Farmer, creative writing, literary history and associate professor of communication, theatre, and dance; criticism, and a whole range of and Marya Roland, associate professor of art. The American authors figure into his Scholarly Development Assignment Program provides world view and his engagement with leave from usual work commitments to full-time tenured multi-cultural literatures.” faculty so they may pursue concentrated scholarly work. In presenting the Academic Recipients are chosen on a competitive basis by a Award of Excellence, Bardo praised faculty committee. the entrepreneurship education program for preparing students for successful careers as owners of small Fenton Named continued from page 1 businesses and as entrepreneurship Lively lectures and class discussions are the mainstays of professors, and for helping economic Fenton’s classroom, and she constantly seeks new ways to make development in