Awards Honor Rio Faculty

RIO GRANDE, Ohio – Each spring the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College honors three of its faculty for their exemplary work and dedication to the students of Rio.

The Edwin A. Jones Excellence in Teaching Award was given to Associate Professor of English and Director of the Honors Program Heather L. Duda, Ph.D. The Earnie Wyant Outstanding Teaching Award went to Sports and Exercise Studies Instructor Katie Moleski. And the Excellence in Scholarship Award recipients was Professor of Art and Chair of the School of Fine Arts Benjy Davies.

“Rio Grande—both the community college and the university—are distinguished by faculty members who are dedicated to the art, craft and content of teaching,” said Rio Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Richard Sax, Ph.D. “As Chaucer said in the General Prologue to “The Canterbury Tales,” referring to the Clerk, “gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche,” words that clearly describe as well our three awardees this year!”

The Edwin A. Jones Award has been awarded annually since 1985, and is voted on by the Rio faculty.

Past recipients of the Jones Award include Merlyn G. Ross (1985), T. Michael Rhodes, Ph.D., (1986),

Marcella Biro Barton, Ph.D. (1987), Sharon Yates, Ph.D. (1988), Krishna Kool, Ph.D. (1989), Barry Thompson, Ph.D. (1990), Carl Hoffman, Ph.D. (1991), Thomas Osborne (1992), Raymond Matura, Ph.D. (1993), Arlie R. Peck, Ph.D. (1994), Benjamin Forshey (1995), Joan B. Morrison, Ph.D. (1996), Paul Holeski, Ph.D. (1997), Ivan Tribe, Ph.D. (1998), William Stitt, Ph.D. (1999), Hattie L. Taylor (2000), Linda Sigismondi, Ph.D. (2001), Elizabeth A. Brown, Ph.D. (2002), Jian R. Sun, Ph.D. (2003), Dr. Margaret L. Wheeler (2004), Christopher L. Pines, Ph.D. (2005), Nancy “Benny” Lease Gooldin (2006), Jim Doubleday, Ph.D. (2007), Kevin Lyles (2008), Ellen Brasel (2009), Benjy Davies (2010), Jacob White (2011), Kent Williams (2012), Tracey Boggs (2013) and Don Althoff, Ph.D. (2014)

“Involvement informs most, if not all, of my decisions as a professor. It is my goal to create the best educational experience possible for my students,” Duda said. “Whether I am discussing current events to engage students in an analysis of the rhetorical appeals; organizing a trip to Stratford, Ontario to see professional Shakespearean actors perform; or serving on committees that strengthen the institution, my focus is always on the ways that I and my students can be involved in the learning process. It is an honor to be recognized by my colleagues for that involvement.”

The Ernie Wyant Award is given annually to a full-time faculty member who strongly encourages student academic achievement by providing an innovative classroom, accessibility to students and is especially conscientious in helping students achieve high standards of academic success. Professors must be nominated by a member of the student body to be considered.

The Wyant Award honors 1937 alumnus Ernie A. Wyant, who was an educator for 41 years in the public school systems of southeastern Ohio. Previous recipients include William Stitt, Ph.D. (1995), Edie Ross (1996), Charmaine Lepley, Ph.D. (1998), Barry Thompson, Ph.D. (1999), Krishna Kook, Ph.D. (2000), Arlie Peck, Ph.D. (2001), T. Michael Rhodes, Ph.D. (2002), Earl Thomas (2003), Ellen Brasel (2004), Nasseef Abukamail (2005), Wesley Thoene (2006), Chris Barker (2007), Barbara Boley, Ph.D. (2008), Raymond Matura, Ph.D. (2009), Heather Duda, Ph.D. (2010), Scott Beekman, Ph.D. (2011), Christie Seagraves (2012), Alan Dean, Ph.D. (2013) and Sangeeta Gulati, Ph.D. (2014).

“Receiving the Ernie Wyant award is truly special because it comes from the students, after all, they are the reason I am here,” Moleski said. “I am lucky to have such hard working students in the Sports and Exercise Studies Program and look forward to seeing their professional growth in the future.”

The Excellence in Scholarship Award, nominated by fellow faculty and awarded by the provost, has been given annually since 2012. Previous recipients include John Means, Ph.D. (2012), Don Althoff, Ph.D. (2013) and Kevin Lyles (2014).