Outstanding Faculty and Staff Awards

Dickinson State University paid tribute to several of its employees during the university’s annual Years of Service Recognition Ceremony Tuesday, April 29. Faculty and staff service awards are sponsored each year by the Dickinson State University Foundation. The following members of the DSU community received a plaque and a cash stipend.

Margaret Barnhart, lecturer of English, received the Outstanding Adjunct Teacher of the Year Award. Barnhart teaches general education English courses, providing a sound foundation for upper level study. She is recognized as a reflective teacher who opens the minds of her students while teaching them the discipline required for thorough examination of literature through critical reading, thinking, speaking and writing. She is known by her students as a tough but empathetic teacher who truly cares about their academic development and about them as individuals. Barnhardt is commended by her colleagues for her diplomacy, humility and incredible dedication to her students and to the university.

Alan Klatt, maintenance worker, received the Physical Plant Staff Service Award. Klatt performs a wide variety of duties that help keep the campus running smoothly and looking beautiful. He is recognized as a capable problem solver who brings intelligence and a conscientious attitude to the maintenance and repair of virtually every campus building and location. He is careful about safety and has participated in numerous training sessions and certification programs to broaden his range of expertise. Klatt consistently performs his work with a positive attitude and in a pleasant manner. He is commended by his colleagues for his flexibility when dealing with unexpected changes in his routine and for his willingness to step into a leadership role when called to. He is recognized as a friendly, honest and dedicated member of the university staff who takes great pride in his work and his role as an ambassador for DSU in the community.

Heidi Larson, administrative secretary for the Office of University Relations, received the Paraprofessional/Secretarial/Clerical Staff Service Award. Larson contributes greatly to smooth operations in the Office of University Relations by being a positive supporting member of the team. She is recognized for her outstanding efficiency, her conscientious attitude toward her work, her dependability and her friendly personality. She has demonstrated her grasp of technology and her eagerness to streamline operations by exploring and implementing new ways of completing necessary tasks. She also answers the main university switchboard line, serving as a first point of contact for callers to the university and to University Relations. As such, she is known for her welcoming demeanor, her willingness to help no matter how large or small the request and her genuine concern for the DSU community.

Margaret Marcusen, lecturer of communication, was named Innovative Teacher of the Year. Marcusen is committed to bringing personal attention and care to her students as an advisor, mentor and instructor. She has been commended for creating opportunities for cross-cultural communication among the students in her courses. In the fall of 2007, she introduced the “campus buddy” project to her Intercultural Communications students. Through the project, she paired American students with international students and assigned them to meet at least five times during the semester, attend campus or community activities, and talk. This type of exchange encourages students to go beyond cultural barriers and get to know students from other countries as individuals. During the spring semester, Marcusen further developed the program to include radio broadcasts of American students interviewing international students, thus bringing the voices and experiences of DSU’s international students to the listening public.

Rebecca Pitkin, assistant professor of education, was named the Distinguished Teacher of the Year. Pitkin is a versatile and enthusiastic instructor who uses a range of teaching techniques to engage all her students in a meaningful way. Recognized for her solid knowledge of educational best practices and for her wide range of teaching experience, she is a tireless advocate for her students, actively engaging in academic advising and supervising student teachers. She has earned the respect and affection of her students as both a demanding and compassionate teacher and as a wise advisor. She created Professional Learning Communities to bring the student teachers she supervises together on a regular basis to discuss their experiences in the classroom and to form friendships with their peers and professors. Pitkin also freely shares her enthusiasm and energy for education with the area K-12 community by working with teacher education students in early field experience programs.

Toby Stroh, assistant professor of agriculture, received the Faculty/Student Collaborative Research Award. As director of the Agrosecurity Resource Center, Stroh actively engages students in cutting edge research using the latest geographic information system (GIS) and global positioning satellite (GPS) technology to address real problems that affect agriculture, natural resources, national security and businesses. Both in the Agrosecurity Resource Center and in the field, Stroh elicits intellectual curiosity from his students through his compassionate mentorship. He also has earned the respect of colleagues across the state and nation by involving the center in numerous collaborative projects with other universities, government agencies and private businesses. When working with these entities, Stroh consistently searches for ways to involve the students, thus giving them real world experiences to help prepare them for their future careers or for post-graduate work.

Anthony Willer, instructional technology/online coordinator, received the Professional Staff Service Award. Willer works in the Office of Extended Learning, using his expertise to build and improve online course and degree offerings and to facilitate online delivery of all courses using WebCT. Over the past year, he has worked closely with Computer Services to implement a new delivery media called Tegrity. He also works with various departments on campus to develop online course rotations and conducts faculty and student training sessions. He is known for his grace under pressure, his problem solving skills and his ability to communicate in a personable and professional manner. Willer also shares his creative energy by serving on the Web Advisory Committee, which is working to develop a new Web site for the university.

5/2/2008 9:43:25 AM