Trine faculty receive annual awards

Trine University honored faculty members during its annual year-end awards ceremony, held prior to Commencement on Saturday, May 4.

McKetta-Smith Excellence in Teaching

The McKetta-Smith Excellence in Teaching Awards were established for the faculty by Trustee Emeritus John J. McKetta, Ph.D., in 1989.

The Helen Smith McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award was presented to Jacqueline Delagrange, J.D., assistant professor and chair of the Criminal Justice Department. Delagrange also received the Professor Gerald H. Moore Overall Excellence in Teaching Award.

The recipient of the Robert Ewing & Gail Stewart Smith Excellence in Teaching Award was David Quist, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Science.

The recipient of the Merle J. & Anna Mae McKetta Thomas Excellence in Teaching Award was Laurie Stockton-Moreno, assistant professor in the Franks School of Education and director of The Center for Montessori Education at Trine University.

The recipient of the Charles William, Nelle Paris, & Mary Ann McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award was Allen Beatty, assistant professor, Ketner School of Business.

The recipient of the Charles & Sue Ragan Gelet Excellence in Teaching Award was Max Gong, Ph.D., associate professor, Bock Department of Biomedical Engineering.

The recipient of the Steve & Mary Yacynch McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award was Jeremy Rentz, Ph.D., professor, Reiners Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

The recipient of the Frank & Julia Gelet McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award was Roberta Gagnon, assistant professor, Department of Design Engineering Technology.

The recipient of the John J. & Mary Gelet McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award was Maria Gerschutz, Ph.D., professor and chair, Bock Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Additional awards

Joanna Claudy was honored with the Outstanding Adjunct Award for Angola Campus, in recognition of teaching excellence and exceptional service to the university. Claudy will join the university full-time this fall in the Department of Humanities and Communication.

Melanie Beer, administrative assistant for the Ketner School of Business, received the Service Award. That award recognizes a faculty or academic staff member who has gone well beyond regular duties and has committed an extraordinary amount of time, resources and dedication to the betterment of Trine University.

Thomas “Gus” Almonroeder, Ph.D., associate professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, received the Faculty Scholarship Award. That award recognizes an individual who has gone well beyond regular duties and has dedicated much time and effort to produce quality scholarly work as a faculty member at Trine University.

Almonroeder has published one book and eight articles, and has given 12 national and international conference presentations. He has two more articles accepted for publication and four manuscripts under review.

The Excellence in Teaching award for the Brooks College of Health Professions was given to Jennifer Barube, assistant professor of nursing.

Two faculty were honored with the OER Excellence Award, presented to those who have shown outstanding commitment to effectively incorporate open, affordable education resources for students: Andrea Mitofsky, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Roberta Gagnon, assistant professor in the department of Design Engineering Technology.

The university also honored two faculty with the VPAA Years of Service Award, which recognized retiring academic faculty and staff. Carter Snider, adjunct faculty in the Ketner School of Business, and Marty Dygert, lecturer in the Department of Mathematics, received the award.

The Barrenbrugge Award for Faculty Excellence, based on the criteria of excellence in teaching, achievement in research or other scholarly endeavors and service to the university, was presented to Angela Bojrab, Ph.D., professor in the Rinker-Ross School of Health Sciences.

The Jannen Renaissance Scholar Award, which honors a breadth of interest and accomplishment consistent with Renaissance ideals and encouraging students and faculty to aspire to such breadth, was presented to James Miller, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Wade Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

The university conferred professor emeritus rank on two retiring faculty: Vicki Moravec, Ph.D., and John Wagner, Ph.D. The honor had been awarded previously to Dr. Moravec, who passed away May 2.