Celebrating Faculty Achievements
The achievements of Cortland faculty are noteworthy. Our full and part-time professionals are recognized leaders who represent a broad spectrum of fields. The campus is proud to note the accomplishments, awards, and services of these individuals. Annual awards and grants that foster excellence in higher education are sponsored by a variety of institutional offices and committees. Guidelines and application materials are available.
- 2009 Tenure-Track Excellence in Teaching Award Winners
- 2009 Non-Tenure Track Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2007 Teaching Innovation Grant Winners
- 2009 Chancellor's Awards for Excellence
- Scholarly Research and Publication
- Professional Activity
2009 Tenure-Track Excellence in Teaching Award Winners
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Dr. Christopher Latimer Christopher Latimer’s teaching philosophy relies heavily on his research interests in deliberation; that is, strategies based on discussions by informed, thoughtful participants as opposed to debate and polarization. His classroom has become a working reflection of the deliberative method where students are expected to challenge and learn from each other’s opinions. Latimer finds ways to allow students to listen to one another’s unique and diverse perspectives so that they might appreciate and even embrace different viewpoints. In his upper level courses, Latimer uses a rigorous Socratic Method, and randomly calls on one student per class to show mastery of Supreme Court cases through written briefs. While at first some students find this daunting, they report that not only do they prepare for class carefully, but eventually relish their turn in the spotlight. Students clearly find the challenge refreshing, and repeatedly claim that the class was worth the extra effort that he demands. To make connections to current events for his students, Latimer has hosted attorneys, judges and even political campaign managers in his classes. Not content to merely challenge his students, Latimer has been known to meet weekly with those who are struggling, and even prepare individual quizzes and exercises for them. His students find this concern and support remarkable. Latimer’s demands have paid off, as students claim he has helped shape them and made them “more prepared for life.” |
2009 Non-Tenure Track Excellence in Teaching Award
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Michael Pitcher Michael Pitcher brings to his students a world of experience from the front lines of his discipline. He served for four years as a Teacher of Speech and Hearing Handicapped in secondary schools in Cortland, Madison and Onondaga counties. After receiving his Master’s degree in Audiology from Ithaca College, he worked for 15 years as a clinical audiologist both in hospital settings and rehabilitation centers. After Pitcher was approached by Syracuse University to teach pediatric audiology, he says his interest in higher education was piqued. This experience “in the trenches” is an asset to both his students and his department, as Pitcher serves as the Coordinator for the Audiology program. Pitcher’s classroom style reflects his teaching philosophy that no one pedagogy fits all. He uses PowerPoint, online discussions, video clips and YouTube to bring his subject to life. His students reactions indicate his success. His faculty colleagues report that student participation in his classes is remarkably high and that students remain engaged and active throughout his 75 minute classes. They find Pitcher an enthusiastic, knowledgeable and effective professor. He makes time for them after hours, in the evenings and even holds virtual study sessions by Instant Messenger. Pitcher teaches courses across the Speech Pathology and Audiology curriculum, allowing him to experience students as they develop from freshman to senior. This allows him real satisfaction. “Nothing gives me more pleasure than to see a passive learner become an engaged critical thinker and problem solver by the time that they graduate.” |
2009 Non-Tenure Track Excellence in Teaching Award
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Judith Schillo Judith Schillo’s goal as an educator is to inform, inspire, and impact her students to effect lasting, positive changes in their lives that reach far beyond the walls of the classroom. One of the strategies she uses to achieve this is the creation of real collegiality in her classes. She intentionally designs learning communities within the confines of her class in which students come to know each other as peers they can trust. She believes that within these groups, students can feel safe and take risks as they learn to teach children. As her students strive to master the best pedagogical approaches, Schillo models these for them in her interactions with them as students. This is the cornerstone of Schillos’ teaching philosophy: you teach what you are. And, according to her students, Schillo is someone who facilitates their growth as teachers, “but even more importantly, as human beings.” As her students enter the field, they report referring often to her ideas and methods, and feeling grateful for having experienced her classes, even though the workload was considerable. They cite her encouragement, support, advice, passion and creativity as a constant inspiration to be the best educators possible.
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2007 Teaching Innovation Grant Winners
- Kevin Sheets, Associate Professor, History
“Cortland Wiki”
A wiki is website that allows for collaborative authoring. The “Cortland Wiki”, therefore, is a site where Sheets’ students will write a collaborative history of the Cortland community. Beginning in the fall semester, students will select topics in local history, conduct research in community archives, and contribute their findings in entries collected on the “Cortland Wiki” website. Subsequent classes of Historical Methods students will be able to augment and develop the historical materials collected there. Students will be able to add: oral histories, photographic collections of Cortland’s past, links to census materials relevant to Cortland, studies of Cortland’s architectural heritage, histories of Cortland’s festivals, organizations and businesses, and biographies of key people in Cortland’s past. This dynamic and evolving site will result in a comprehensive—and collaboratively-written---history of the community. Ideally, once the project is established, it can be opened to the community at large so that local Cortland residents can contribute to the expanding history of the community.
- Pamela Summers, Associate Professor, Literacy
Promote Effective Teaching of Literacy Skills
Since teaching languages arts is the most important thing teachers do, the challenge has always been to teach it more effectively. More specifically, this project aims to promote teaching early literacy skills in pre-service teachers who enroll in LIT 371, Teaching Reading and Language Arts in Elementary School Part I. The proposal centers on presenting content and instructional strategies via PowerPoint directly followed by a video demonstration of a seasoned teacher. Videos of teachers practicing their methods as they teach early literacy skills to their students will be part of the presentation. With these scenarios in view, Summers will discuss with her students the strategies used by both teacher and student in a real-life classroom setting. Summers students will be, in effect, “flies on the wall” as they watch and analyze the best and the “less than best” in early literacy instruction. These video presentations will take place in conjunction with use of a traditional textbook, and viewing will take place both before and after readings. As students watch the videos after instructional reading, they can dissect what they see in to discreet skills as more seasoned viewers. This technique follows the educational best practice method of “whole to part to whole.”
2009 Chancellor's Awards for Excellence
Five SUNY Cortland faculty and staff members received the prestigious State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence during the 2006 Undergraduate Commencement on Saturday, May 20, in the Park Center.
The Chancellor's Award process begins at each of the 64 SUNY campuses with nominations submitted by the respective presidents. The SUNY Advisory Committee on Awards then reviews the nominations and makes its recommendations.
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Bonni Hodges Professor and Chair Health Department Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Faculty Service Bonni Hodges, a professor of health at SUNY Cortland, will receive a Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Faculty Service during the 2009 Undergraduate Commencement on Saturday, May 16, in the Park Center. She is among five SUNY Cortland faculty and staff members to be honored this year with a prestigious State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence. The Chancellor's Award process begins at each of the 64 SUNY campuses with nominations submitted by the respective presidents. The SUNY Committee on Awards then reviews the nominations and makes its recommendations. Hodges, of Cortland, N.Y., who joined the College in 1992, becomes the sixth SUNY Cortland faculty member to receive the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Faculty Service.
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Jeffrey A. Bauer Associate Professor of Kinesiology Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities Jeffrey A. Bauer, an associate professor of kinesiology at SUNY Cortland, will receive a Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities during the 2009 Undergraduate Commencement on Saturday, May 16, in the Park Center. He is among five SUNY Cortland faculty and staff members to be honored this year with a prestigious State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence. The Chancellor's Award process begins at each of the 64 SUNY campuses with nominations submitted by the respective presidents. The SUNY Committee on Awards then reviews the nominations and makes its recommendations. Bauer, of Cortlandville, N.Y., who joined the College in 2000, becomes the eighth SUNY Cortland faculty member to receive the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities.
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Billie Jean Goff Senior Counselor Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service Billie Jean Goff, a senior counselor at SUNY Cortland, will receive a Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service during the 2009 Undergraduate Commencement on Saturday, May 16, in the Park Center. She is among five SUNY Cortland faculty and staff members to be honored this year with a prestigious State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence. The Chancellor's Award process begins at each of the 64 SUNY campuses with nominations submitted by the respective presidents. The SUNY Committee on Awards then reviews the nominations and makes its recommendations. A senior counselor in the College Counseling Center at SUNY Cortland since 1990, Goff of Cortland, N.Y., becomes the 21st SUNY Cortland staff member to receive the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service. Goff's 30-year professional career has given her significant experience in various aspects of counseling. She is described by her colleagues as a highly skilled professional with superb clinical skills, an outstanding counselor and a quiet leader. Goff possesses a special sensitivity to her clients and their needs, a gift that is appreciated and respected across campus.
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Kathleen Lawrence Kathleen Lawrence, an associate professor of communication studies at SUNY Cortland, will receive a Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching during the 2009 Undergraduate Commencement on Saturday, May 16, in the Park Center. She is among five SUNY Cortland faculty and staff members to be honored this year with a prestigious State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence. A second faculty member, JoEllen Bailey, associate professor of physical education, will also be recognized with a Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. The Chancellor's Award process begins at each of the 64 SUNY campuses with nominations submitted by the respective presidents. The SUNY Committee on Awards then reviews the nominations and makes its recommendations. |
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JoEllen Bailey JoEllen Bailey, an associate professor of physical education at SUNY Cortland, will receive a Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching during the 2009 Undergraduate Commencement on Saturday, May 16, in the Park Center. She is among five SUNY Cortland faculty and staff members to be honored this year with a prestigious State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence. A second faculty member, Kathleen Lawrence, associate professor of communication studies, will also be recognized with a Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. The Chancellor's Award process begins at each of the 64 SUNY campuses with nominations submitted by the respective presidents. The SUNY Committee on Awards then reviews the nominations and makes its recommendations. Bailey, of Dryden, N.Y., becomes the 50th SUNY Cortland faculty member to receive the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching.
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Scholarly Research and Publication
Distinct from grant-related research, the publications of Cortland faculty represent finished work that seeks to communicate innovative scholarly ideas as well as creative writing. These publications contribute significantly to the national and international scholarly reputation of SUNY Cortland.
Image of Scholarly Publication Announcement The Faculty Development Committee, in partnership with Memorial Library and with the full support of President Erik J. Bitterbaum and Provost Elizabeth Davis Russell, is compiling a collection of publications that will serve as a permanent archive of the achievements of SUNY Cortland faculty. An announcement: Celebrating Scholarly Publication and Creative Writing was recently distributed to campus.
An annual publications reception to be hosted by President Eric J. Bitterbaum,will celebrate and honor the authors of scholarly articles and books and the creative writing endeavors published during that year.
Professional Activity
The Office of Institutional Advancement produces The Bulletin, a bi-weekly publication for the Cortland campus community. The Bulletin features Faculty-Staff Activities, a section dedicated to recent accomplishments. Listings include publications in progress, grant activity and presentations to professional organizations.