CHSS Awards Its 'Outstanding'

College of Humanities and Social Sciences dean John de Castro (far right) and associate dean Kandi Tayebi (far left) recognized Spanish professor David Gerling as Outstanding Teacher, history distinguished professor Jim Olson as Outstanding Researcher and English and foreign languages department secretary Trina Strange with the Staff Excellence award during the college's recent annual meeting.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences recently honored its faculty and staff members for their outstanding work during its annual fall meeting.

David Gerling, associate professor of Spanish, was recognized as the college’s Outstanding Teacher.

Gerling has been lauded by his students as a “professor who cares and challenges” and for consistently engaging his students in new cultures and traditions.

His students leave not only with a proficiency in a new language but with an appreciation for other cultures and people, according to CHSS dean John de Castro.

“All of us have known a teacher who inspired us, influenced us, and exemplified good teaching,” de Castro said. “David Gerling is exactly this kind of instructor.”

Jim Olson, distinguished professor of history, was recognized as the college’s Outstanding Researcher.

(Above) The CHSS outstanding teachers include (from left) Kandi Tayebi, the Faculty/ Administrative Teaching winner; Kimberly Bell; Claudia Sealey-Potts; Susannah Bruce; Christopher White; Masoud Kazemzadeh; Craig Henderson; Furjen Deng; and Frances Brandau-Brown. With them is dean John de Castro. (Below) The college's nine excellent researchers include (from second from left) Tamara Waggener, Helena Halmari Adams, Shirin Edwin, Laura Burleson, Rene Chen, Daniel Murrie, Douglas Constance, and Richard Bello. With the winners are Tayebi (far left) and de Castro (far right).

He has won numerous research awards, including the National Book Award, the Excellence in the History of Science Award, the Outstanding Academic Book Award, and the university’s Excellence in Research Award.

His book “Bathsheba’s Breast” was recognized by the Los Angeles Times as one of the best non-fiction books in America and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in History.

“Jim Olson provides an international reputation for Sam Houston State University, but he also uses his expertise to mentor junior scholars around campus,” de Castro said.

Trina Strange, secretary in the English and foreign languages department, was recognized with the Staff Excellence award.

Strange has kept one of the largest departments on campus functioning smoothly through accuracy, efficiency, and serving as a welcoming presence for students and faculty. Faculty and staff around campus have benefited from her expertise, according to de Castro.

“Every department needs someone who understands how to negotiate the labyrinth of bureaucracy, how to navigate the terrain of the university, and how to complete the confusing array of paperwork associated with almost everything we do,” de Castro said. “Trina Strange has done all of this exceptionally well.”

The CHSS also recognized nine faculty members for their outstanding teaching during its annual fall meeting, including Kim Bell and Kandi Tayebi from English and foreign languages, Claudia Sealey-Potts from family and consumer sciences, Susannah Bruce from history, Chris White from mass communication, Masoud

Alessandro Bonanno, left, with de Castro, was named the college's Faculty/ Administrative Research winner.

Kazemzadeh from political science, Craig Henderson from psychology and philosophy, Furjen Deng from sociology, and Frances Brandau-Brown from speech communication.

“Teachers in our departments are asked to teach students in every discipline and engage students in the act of learning,” de Castro said. “These excellent instructors inspire students and personify the college’s commitment to the task of transforming students’ lives.”

In addition, the college recognized nine excellent researchers, including Helena Halmari Adams from English, Shirin Edwin from foreign languages, Laura Burleson from family and consumer sciences, Rene Chen from mass communication, Tamara Waggener from political science, Daniel Murie from psychology and philosophy, Doug Constance and Alessandro Bonanno from sociology, and Rick Bello from speech communication. Bonanno was the college's Faculty/Administrative Research winner.

"Research plays a fundamental role at the University, producing new knowledge, inspiring new ideas, and generating new ways of seeing our world,” stated Dean John de Castro. “These faculty not only produce exciting new research through publications, grants and creative works, but they also engage students in the exciting process of research.”

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SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt
Oct 4, 2006
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