COD Outstanding Divisional Faculty Members for 2013-2014

Eighteen faculty members have been recognized as the 2013-2014 Outstanding Divisional Faculty Members at College of DuPage.

The faculty members were selected for their excellence in teaching, service to the College, scholarly activities, community service and advising skills. Each will receive a monetary award from the College of DuPage Foundation.

OUTSTANDING DIVISIONAL FULL-TIME FACULTY MEMBERS

Amelia Barrett (Glen Ellyn), Professor of Theater, Liberal Arts Division

Amelia Barrett embraces her role as a faculty member - mentoring students, participating on committees and exemplifying initiative and energy. She also has distinguished herself as a director. When directing a show, Barrett meticulously researches the period, dramaturgy and genre, and she undertakes a thorough analysis of the structure and dynamics of the work. As a member of the Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, Barrett has directed several productions and played many roles, including Ann Landers in the one-woman show "The Lady With All the Answers."

Denise Cote (Wheaton), Reference Librarian, Learning Resources Division

As librarian for the Career and Technological Education disciplines, Denise Cote provides material support, in the form of collection development and instruction, and moral support to students with a relatable, no-nonsense, tough-love approach. As the Electronic Resources coordinator, she is in charge of making sure all systems are working at all times and enables the Library to maximize its database offerings to the widest audience possible.

Tom Montgomery Fate (Glen Ellyn), Professor of English, Liberal Arts Division

An active writer and author, Tom Montgomery Fate shares with students the challenges associated with the writer's craft. He has been the guiding force on the Creative Writing Committee and is active in coordinating the Writers Read series, which brings well-known authors to campus. Fate is the author of three acclaimed books, including his latest, "Cabin Fever: A Suburban Father's Search for the Wild," and he recently developed the new course "Native American Journey: Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum," which includes a Field Studies trip for students to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

Erich Hauenstein (Wheaton), Professor of Mathematics, Health and Sciences Division

A graduate of St. Clair County Community College, Erich Hauenstein understands the value of a community college education. He has worked in the Math Assistance Area since its inception more than 20 years ago. His recent contributions have focused on improving student success in developmental math. He gave the inaugural lecture in his academic division's lecture series, and some of his insights on fractals relative to Newton's method have been included in calculus textbooks and shared at various conferences.

Mark Pearson (Mount Prospect), Associate Professor of Architecture, Business and Technology Division

Mark Pearson challenges his students to work at the highest level, and their accomplishments have resulted in schools contacting COD to request transfer articulations for the Architecture program. He created "Sustainable Design Initiatives" in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity, which initially identified ways the group could "green" their projects. Subsequent sessions showed the Habitat staff that their homes could receive LEED certification. His designs received an honorable mention in the Activate competition sponsored by Architecture for Humanity-Chicago.

Sharon Roschay (West Chicago), Professor, Physical Therapist Assistant, Health and Sciences Division

As clinical coordinator of the PTA program, Sharon Roschay is instrumental in establishing and maintaining the critical clinical site contacts so that students receive the best options for clinical education. Her success is reflected by clinical sites preferring COD students over students from other PTA programs. Roschay was involved in the Division Curriculum Committee for many years and worked closely with the health science faculty during the conversion process for curriculum revisions.

Steve Schroeder (Warrenville), Professor of Speech, Liberal Arts Division

For almost two decades, Steve Schroeder coached the COD Forensics team, winning numerous tournaments, including the Phi Rho Pi National Tournament. He has distinguished himself as advisor for the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and is currently undertaking leadership studies for PTK. In 2013, he participated in the Leading Edge Institute at the National Community College Humanities Association National Conference. This year, Schroeder was honored as a Phi Theta Kappa Scholar, an honor granted to only 26 advisors nationally.

Herschel "Sonny" Smith (Lisle), Professor of Business/Marketing/Management, Business and Technology Division

Hershel "Sonny" Smith's student-focused efforts include leading the Business Simulation and working with the Alpha Beta Gamma Honor Society, which is dedicated to developing leaders in business and technology. He continues helping students through the Entrepreneurship Club, which he originated and continues to sponsor in conjunction with his leadership role in advancing the College's academic entrepreneurship offerings. He currently serves as a resource for the Entrepreneurship Center.

Derrick Willis (Naperville), Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Health and Sciences Division

Derrick Willis launched the Anthropology Business certificate, creating two new classes, and has revised the "People and Cultures of the World" course for inclusion in the Honors curriculum. This spring, he accompanied three students to the Society for Applied Anthropologists Conference in Albuquerque, N.M., where they shared papers developed after a year-long study of eating habits at COD. In addition, Willis has served as the chair of the African Diaspora committee and is the faculty advisor to the African Diaspora student club.

OUTSTANDING DIVISIONAL PART-TIME FACULTY MEMBERS

Naveeda Athar (Carol Stream), Human Services Instructor, Health and Sciences Division

Naveeda Athar incorporates a variety of activities in her classroom so her students become effective members of the helping community and apply the concepts she teaches to their personal and professional lives. Athar's emphasis on relationship-building helps her students develop a sense of community and appreciation of multicultural diversity.

Elaine L. Belanger (St. Charles), Student Success Counselor, Student Affairs

Elaine Belanger takes a special interest in helping first generation college students, especially those making their first contact with COD at one of the Regional Centers. She currently serves as a Student Success Counselor and previously worked as Director of Career Planning and Placement at The College of Wooster and as a career counselor at Eastern Nazarene College.

Amy Camp (Wheaton), English Instructor, Liberal Arts Division

Amy Camp has regularly gone beyond the expected duties of part-time faculty by participating in Developmental Writing meetings, projects and initiatives, and by volunteering to assist with developmental portfolio grading. She is flexible as a teacher, offering developmental coursework to a challenging population in both classroom and online formats.

Capper Grant (Villa Park), Paralegal Studies Instructor, Business and Technology Division

An experienced personal injury defense attorney and instructor of Tort and Insurance Law, Capper Grant assists other faculty as they work to articulate legal aspects of their various fields, especially health programs. He is an evaluator at the Paralegal Expo, assists with new curriculum, and is an active member of the Paralegal Advisory Council.

Ann Llewellyn (Lisle), Motion Picture/Television Instructor, Liberal Arts Division

Ann Llewellyn has been instrumental in helping the Animation program grow. She particularly enjoys working with students who have special needs and watching them succeed in the classroom. In addition, she attends screenings and public events to recognize her students and support their professional growth.

Mary Ellen Mitterer (Glen Ellyn), Spanish Instructor, Liberal Arts Division

Mary Ellen Mitterer consistently develops current event activities, using media to help students increase their vocabulary and improve oral proficiency within a cultural context. She guided students as assistant director of the 2013 Spain Study Abroad Program. This year, she serves as co-advisor to Casa de Amigos, the COD Spanish Club.

Rick Polad (Carol Stream), Earth Science Instructor, Health and Sciences Division

Rick Polad teaches courses both in the classroom and online. He is rigorous in his expectations for students, fair in his assessments of their achievement, and willing to help students who have questions or are having difficulty in his class. He also volunteers with the Coast Guard, plays trumpet with the DuPage Community Jazz Ensemble and is a published mystery series writer.

David Taylor (Maple Park), Biology Instructor, Health and Sciences Division

David Taylor, who teaches the Survey and Environmental Biology courses and Principles of Biology, engages his students with real-life examples to help illustrate the concepts he is presenting. His style is relaxed, as Taylor wants his students to connect with other living things through his classes.

William Wolfe (Downers Grove), Computer and Internetworking Technologies Instructor, Business and Technology Division

William Wolfe was instrumental in the College's recent Netlabs TM installation, a networking system that delivers a virtualized and distance learning capability for the College's main campus and the regional centers. He is chair of the CIT Industry Advisory Board and serves as a charter member of the Pathways to Results program improvement team.