Two CLC English professors receive 2015 outstanding faculty awards
English Professors Jenny Lee and Penny Steffen received, respectively, the 2015 College of Lake County Outstanding Full-Time and Part-Time Faculty of the Year awards. Both were chosen by a vote of CLC students, and the two were recognized at the April 23 meeting of the CLC Board of Trustees.
"I'm thrilled and honored to receive this award," said Lee, who teaches English composition, literature and humanities courses. To keep students engaged, she said she uses a variety of media, group projects and field trips. Lee, who began teaching full time at CLC in 2012, holds a B.A. from the University of California-Berkeley, an M.A. from the University of Cape Town and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University. At the 2015 commencement ceremonies on May 16, she will offer the faculty greeting to the graduating students.
Steffen, who has taught at the college for five years, said she is "both honored and excited" to receive her award. Teaching English composition and a reading/writing success course, Steffen said she engages students by sharing her own anecdotes and asking students questions that promote critical thinking.
Steffen holds a B.A. from Northern Illinois University and an M.A. from Seton Hill University. A published author, Steffen's works include "Oblivion," a psychological thriller for ages 14 and up and written under the pseudonym Sasha Dawn. The novel, published last year by Egmont USA, has received accolades in Kirkus Reviews, the American Library Association and the New York Public Library.
Her other published works include women's fiction and a textbook titled, "eFabulous: Publishing in a Paperless World," in which Steffen wrote a section titled "Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction." The book was published in 2011 by Headline Books.
Both Lee and Steffen serve as CLC's nominees for the statewide Illinois Community College Trustees Association's outstanding faculty awards. The recipients of the ICCTA awards will be announced at the organization's annual awards banquet on June 5 in Schaumburg.