COD names Outstanding Divisional Faculty Members for 2010-2011
Eight faculty members at College of DuPage have been recognized as the 2010-2011 Outstanding Divisional Faculty Members at College of DuPage.
They were selected for their excellence in teaching, service to the College, scholarly activities, community service and advising skills. Each will receive a $500 cash award from the College of DuPage Foundation.
The Outstanding Divisional Faculty Members are Sandra Anderson (Des Plaines), associate professor, Spanish, Liberal Arts Division; Katherine Cabai (Elgin), professor, Surgical Technology, Health and Sciences Division; Robert Cappetta (Clarendon Hills), professor, Mathematics, Health and Sciences Division; Wendy Felder (Batavia), professor, Office Technology Information, Business and Technology Division; David Goldberg (Naperville), professor, Political Science, Health and Sciences Division; Jennifer Hereth (Chicago), professor, Art, Liberal Arts Division; Nathania Montes (Oak Park), counselor/professor, Student Affairs Division; and Mary Newman (Chicago), associate professor, English, Liberal Arts Division.
Anderson developed and taught an intermediate Spanish sequence in the Honors Program, incorporating library research and authentic language resources. She directed COD's five-week intensive language and culture programs in Costa Rica, Spain and Italy and also led a field study trip to Peru. In addition, Anderson is currently the College's representative for the Illinois Consortium of International Studies and Programs. As faculty coordinator of Global Education, she oversees a broad range of global initiatives and co-chairs the Global Studies Advisory Committee.
Cabai serves as her program's sole full-time faculty member and program coordinator. She is a certified teacher for elementary and secondary education, a registered nurse with certification as an operating room nurse and first assistant, and a certified surgical technologist. With more than 25 years of experience as an operating room nurse, Cabai provides a wealth of knowledge for both students and part-time faculty.
Cappetta takes an active role in a variety of organizations, including membership on the Developmental Education Advisory Council of the Illinois Community College Board and the Math Intensive Committee of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges. He has received the Merlyn Behr Award for Outstanding Research in Mathematics Education and has led many presentations at national conferences, such as the American Mathematical Association for Two-Year Colleges.
Felder has participated on numerous COD committees – Instruction, Dual Credit, Women's History, Division Curriculum and CODFA. She has served as the co-adviser for COD's Alpha Beta Gamma for three years and as OFTI program coordinator. She worked with the HIT faculty to develop the medical certificates and created the OFTI Essentials Certificate, which can lead to completion of the OFTI Associate in Applied Science degree.
Goldberg's service to COD includes organizing and leading Constitution Day activities, organizing the College's participation in the statewide International Negotiations Module Project to promote global awareness, and service on his division's grade review committees. He has developed a new course on U.S. Foreign Policy and created an online course on World Politics. He is a Fulbright award recipient and gives regular presentations to audiences such as the U.S. Coast Guard, the League of Women Voters and the Older Adult Institute.
Hereth engages students in service to the community. In 2001, her students were recognized as Outstanding Volunteers of the Year by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. She is the curator and founding board member of IArtists, a not-for-profit foundation that brings art and financial support to victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans' 9th Ward. Hereth and her students also developed a series of archetype cards that can be used by therapists to foster discussion and openness during sessions with teenagers.
As a trained psychologist, Montes is frequently consulted by her counseling faculty colleagues when difficult students and situations are encountered. Because of her expertise in diversity issues, she works with Human Resources to lead diversity training and participate in recruitment of faculty from diverse backgrounds.
Newman uses technology to enhance teaching and learning, such as smartphones and Skype. Last year, her research was instrumental in securing accreditation from the National Association for Developmental Education, which reflects on the College's commitment to helping students become college-ready.