2003-2004 Teaching Excellence Award Recipients
The Undergraduate School
Robert Champ has taught English for UMUC’s the Undergraduate School
since 1993, while writing poems, reviews, and articles for
scholarly journals and serving as a mentor for new faculty members. Students
often name him as the best online faculty member that they have
encountered.
One student wrote, “There has been much written by scholars about the works we have read and yet, somehow, Dr. Champ finds something fresh in my perceptions [and] points out important points I have raised. So much so that I have decided to continue on to graduate school in English.
Champ earned his BA and MA in English from Loyola University of Chicago and his PhD in American literature, in 1992, from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Inez Giles has taught in UMUC’s the Undergraduate School
since 1986, and has designed both graduate and
undergraduate courses in instructional systems design, technology management,
and systems analysis and design. She acts as course chair for human resource
management and as a distance education mentor.
“Her support and confidence in her students helped provide a basis to achieve the coursework as well as apply the knowledge and concepts to everyday life,” wrote one student. Another added, “Her topic explanations clarified the text information and allowed us to grasp the concepts by relating them to real-world scenarios.
In addition to a BA in music education and an MA in ethnology, Giles has earned an MBA from Southern Illinois University and a PhD in adult education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
The Graduate School
Leslie
Pang has taught in UMUC’s Graduate School since 1997, bringing nearly
30 years of professional experience in information resources management and
engineering to the classroom. He is a professor of information systems
management at the National Defense University’s Information Resources Management
College.
Students respect Pang’s ability, but also praise him as a kind and caring mentor. As one student observed, “Dr. Pang demonstrated all the attributes of an outstanding faculty member. He made each class session interesting, fun, and rewarding; he was always well prepared and highly organized; and he consistently gave honest, useful feedback.” Another added, “His passion for learning inspired students in the class to achieve their best.
Pang earned his PhD in engineering from the University of Utah in 1983 and an MBA from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1988.
Alan R. Sutherland has taught management courses for UMUC’s
Graduate School since 1999, drawing from nearly 35 years of executive experience
in the human services field. Students praise his academically challenging
teaching style, approachability, sense of humor, course design, and commitment
to student achievement.
“Dr. Sutherland demonstrated compassion and a deep concern for my progress,” said one student. “In fact, he piqued my interest in management studies so completely that I have enrolled in two courses for the upcoming semester.
Sutherland earned his PhD in public administration from New York University in 1984.
UMUC Europe
M. Jean Mandola
In addition to teaching theoretical courses in art history and studio courses in painting, drawing, and design for UMUC since 1976, Collegiate Associate Professor M. Jean Mandola has helped develop and organize study tour courses for UMUC Europe. These courses incorporate visits to major European museums like the Picasso museum in Paris, the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, the Matisse museum in Nice, and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Copenhagen. Thus, Mandola helps make full use of UMUC’s European location to make art courses a life experience as well as an academic experience for her students. In recent years, she has added UMUC’s virtual classroom to her list of venues, integrating electronic resources in her teaching.
In addition to her work with UMUC, Mandola has taught courses for the Institute for American Universities in Aix-en-Provence, France. Before joining UMUC, she also held the position of assistant professor of art history at Northern State University and was already teaching when still a graduate student at Michigan State University. Previously, Mandola was named an artist-in-residence at the Michael Karolyi Foundation in Vence, France, and has also received a National Defense Language Fellowship for the study of Asian art and culture.
Mandola received a BA in humanities and an MA in the history of art from Michigan State University.
Nile Stanton
Collegiate Professor Nile Stanton has taught for UMUC Europe since 1994. As an active member of the UMUC faculty, he has regularly participated in global faculty symposia and workshops, mentored peers in the distance education field, taken part in pilot projects in faculty development, and co-developed global standard syllabi.
Aside from teaching, he has served as defense counsel to citizens accused of serious felonies in both federal and state courts throughout Indiana and other states and has represented plaintiffs in cases involving claims of racial discrimination, age discrimination, prisoners’ rights, and police brutality. He has served as executive director of the Indianapolis Lawyers Commission and published several scholarly works relating to government and criminal justice. His prior awards include the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers President’s Award for serving pro bono publico in the death penalty case of Larry Hicks. He was also recognized for his efforts in organizing a program designed to encourage young people to participate in local government.
Not surprisingly, Stanton sees his professional career as being “equally divided between practicing law and being a university professor.” His faculty Web site attests to this integration of academic and professional interests and activities, providing students with annotated links to historical documents, theoretical essays, and analyses of actual court cases, illustrating a commitment to balance between the theory and practical application of the law>
Stanton received a BS and MA from Ball State University prior to completing his JD from Indiana University.
UMUC Asia
Unavailable
