Two Faculty Overseas Win Excellence in Teaching Awards

By Cristina Willard
UMUC–Europe

Two UMUC–Europe faculty members received awards for excellence in teaching this year. Antonio Ruiz-Canavate and Joseph W. Naas each received the Stanley J. Drazek Teaching Excellence Award during the UMUC–Europe general faculty meeting on May 25, 2002, at Patrick Henry Village in Heidelberg, Germany. Andrew Chambers, director of UMUC–Europe, made the presentations.

Antonio Ruiz-Canavate (right) accepts the Stanley J. Drazek Teaching Excellence Award from Andrew Chambers, director, UMUC?Europe (left).

Ruiz-Canavate began teaching for the Maryland in Europe consortium in 1983, and has taught more than 100 courses in zoology, biology, general science, chemistry, and mathematics primarily at the education center in Rota, Spain. He also teaches at the University of Cadiz and for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Ruiz-Canavate holds a PhD in marine science from Cadiz University and a master's degree in oceanography from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He is a graduate of the Spanish Naval Academy.

Ruiz-Canavate is a retired Spanish Navy captain whose teaching philosophy echoes his philosophy of life: "Be enthusiastic about what you have to do, and enjoy doing it—especially learning."

Andrew Chambers, director, UMUC?Europe (left), presents Joseph W. Naas (right) with this year's Stanley J. Drazek Teaching Excellence Award.

Naas earned a BS in journalism, an MA in English, and a JD degree from the University of Kansas. Before coming to UMUC–Europe in 1986, he practiced law in Kansas City as an attorney and member of the Missouri bar. He also worked as a reporter and editor for two major daily newspapers. Naas' expertise in law, literature, and writing has allowed him to teach numerous English and speech courses for UMUC–Europe, first at Soesterberg, the Netherlands, and from 1994 on primarily at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium and in Brussels. Naas sees his role as a teacher as that of "a guide leading students through the forest of knowledge."

The Stanley J. Drazek Award is named in honor of a dedicated teacher and administrator who served as UMUC's dean, vice chancellor, and chancellor from the 1940s through the 1970s. Established in 1993, the award is bestowed each year upon faculty worldwide who have been nominated by their students and selected by a committee of faculty, staff, and students for their distinguished teaching. Final selections are based on three criteria: effective and innovative teaching; evidence of commitment to UMUC; and a consistent record of teaching excellence while maintaining high academic standards for students.