Commencement 2004

2004 Stanley J. Drazek Teaching Excellence Award Recipients

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.