Dean Honors Faculty With Awards
At a faculty celebration marking the start of the 2008-2009 academic year, College of General Studies Dean Linda Wells named the recipients of top faculty honors, Associate Professor Megan Sullivan and Assistant Professor Joellen Masters.
Associate Professor of Rhetoric Megan Sullivan, who has been with the College of General Studies since 1996 and received tenure in 2002, was this year’s recipient of the Richter Award. A gifted teacher, Megan has been a mentor to her students from the beginning. They have praised her ability to instill confidence in them as both scholars and thinkers. They have also commended her challenging curriculum, as well as her ability to connect all the aspects of her assignments in such a way that allows the students to grasp a deeper meaning of any given subject. Megan has not only been a mentor to the students but to new faculty as well, lending an ear and offering perspectives that she has learned in her many years of teaching. Megan has been a truly exceptional member of the College.
The Richter Award was first established in 1988 by College of General Studies alumnus Gary Kraut (CGS’64, COM ‘66) in order to honor his professor and long-time mentor, Peyton Richter. This award, part of an endowed fund, recognizes and honors contributions made by professors excelling in interdisciplinary teaching.
This year’s recipient of the Dr. Ismail Seda Sensel Award Fund, Assistant Professor of Humanities Joellen Masters, has been with the College of General Studies since 1997. In her time here, she has done exceptional work with both students and faculty alike. Many of her students cite her “strong ability to encourage and inspire students to think critically in ways they are not used to.” Her colleagues within the university find her to be an extraordinary peer who brings fresh and insightful ideas to every aspect of her work. Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education Victor Coelho said of her, “she is an exceptional colleague who sees the big picture and who is able to listen carefully to other people’s ideas and draw them out.” Many of those who have had the pleasure of working with Joellen have raved about her service, her incredible teaching, and her constant dedication.
The Sensel Award was established in 2004 in memory of philanthropist Dr. Sensel, by his long-time friend Robert Graves, Esq. (CGS’61, COM ’63) in order to recognize and honor outstanding professorship at the College. The recipients of this endowed fund are selected by the Dean of the College, in consultation with the Student Advisory Board.