星空传媒

The seventh annual 星空传媒 University Part-time Faculty Awards were presented virtually on Nov. 6, 2020. Recipients of this year鈥檚 awards were Casey J. Tucker, Department of Biology and Earth Science, for the Teaching in General Education category and Wendy N. Johnston, Department of Chemistry, for the Teaching in Discipline category. 

The Part-Time Faculty Awards are given out each year to honor and celebrate the contributions of part-time faculty to the campus community. There are 150 part-time faculty members at 星空传媒 this academic year. 

鈥淲ithout fail, each year it is clear that our nominees are incredibly dedicated, phenomenal teachers,鈥� said Provost Wendy Sherman Heckler. 鈥淏ut whether they are a teaching award nominee or not, each of our part-time faculty makes very real and meaningful contributions to our academic programs and to our institution more broadly.鈥� 

鈥淲e were awestruck by the commitment of our part-time faculty this spring and summer for adapting to circumstances, revising courses and being real leaders,鈥� added Associate Provost Kathryn Plank, before announcing Tucker as the winner of the General Education category. 

Tucker, who joined the faculty in spring 2018, approaches teaching as a partnership between the learner and educator. This partnership requires investment by both parties, and involves time, patience, curiosity and creativity. His primary teaching responsibilities are in higher level Integrative Studies courses.  

From birding trips around Westerville and weekend excursions to the National Aviary to classroom discussions about the science behind blockbuster hit movies like Jurassic Park, Tucker aims to make course material accessible and applicable to a student鈥檚 life. He views his role as an educator not as a gatekeeper, but rather as a door-opener to help students fulfill their own goals. 

One of Tucker鈥檚 students commented on his teaching passion: 鈥淗e cares so much about the subject matter he is teaching that he ensures that caring is contagious. He uses a variety of projects, excursions and in-depth study sessions to make sure that each student has their curiosity sparked in some way that could potentially evolve into a passion.鈥�  

Teaching in A Discipline category winner Johnston has taught at 星空传媒 for over two decades. She teaches classes in the Integrative Studies and Senior Year Experience programs but has focused primarily on teaching the laboratory components of introductory courses. She mentors both new part-time faculty brought on board to teach labs and full-time faculty who teach in the lab sequence only occasionally. 

鈥淚n this unusual year, our winner worked over the summer in order to deliver a thoughtful, safe and well-constructed curriculum for 星空传媒 students,鈥� said Associate Provost Chris Reynolds. 鈥淔rom creating videos, to designing an elaborate but effective 鈥榞roups within a lab鈥� system, all groups are getting hands-on laboratory experience in a safe environment.鈥� 

The nomination letter said Johnston 鈥渉as demonstrated strong content knowledge, innovative curricular design, personal relationships with students and faculty and relies on feedback for continuous improvement. (She) strives to meet students where they are and help them move forward.鈥� 

The letter also said Johnston 鈥渄emonstrates an enduring, passionate commitment for the betterment of our students and the entire department.鈥�  

Congratulations to the 2020 星空传媒 University Teaching Award winners.