Liberal Arts Faculty and Staff Honored at WSU

PULLMAN, Wash. — The College of Liberal Arts at Washington State University held its 2005 awards ceremony Thursday, April 28. Faculty and staff of the college were rewarded for distinguished service and achievement.

Two faculty members were awarded the William F. Mullen Excellence in Teaching Award, which recognizes a faculty member who exemplifies excellence in teaching with an emphasis on involvement with students outside of the classroom, including advising and involvement with student groups. Recipients were Samantha Swindell, professor of psychology, and the late Keating Johnson, professor of music (1983–2004) and conductor/music director of the Washington Idaho Symphony Orchestra.

Swindell is the faculty adviser for the psychology club and organizer of the annual Psychology Undergraduate Research Symposium. “The teaching evaluations she receives from her students consistently rank among the very best in the department,” said Paul Whitney, professor and chair of psychology.

In his letter of support for the nomination in remembrance of Johnson, Gerald Berthiaume, director of the School of Music and Theatre Arts, recognized Johnson as an important force in the field of music and a beloved faculty member.

Edward R. Meyer Professorships were awarded to Gregory Yasinitsky, professor of music, and Lance LeLoup, professor of political science. The award recognizes faculty who are widely recognized as having made significant contributions to their field.

The nomination for Yasinitsky lists his leadership of the WSU jazz studies program and his international reputation as a composer, arranger and saxophonist.

LeLoup’s nomination cites his scholarship and writing. He is the author, editor or co-editor of more than 12 books and numerous book chapters and journal articles. According to his nomination, LeLoup’s work has been cited some 500 times in literature and the second edition of his book “The President and Congress” was the major cited source for the U.S. Civil Rights Commission’s report on the Bush administration’s civil rights record.

Yasinitsky was also awarded the College of Liberal Arts Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award, which recognizes faculty who serve the university and their discipline with great distinction in the areas of teaching, research and public service.

The College of Liberal Arts recognized the contributions of Trevor Bond, special collections librarian at the Pullman campus, by awarding him the Friends and Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award. The award is given annually to alumni and friends of the college who have achieved the highest levels of success in their personal and professional lives and who have shared that success through their involvement in the university or community. Bond was credited in his letter of nomination as being the principal investigator for 10 grants and a contributor to other grants which resulted in federal funding. Bond was also described as a “master teacher.”

Cornell Clayton, professor of political science, received the College Fellows Award. The award provides recognition to faculty members who are pursuing substantive projects involving original research, scholarship or creative effort and/or the improvement of teaching.

Outstanding Staff Award honors went to Laurie Heustis, program support supervisor/academic coordinator, Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures, and to Jackie Beckman, finance/budget coordinator, College of Liberal Arts. Heustis was described in her nomination as “reliable, accountable, positive, and cooperative and willing to learn new skills and invent new processes.” Beckman’s nominators said “she is a great representative of the college” and “deserving of this honor for her dedication, expertise and ability to interact well with others.”

Erich Lear, interim dean, awarded the Dean’s Distinguished Contribution Award to Mary Collins, associate director of WSU’s Museum of Anthropology and coordinator of planning for the Plateau Center for American Indian Studies. In the tradition of the college, the name of the winner was not made public until the awards ceremony.

“Mary Collins has been a tremendous asset and tireless champion of the college,” said Lear. “Her work with the Plateau Center for American Indian Studies involves relationship building with Plateau tribes. It is work which lays the foundation for the future and success of the center.”

Chairs’ Service Recognition went to Timothy Kohler, acting chair of anthropology; Rory Ong, acting director of American studies; Jeanne Johnson, acting chair of speech and hearing sciences; and Roger Schlesinger, chair of history.

Twenty-five-year service awards went to John E. Kicza, associate dean of liberal arts and professor of history, and to Andrea Chosch-Pittenger, program coordinator for theatre arts.

Thirty-year service awards went to Alex Hammond, English; Alice Spitzer, Asia Program/WSU Libraries; Marcel Wingate, speech and hearing sciences; and John (Jay) Wright, psychology.

Thirty-five-year service awards went to John Bodley, anthropology; Edwin Garretson, history; Randy Kleinhesselink, psychology, WSU Vancouver; Richard Law, general education and English; and Charles Madison, speech and hearing sciences, WSU Spokane.

Retirees recognized were Virginia Hyde, English; Thomas Faulkner, English; H. James Schoepflin, music; John (Jack) Dollhausen, fine arts; Patrick Siler, fine arts; and Neal Robison, communication.