Bi, Brinker receive awards for instructor/clinical faculty

EVERETT and SPOKANE, Wash. – Clinical faculty members Xiaopeng Bi and Debbie Brinker will receive the annual President’s Distinguished Teaching Awards for Instructors and Clinical Faculty at the Celebrating Excellence Recognition Banquet on March 31.

The award is part of the annual Washington State University Showcase celebration of faculty and staff achievement. Reservations for the banquet will be accepted through March 17 at http://gocougs.wsufoundation.wsu.edu/s/1613/index.aspx?sid=1613&pgid=2894&gid=3&cid=4824&ecid=4824&post_id=0.

Award selection criteria include: igniting a passion for learning; employing innovative mentoring and teaching techniques; valuing and responding to diversity; increasing students’ intellectual growth, critical thinking and integrated views; and organizing/conducting new courses or revitalizing existing ones. Learn more about the award at https://faculty.wsu.edu/awards/presidents-distinguished-teaching-award-for-non-tenure-track-faculty/.

Xiaopeng Bi

As one of two founding faculty members of the mechanical engineering program at WSU North Puget Sound at Everett, Bi has served students as instructor, mentor and real-world example. He advises student organizations and helps students procure internships and prepare for job interviews.

He has developed and taught nine courses at WSU Everett and associated lab classes. His teaching evaluations from students are among the best in the WSU School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, and he has received teaching awards from the school and the WSU Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture. Learn more about Bi at http://www.mme.wsu.edu/people/faculty/faculty.html?bi.

Debbie Brinker

In addition to teaching professional development and senior practicum courses at the College of Nursing at WSU Spokane, Brinker holds administrative responsibilities that support undergraduate teaching. These include mentoring new instructors, assisting with undergraduate programming and serving as a liaison between the college and its clinical sites across the state.

Her teaching philosophy of “engage and transform” is manifested in her research publications, positive student evaluations and affirming feedback from clinical site partners. She has received nursing and nurse educator awards from WSU and from the state and Northwest. A colleague at Seattle Children’s Hospital notes that, “we truly value WSU students and graduates; they come with that excitement and love of lifelong learning that Debbie instills in them.” Learn more about Brinker at http://directory.nursing.wsu.edu/default.aspx?id=97.

In addition to the banquet, the Showcase celebrations include the Distinguished Faculty Address on March 30 (register by March 23 at https://showcase.wsu.edu/distinguished-faculty-address/), the Academic Showcase display of research, scholarship and creative work (March 31) and other events. Find a schedule at https://showcase.wsu.edu/schedule/.