Students Create New Award to Honor Outstanding Faculty Efforts This Fall

BRISTOL, R.I. – “This semester, there were so many professors going above and beyond for their students during what was a difficult time for everyone,” said RWU Student Senate Academic Affairs Chair Bryanna Bay. “We wanted to do something a little extra to be able to recognize more professors.” 

Instead of the traditional Professor of the Semester Awards, which recognize one professor in each of the University's six schools, the Student Senate expanded its capacity to recognize professors with the first ever Hybrid Hero Awards. Over 150 students nominated 92 professors for “being someone who has gone above and beyond to make sure that hybrid learning is a positive experience.” 

The Academic Affairs Committee sent out a form to all undergraduate Bristol campus students, inviting them to anonymously nominate their professors. They accepted all nominations that provided specific examples for why professors deserved recognition, and sent certificates and a Hybrid Hero keychain to every professor recognized. 

“We were definitely not expecting the number of responses we got on the survey,” Bay said. “It was great to see how many students took the time out of their day to fill it out, and many of them wrote multiple paragraphs about why their professor is so amazing and how they have been so helpful this semester.” 

“Receiving this recognition from the Student Senate was a lovely and motivating surprise going into the end of the semester,” said Hybrid Hero Katie Mattaini, Lecturer in Biology. “All the faculty have been working so hard since March to provide the highest quality education we can in such difficult circumstances, and it was awesome to hear that some students find my efforts effective.”

Fall 2020 Hybrid Heroes 

Aaron Allen, Assistant Professor of American Studies
Andrea Adams, Adjunct Faculty, School of Architecture, Art, and Historic Preservation 
Ahmet Emin Akosman, Professor of Engineering 
Christopher Anderson, Adjunct Faculty, School of Humanities, Arts, and Education
Maija Benitz, Assistant Professor of Engineering 

“[Professor Benitz's] thermodynamics class is a complicated course when in person, never mind taking it hybrid. She has done an exceptional job as a “hybrid professor.” The class has had no issues with how she holds lectures, to giving out information, plus finding all the resources we need before we even need them, and I could go on and on. Not to mention, she is now doing twice the work since our great dean passed. She has really stepped up to the plate and she hasn’t missed a beat! She has got to be one of my favorite professors ever! I love her class!”

Peter Behrens, Adjunct Faculty, School of Humanities, Arts, and Education
Garret Berman, Professor of Psychology
Hum Nath Bhandari, Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Eric Bronner, Adjunct Faculty, School of Humanities, Arts, and Education
Eric Bronson, Dean of the School of Justice Studies 
Scott Burke, Adjunct Faculty, Gabelli School of Business 
Christopher Burtner, Assistant Professor of Biology 
Loren Byrne, Professor of Biology & Environmental Science
Bonita Cade, Associate Professor of Psychology
Charlotte Carrington-Farmer, Associate Professor of History
Margaret Case, Chair, Department of English Literature and Creative Writing
Sonya Cates, Assistant Professor of Computer Science

“[Professor Cates has] done a great job at keeping classes in-person as much as possible, while still being cautious with the small class. She’s also very forgiving of needing to take the class online when you need to. Lastly, the Bridges site for the class and lab is very organized and comprehensive, so that I can always keep up or catch up when I get behind.” 

Jacqueline Cottle, Associate Professor of Public Health
Christine Crocker, Adjunct Faculty, School of Justice Studies
Laura D’Amore, Associate Professor of American Studies
Donna Dimery, Adjunct Faculty, School of Humanities, Arts, and Education
Sargon Donabed, Associate Professor of History
Shira Dunsiger, Adjunct Faculty, University Studies
Michael Emmer, Associate Professor of Construction Management
Robert Engvall, Professor of Criminal Justice 
Catherine Forsa, Assistant Professor of Writing 
Patricia Gagnon, Adjunct Faculty, School of Social and Natural Sciences
Kamille Gentles-Peart, Associate Professor of Communication and Media Studies

“Gentles-Peart was very patient with me when learning my materials and she would meet me twice a week for one hour each time to go through the course material and assignments that needed to be completed. She would even make sure the time that we met was reasonable for both of us. Whilst doing so, she would keep encouraging me and pushing me until I would stop overthinking and stressing over my work. She was my hero at the start of this pandemic for me, and I am still grateful for her today.” 

Catherine Hawkes, Assistant Professor of Music
Victoria Heimer-McGinn, Assistant Professor of Psychology
Karen Hughes, Adjunct Faculty, School of Architecture, Art, and Historic Preservation 
David Jorgensen, Assistant Professor of Management 
Nicole Juen, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design
Jenna Koster, Adjunct Faculty, School of Humanities, Arts, and Education
Christian Kugler, Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations

Professor Kugler is a fantastic professor! He has helped us adapt to online classes and employed various ways for classmates to interact and learn from each other. His lessons are also relatable to today which is especially valuable during these unprecedented times. Overall Professor Kugler has been informative and very helpful during this fall semester!

Maria Kula, Professor of Economics 
Kathryn Lamontagne, Adjunct Professor, University Studies
Katherine Launer-Felty, Adjunct Faculty, School of Social and Natural Sciences 
Ben Lefkowitz, Adjunct Faculty, School of Humanities, Arts, and Education
Scott Mackey, Associate Professor of Finance
Brittany Marcoux-McGuire, Adjunct Faculty

“I have loved having Prof. McGuire this fall semester. She has helped us all adapt to online classes, and still get a meaningful experience out of her class. It is especially nice having a creative outlet that can reduce our anxiety and expand our minds during these weird times. Overall, her lessons have been really valuable to relate to issues going on today, like racial injustice and Covid. Prof. McGuire is the best!”

Marcie Marston, Professor of Biology
Jeffrey Martin, Professor of Theater
Manuel Martin, Adjunct Faculty, School of Humanities, Arts, and Education
Geraldo Matos, Assistant Professor of Marketing
Katherine Mattaini, Lecturer in Biology
Brett McKenzie, Professor of Web Development
Kate Mele, Associate Professor of Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition
Heather Miceli, Adjunct Faculty, School of Social and Natural Sciences
Adam Moore, Assistant Professor of Special Education
Bernardo Motta, Assistant Professor of Journalism 
John O’Keefe, Digital Education Specialist 
KayLoni Olson, Adjunct Professor, School of Social and Natural Sciences

“Dr. Olson took our hybrid course and formatted it in a very interesting and fun way. The course is focused Health Psychology and connecting it to the COVID-19 pandemic. She presents the material in a discussion based forward so we can apply the material to our own personal lives. She opens every class with a chance for students to reflect on their mental health and the campus/academic environment we are experiencing. 

"On our first exam she had every student think critically and develop a policy proposal we would implement if we were part of the Reopening Roger team. Through this and other assignments, Dr. Olson has helped us become connected with the RWU community and become advocates for safety and change.”

Michele Ovalles, Adjunct Faculty, School of Humanities, Arts, and Education
Koray Ozer, Professor of Mathematics 
Prinity Panday, Professor of Economics
Susan Pasquarelli, Professor of Literacy and English Education 
Jason Patch, Professor of Sociology 
Ashley Phenix, Adjunct Faculty, School of Social and Natural Sciences
Anne Proctor, Assistant Professor of Art and Architectural History
Autumn Quezada-Grant, Associate Professor of History

“Professor Quezada-Grant has been a very realistic teacher during a time like this. Every day she asks how everyone is doing and ensures that people don't feel overwhelmed with the workload of the class. The content taught is also very relevant to what is going on between COVID and the rest of society today. I appreciate the atmosphere she creates on our Zoom calls and am interested in taking more classes with her in the future.”

Christina Rawles, Professor of Philosophy
Marcella Recher, Adjunct Faculty, School of Social and Natural Sciences 
Dahliani Reynolds, Assistant Professor of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition
Joseph Roberts, Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations
Scott Rutherford, Professor of Environmental Science
Melissa Russano, Professor of Criminal Justice 
Stacie Sayce, Adjunct Faculty, School of Engineering, Computing, and Construction Management 

“[Professor Sayce has] done a great job at keeping classes in person as much as possibly while still being safe with the small class. She’s also very forgiving of needing to take the class online when you need to. Lastly, the bridges site for the class and lab is very organized and comprehensive so that I can always keep up or catch up when I get behind.”

Timothy Scott, Professor of Biology
Blair Shanklin, Adjunct Faculty, School of Architecture, Art, and Historic Preservation
Koty Sharp, Associate Professor, Biology, Marine Biology, & Environmental Science
Joseph Simeone, Adjunct Faculty, Gabelli School of Business
Jay Speakman, Adjunct Faculty, School of Justice Studies
Elaine Stiles, Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation  
David Taylor, Professor of Biology

“[Professor Taylor is] amazing at providing a hybrid class which works for us. He still has the ability to utilize the white boards using the video camera in the room. He manages to use both PowerPoints and the white board and effectively swap between for the Zoom recording. He always takes care to make sure the videos are large enough when recording on Zoom. He also really engages the in person and online students alike.” 

Charles Thomas, Professor of Engineering 
Margaret Thombs, Professor of Education
Cliff Timpson, Professor of Chemistry 
Erin Tooley, Associate Professor of Psychology and Public Health
Kerri Ullucci, Associate Professor of Education 
Adria Updike, Assistant Professor of Physics

“Professor Updike has done an exceptional job with adapting to online teaching. She has figured out a way to effectively teach half in person, half hybrid, and will even teach outside whenever the weather is nice to give everyone the opportunity to show up in person.”

Sean Varano, Professor of Criminal Justice
Michele Varin, Adjunct Faculty, Gabelli School of Business
James Verinis, Adjunct Faculty, University Studies
Melissa Wagner, Adjunct Faculty, School of Social and Natural Sciences
Kerri Warren, Professor of Biology 
Paul Webb, Professor of Biology
Eric Weyant, Adjunct Faculty, School of Architecture, Art, and Historic Preservation 
Stephen White, Dean and Professor of Architecture
Donald Whitworth, Professor of Psychology
Brian Wysor, Professor of Biology
Matt Zaitchik, Professor of Psychology 

“He tells a dad joke at the end of every class and makes sure to connect with his students so that they want to be there and want to learn. He is also all remote and does a very good job explaining the material from home, because I'm sure it's a huge change from what he is used to. When I emailed him asking for advice for future classes and programs to take, he took time out of his day to help me and even followed up the next day on Zoom to make sure that I understood. I always look forward to joining Professor Zaitchik's class.”