Each year SOCHE hosts a faculty awards banquet honoring excellence in teaching at member institutions. Edison nominated award winners based on the institution’s criteria, with special consideration of demonstrated excellence and awards received throughout the past academic year. Edison faculty members joined colleagues from ten of SOCHE’s twenty member institutions honored at the banquet including those from University of Dayton, Wright State University, Wittenberg University and others.
“The Excellence in Teaching Awards received by our faculty members signifies the high caliber of teaching that occurs on a daily basis in our classrooms,” said Gwen Stevenson, Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences. “Our students benefit from faculty who exemplify excellence in their teaching and utilize best practices to facilitate the achievement of student learning outcomes. We are fortunate to have such excellent faculty members here at Edison.”
Jill Bobb, Assistant Professor of Nursing, brings enthusiasm for teaching and learning to the classroom and exhibits a student-centered approach. Students often voice appreciation for her calm, compassionate approach in the clinical setting and value her helpfulness. Jill works collaboratively with other faculty members to provide quality-learning experiences in the nursing simulation lab. Her work in this area impacts both student learning and faculty instruction and her leadership has ensured the successful use of simulation in the nursing program.
Amanda Bylczynski, Assistant Professor of History, is focused on true learning for her students and pushes them to achieve their very best. Her vast knowledge of history as well as sociology gives her the ability to expose students to a wide variety of cultures and past events. She has successfully assisted history adjuncts in achieving consistency with their teaching and uses technology extensively to enhance the learning of her students in a positive way.
Greg Clem, Assistant Professor of Fine Arts, has an overflowing passion for the arts. He has an amazing ability to encourage students to find their creative side; fostering growth in ways they did not know was possible. His teaching focuses on bringing more meaning and purpose through the intertwining of art in each student's life. This is shown through the multitude of student artwork that is displayed each year as part of the Edison Art Gallery that Greg coordinates.
Julia Galbreath, Associate Professor of Nursing, exemplifies teaching excellence. She enhances the quality of her instruction through the use of teaching strategies based on scholarly work and creates a learning environment focused on inquiry and critical thinking. Julia eagerly shares her expertise with other faculty members and mentors new faculty members. She is instrumental in leading the faculty in the assessment of nursing program outcomes and provides leadership in many areas such as curriculum review.
Beka Lindeman, Instructor of English, is an inspiration to her students. She has a great desire to enlighten and open her students’ eyes to a myriad of writers in both the past and the present. Students benefit immensely from her service to e-tutoring, evaluating their own writings multiple times, continually encouraging them to be better writers and thinkers. Beka is dedicated to her students and helping them excel through regular self-reflection and discussion.
Julie Willenbrink, Associate Professor of Nursing, brings her nursing expertise to the classroom and clinical setting and is an excellent role model for students. She possesses excellent clinical skills and helps students develop the strong critical thinking skills necessary for a career in nursing. Julie is kind and compassionate in her approach to students yet sets high standards for students and motivates them to meet this standard. Students praise her ability to help them think independently and achieve their goals.
Formed in 1967, SOCHE is a regional consortium of 20 colleges and universities in southwest Ohio. SOCHE is the collaborative infrastructure for higher education, helping colleges and universities transform their communities and economies through the education, employment, and engagement of more than 120,000 students in southwest Ohio. For more information about SOCHE visit www.soche.org