University Park, Pa. -- Four Penn State faculty members have received the 2006 George W. Atherton Awards for Excellence in Teaching. The award recipients are Brian A. Curran, associate professor of art history, Penn State University Park; Laura A. Guertin, assistant professor of earth sciences, Penn State Delaware County; Jennifer Marchand-Reilly, associate professor of human development and family studies, Penn State Mont Alto; and Robert W. Speel, associate professor of political science, Penn State Erie.
The award, named after Penn State's seventh president, was established in 1989 as a continuation of the AMOCO Foundation Award. It honors excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level.
Curran is lauded for his outstanding instruction of courses in Italian renaissance art and art history, ancient to medieval art, the Art History Department's undergraduate writing seminar, and upper level and graduate courses in historiography, antiquarianism and the history and theory of sculpture.
He also has taught art history during Penn State's summer study abroad program in Todi, Italy. Participants in this program praised Curran's instruction during this trip; in fact, one participant even switched her major to art history because she was "so touched by his lectures and enthusiasm for the subject."
Curran's humble but impassioned approach to his subject area has allowed him to connect meaningfully with his students and garner their respect.
"Good professors are ones that teach you what you need to know. Great professors are those not afraid to be taught in return. He is definitely one of the latter," said one nominator.
Curran received his doctorate and master's degree in art history from Princeton University and his bachelor of fine arts degree from Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. He is the author of several scholarly publications, most recently a book entitled The Egyptian Renaissance: The Afterlife of Ancient Egypt in Early Modern Italy, which will be published this year.
Guertin is lauded by her nominators as a "remarkable individual" who has had a profound impact on the undergraduate earth sciences program at Penn State Delaware County.
"Dr. Guertin's impact is obvious in the diversity of the courses being offered, the response from students enrolled in her courses, the innovative teaching and assessment methods she employs, and the investment of her creative energies well beyond the classroom," said one nominator.
Among the many courses Guertin has taught are physical geology, oceanography, biodiversity and earth history. A hallmark of her teaching is the integration of technology in her classes. For example, Guertin's students learn how to integrate hand-held technology such as palm pilots in field investigation, how to employ computer software for manipulation of natural data, and how to collaborate in a virtual environment -- all skills vital to professional success in almost every discipline.
In an effort to continuously improve her methods, Guertin has worked closely with Penn State's Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence to implement a wide range of assessment vehicles that address student preparation, engagement and learning outcomes.
"Dr. Guertin is a force of innovation and pedagogy that brightens the Delaware County campus and shines brightly on the entire Penn State system," said a nominator.
Guertin earned her doctorate in marine geology and geophysics from the University of Miami and her bachelor's degree in geology from Bucknell University. She is the author or co-author of many peer-reviewed publications and has presented her research at numerous regional, national and international geoscience conferences.
Marchand-Reilly is described as a "highly talented teacher-scholar" in the Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) program at Penn State Mont Alto. Teaching a variety of HDFS courses, as well as supervising an academically rigorous internship program, Marchand-Reilly is consistently praised by past and present students as one of the best professors they've had in their time at the Mont Alto campus.
"Dr. Marchand-Reilly stands apart as superlative, particularly in her persistently innovative use of group work and hands-on experience," said one nominator. "Peer reviewers have praised her skills with a variety of teaching methods, knowledge of subject matter and professional interactions with her students."
Marchand-Reilly is lauded by colleagues and students alike for making a concerted effort to involve undergraduate students in her research. Students have co-authored papers with Marchand-Reilly, as well as accompanying her to present their work at local and national meetings -- experiences that are more commonly reserved for graduate students.
"As a teacher-scholar of the highest caliber, she has done much to advance students' abilities to place their work in the broader context of scholarly inquiry and community developments," said one nominator. "It is exactly the nurturing of this more expansive view that creates informed citizens who, in the private, professional, and civic lives, are both capable of, and inspired to make a difference."
Marchand-Reilly received her doctorate in human development and family science from Ohio State University and her bachelor's and master's degrees from Illinois State University. She is the author or co-author of several peer-reviewed publications and has presented her research at meetings across the country.
Speel is described by his nominators as "an outstanding professor who makes his subject come alive and his courses relevant to students' lives."
Among the courses Speel has taught are those on American national government, public policy, comparative politics of Western Europe, and ethnic and racial politics. Every other year, Speel directs a political science trip to Washington, D.C., during spring break that allows students to meet congressmen and embassy officials and tour major government departments. In addition, Speel recently began a new education abroad program to take place on the Ryerson University campus in downtown Toronto starting in Summer 2006. The program will offer a course on North American politics -- to include a comparison of American and Canadian government and American-Canadian international relations -- and will be co-taught by Speel and a Ryerson professor.
Speel's "excellent teaching skills spill over into other areas," according to his nominators. He is chair of the political science program at Penn State Erie, the main adviser for the political science major, and is largely responsible for monitoring the teaching and scheduling of political science classes.
In addition, Speel has supervised internships for students who were placed in U.S. senator's offices, has directed numerous honors theses, has organized many educational events and activities for students, and has served as adviser to numerous student groups, including Penn State Erie's student newspaper, The Behrend Beacon.
Faculty and students alike praise Speel's ability to encourage students to think critically.
"Not only does he want students to learn as much as possible about politics, policies and procedures, but he wants them to learn how to question their beliefs and to clarify their positions on various issues," said one nominator.
Speel earned both his doctorate and master's degree in government from Cornell University and his bachelor's degree in political science and sociology from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to publishing and presenting his scholarly research, Speel's expertise in politics, elections and voting behavior has been called upon by numerous media outlets across the country.