Stephen F. Austin State University

Six Stephen F. Austin State University faculty members will be honored for their teaching abilities at the university’s annual Teaching Excellence Convocation at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, in the Twilight Ballroom of the Baker Pattillo Student Center.

The 2008 honorees and the colleges they represent are: Dr. Vi Alexander, professor of elementary education in the James I. Perkins College of Education; Dr. Jill Carrington, associate professor of art in the College of Fine Arts; Dr. Michele Harris, professor of chemistry in the College of Sciences and Mathematics; Dr. I-Kuai Hung, assistant professor of forestry in the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture; Dr. Mark A. Scalan, assistant professor of economics in the Nelson Rusche College of Business; and Dr. Sharon Templeman, associate professor of social work in the College of Liberal and Applied Arts.

Alexander received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Texas and a doctorate from Texas A&M. She joined the SFA faculty in 1994 and has reorganized the undergraduate and graduate reading programs as well as written numerous grants for school reform.

“Dr. Alexander has a record of teaching that is distinguished on so many levels and is an invaluable faculty member in the largest department in the university,” said Dr. Janice Pattillo, chair of the Department of Elementary Education. “She has demonstrated excellence and effectiveness in and out of the classroom, impacting children and teachers.”

Carrington has been a part of the SFA faculty since 1989. She received her bachelor’s degree from Pomona College and both a master’s and a doctorate in art history from Syracuse University. Her research in late Medieval and Renaissance sculpture has earned her national and international awards.

“She makes herself available to students and is obviously interested in them as individuals, as is demonstrated by her service for some 25 graduate students and her service as faculty adviser for the Art Alliance Student Club,” said Dr. A.C. Himes, dean of the College of Fine Arts.

Harris earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Central Oklahoma and her doctorate in biochemistry at the University of Arkansas. She has helped develop the biochemistry department at SFA through a variety of research projects since 1994.

“She has the student’s best interest in mind and is willing to help continuously improve her courses in an effort to increase the probability of every student being successful,” said Dr. Michael Janusa, chairman of the Department of Chemistry.

Hung joined the faculty in 2003 after receiving his doctorate degree in forestry from SFA. He spent 15 years as a forestry specialist with the Experimental Forest of National Taiwan University, where he received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He has been involved in many different research projects involving forest recreation.

“He is an excellent and caring instructor, and also is a team player who is always willing to work with other faculty members on collaborative research projects,” said Dr. Scott Beasley, dean of the College of Forestry and Agriculture.

Scalan has taught economics at SFA since 2005. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from Lyon College and his master’s and doctorate in economics at the University of Florida.

“He works hard to make his courses engaging yet challenging,” said Dr. Violet C. Rogers, dean of the College of Business. “He uses a number of different teaching innovations in his classes, including in-class games rather than straight lectures, group presentations on current events that relate to class topics, and term projects that culminate in-classroom debates.” Templeman received her bachelor’s from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., her master’s from Virginia Commonwealth University and her doctorate from the University of Maryland. She teaches social work and participates in numerous volunteer efforts, and her work with distance-education students during hurricanes Katrina and Rita was especially noteworthy. She has been a part of the SFA faculty since 1997.

“In our school, effective teaching of courses consists of using effective instructional methods, the appropriate delivery of relevant content within a curriculum structure, and evidence of scholarship to maintain current content,” said Dr. Freddie Avant, director of the School of Social Work. “Sharon is one of those ‘one-of-a-kind’ faculty members whom you can always depend on. She has played a major role in the development of the School of Social Work, and her contributions are immeasurable.” The Teaching Excellence Awards were established in 1994 to honor outstanding classroom teachers at SFA. Each of the university’s six colleges selects a member of its faculty to receive the award based on knowledge of subject matter, quality of lectures and assignments, enthusiasm for teaching, interest in and availability to students, commitment to continuous improvement, and contribution to the quality of teaching within SFA through assistance and encouragement of other faculty. A reception for the honorees will be held at 3:15 p.m. followed by the Teaching Excellence Convocation at 3:45 p.m.