Each year, Ball State University recognizes a group of faculty and administrators as the best among their colleagues.
Associate Provost Marilyn Buck said faculty members were nominated by people within their departments. A committee made up of former award winners chose the finalists and winners. It was looking for excellence in the nominees' area of expertise and judged based on contributions to teaching, research and service. Faculty members may only win an award once, she said.
"I just look at these people and go 'wow,'" Buck said. "Some of the things they've done is just amazing."
Timothy Gray, associate professor of architecture
Timothy Gray, associate professor of architecture, went to Ball State's fall faculty meeting knowing he had been nominated for a faculty award, but expecting to watch another nominee walk away with it.
He said he was nominated because he has done multiple projects - both with students and alone - in his six years at Ball State that "push the boundaries between art and architecture." To his surprise, he said, he was given the Outstanding Creative Endeavor Award, one of 10 given to recognize faculty members' contributions to the university and community.
"It's certainly nice to have recognition for the work I've done," Gray said. "To have others recognize it as worthwhile means a lot to me."
Sadatoshi Tomizawa, coordinator of the Japanese exchange program
Sadatoshi Tomizawa, coordinator of the Japanese exchange program, said he received the Outstanding Adviser Award because of his efforts to know each of his students personally. At the beginning of every semester during his past 10 years, he gave each of his 1,600 students a personal information card, he said, and he went over each one individually.
He said he was hired to develop a Japanese major program and he couldn't advise students and keep them motivated unless he knew them. Twenty-two of his students wrote letters of recommendation to the judging committee on his behalf, Tomizawa said.
"[Knowing students personally] makes a big difference to give good advice," he said. "It's very important to keep track of everyone."
Beth Messner, associate professor of communication studies
Beth Messner, associate professor of communication studies, said she won the Outstanding Faculty Service Award for her various projects promoting the "acceptance of difference." She said her best project was the seminar she offered to teachers and community leaders that emphasized overcoming differences.
She said she felt grateful to be included in a dedicated, talented faculty.
"It was a very humbling experience," Messner said. "This probably will represent one of the most important rewards that I'll have received during my career."
Awards
Twelve faculty members received 10 awards ranging from teaching to research.
Excellence in Teaching Awards - Dale Hahn, professor of health science; Patricia Lang, chairwoman of the department of chemistry; Christopher S. Thompson, associate professor of history
Lawhead Teaching Award in the University Core Curriculum - Robin Ruffatto, instructor of mathematical sciences
Outstanding Administrative Service Award - Donald Whitaker, executive director of institutional effectiveness
Outstanding Creative Endeavor Award - Timothy Gray, associate professor of architecture
Outstanding Faculty Award - Nancy Carlson, associate professor of telecommunications
Outstanding Faculty Adviser Award - Sadatoshi Tomizawa, coordinator of the Japanese exchange program
Outstanding Faculty Service Award - Beth Messner, associate professor of communication studies
Outstanding Junior Faculty Award - Eva Zygmunt-Fillwalk, assistant professor of elementary education
Outstanding Research Award - Lawrence Gerstein, professor of psychology
Outstanding Teaching Award - David Concepcion, associate professor in the department of philosophy and religious studies
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