Northern Arizona University

 

The Northern Arizona University Teaching Academy
2008-10

Academy Board (President's Distinguished Teaching Fellows)

The President’s Distinguished Teaching Fellow distinction is awarded annually to outstanding teaching scholars who are recognized for having a significant impact on undergraduate learning at NAU and who have a sustained record of excellence in teaching. The recipients are appointed for three years and have the opportunity sometime during that period to teach their “dream course.” They also serve as the Leadership Council of the Northern Arizona University Teaching Academy. The call for nominations is issued each September through the Office of the Provost.

Jeff Berglund
As an Associate Professor of English, Jeff Berglund teaches and publishes in the fields of U.S. Multi-ethnic literature, Cultural Studies, and American Indian literature. He is committed to developing and discovering ethical approaches to scholarship and pedagogy in order to bridge the potential divide between the academy and our surrounding communities.
Geeta Chowdhry (on sabbatical, 2009-2010)
Geeta Chowdhry is a professor in the Department of Politics and International Affairs. Her areas of interest include International Relations, Development & Developing Societies, Gender & Development, Postcolonialism, Race & Ethnicity, South Asia, and India.
Brandon Cruickshank
Brandon Cruickshank is a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. He is interested in using technology to improve teaching and learning in large, introductory classes.
Laura Gray-Rosendale
Laura Gray-Rosendale is a professor in the English Department where she teaches classes in popular culture, the history of rhetoric, writing theory and pedagogy, and autobiography. She teaches both face-to-face and on-line classes. Gray-Rosendale directs the STAR Writing Program where she enjoys working with first generation, racial/ethnic minority, and economically needy students.
Miguel Vasquez
Miguel Vasquez is a professor in the Department of Anthropology. Vasquez’ work in the classroom and in the community looks at the importance of human cultural diversity in achieving a sustainable and just society.

Academy Members

David Albritton
David Albritton is an assistant professor in the W. A. Franke College of Business. Albritton received his MBA and PhD from Auburn University. He teaches introductory management and strategic management courses at NAU. Albritton makes use of experiential projects (including business simulations) and reflection exercises in his courses.
Michael Amundson
Michael Amundson is and associate professor in the History Department. He teaches courses on the history of the American West and the Southwest. He feels it is important for students to know where they are as well as how they fit into the region and world. As a historian, he finds that it is important to understand the integration of technology and culture over time.
Virginia Blankenship
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences; Department of Psychology (retired, 2009)
Michael Blocher
Michael Blocher is an associate professor and area coordinator of the Educational Technology program in the College of Education. He teaches face-to-face classes at the undergraduate level and masters and doctoral on-line classes at the graduate level. His area of research includes technology integration and learner interaction in Web 2.0 Learning environments.
Mary Bowers
Mary Bowers received her BSBA from Heidelberg College (Ohio) and her MBA from the University of Toledo. She teaches Business Communication in the W. A. Franke College of Business and has been a member of the BizBlock faculty team for nine years. Her teaching approach is based on keeping students engaged by giving them a voice and by using humor.
Paul Donnelly
Paul Donnelly teaches courses on Asian religions. His specialty is Buddhism, particularly the Buddhism of Tibet. As part of his wider concern for understanding the dynamics of the intellectual history of Tibetan Buddhism, his recent work has been examining the ideas of a controversial fifteenth century Tibetan scholar.
Kathy Eastwood
As a Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Kathy DeGioia Eastwood enjoys teaching classes in both physics and astronomy. As a telescope junkie, her area of research is the formation and evolution of massive stars. During the summer she runs a summer undergraduate research program funded by the National Science Foundation.
Ellen Larson
Ellen Larson is a senior lecturer in the Health Sciences Dept. and just completed her ninth year at NAU. Prior to coming to NAU she taught health and physical education in the public schools for more than twenty-three years. Ms. Larson came to NAU to share her love for teaching with aspiring teachers and to pass on some of the practical skills, knowledge, and insights gained over the years. Providing students with opportunities to apply their teaching skills in the school setting is an integral part of her (teaching) methodology courses.
Chunhye Kim Lee
College of Health and Human Services; Applied Chemistry and Nutrition Sciences
Yvonne Luna
Yvonne Luna is an assistant professor of sociology. She was the 2008-09 SBS College Teacher of the Year. Her research and teaching interests include social stratification, poverty and welfare, and race and ethnic relations. Students often characterize her courses as engaging and thought-provoking.
Pamela Powell
Pam Powell is an assistant professor in the College of Education. She is dedicated to helping preservice teachers learn to utilize current, inclusionary, and developmentally appropriate practices in their classrooms, which promote learning for all students. Interested in educational policies that affect students in public school settings, she has studied the practice of grade retention and its effects on the later lives of those who were retained in elementary school. In addition, she is very involved in the promotion of quality early learning opportunities for all children in the state of Arizona and our nation.
David Pierotti
David is a Professor in the Department of Biology. His main teaching duty involves the introductory anatomy and physiology courses designed around the needs of pre-health professional students. His research is in the area of muscle physiology in disease and rehabilitation.