Northern Arizona University

 

The Northern Arizona University Teaching Academy
2011-12

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 Board of the Northern Arizona University Teaching Academy. The call for nominations is issued each September through the Office of the Provost.

Jeff Berglund (awarded in 2008)
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 (awarded in 2008)
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 (awarded in 2008)
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 (awarded in 2009)
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.
Cynthia Hartzell (awarded in 2011)
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Michelle Miller (awarded in 2011)
Psychology
Sheila Nair (awarded in 2011)
Politics and International Affairs
Tom Paradis (awarded 2011)
Geography, Planning and Recreation
Mary Reid (awarded in 2010)
School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability
Catherine Ueckert (awarded in 2010)
Catherine Ueckert is a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. She is interested in incorporating a variety of active learning strategies into large lecture classes.
Miguel Vasquez (awarded in 2009)
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.
Melissa Birkett
Melissa Birkett is an assistant professor in the department of psychology. She teaches face to face and on line classes in neuroscience and psychopharmacology at the graduate and undergraduate level. She is currently involved in developing a learning community for first year students interested in psychology and is looking forward to teaching introductory psychology.
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.
Terry Blows
Terence Blows is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. His research focuses on differential equations theory and applications to population modeling. He also devotes energy to undergraduate education, especially in efforts to improve student success in freshman classes.
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.
Arianne Burford
Women’s and Gender Studies
Wendy Campione
Economics
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.
Robert Henderson
Robert Henderson is an assistant clinical professor of Health Sciences and teaches courses in the Public Health program. He currently teaches on-line courses and is the faculty advisor for the Change club, which is a club for Public Health students as well as other health related majors. Robert’s research interests are in the areas of stress management and food politics.
Darrell Kaufman
Darrell Kaufman is a professor in the School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability. He teaches courses on climate change at the graduate and undergraduate levels. His research focuses on geological evidence of climate variability. He was the 2011 Distinguished Professor of the College of Engineering, Forestry & Natural Sciences.
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.
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.
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.
Randi Reppen
Department of English
Vicki Ross
Vicki Ross teaches in the Department of Teaching and Learning, and her primary focus is on teaching mathematics and science methods to teacher candidates. She is also involved in the fields of curriculum and assessment at an undergraduate and graduate level. She cares deeply about enabling teachers to create meaningful learning experiences in the elementary classrooms.
Pamela Stephens
Pam Stephens is an associate professor in the School of Art where she teaches art education courses. Her focus is upon developing community among art education students and guiding them to become highly qualified art educators. She was named 2011 Arizona Art Educator of the Year.
Jamie Whelan
Jamie Whelan is a Senior Lecturer and Assistant Chair of Educational Specialties. She is the Co-ordinator and Supervisor of the Praxis Partnership Program for dual majors in Special Education and Elementary Education, was the College of Education's Teacher of the Year for 2010, and recipient of the Golden Axe Award for 2008 and 2010.
Wende Yellin
Wende Yellin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She teaches undergraduate and graduate classes in the areas of hearing science, audiology, and neuroscience. Her areas of research interest include diagnostic audiology, newborn hearing, and auditory processing.