Outstanding faculty and staff are recognized at Service Awards

Five outstanding North Central College faculty and staff for the 2012-2013 academic year were recognized May 29 at the annual Service Awards presentation.

Each year the College recognizes faculty and administrative staff members for their outstanding teaching, scholarship and service “above and beyond the call of duty.” Award recipients are presented with endowed awards established in memory of two North Central College alumni—Clarence F. Dissinger, Class of 1921, and his sister Ruth C. Dissinger Althaus, Class of 1922.

With the exception of the scholarship prize, awards were based on student, faculty and staff nominations.

Administrative staff award recipients:
•    Marguerite Degenhardt, pre-professional health program coordinator, received the award for Outstanding Administrative Manager. She has worked at the College since 2010 and holds a doctor of nursing practice (D.N.P.) from Rush University College of Nursing.
•    Terry Turnquist, day porter-Activities Center, received the award for Outstanding Administrative Support Staff. He has served in the College’s maintenance department for 11 years.

Faculty award recipients:
•    Maureen Kincaid (left), associate professor and chair of education, received the award for Distinguished Teaching by Senior Faculty. She joined North Central’s faculty in 1998 and holds an Ed.D. from Northern Illinois University.
•    Leila Azarbad (right), assistant professor of psychology, received the award for Distinguished Teaching by Junior Faculty. A member of the faculty since 2010, she received her Ph.D. from the University of Virginia.

Ann Durkin Keating (left), Dr. C. Frederick Toenniges Professor of History, received the award for Outstanding Faculty Scholarship for her 2012 book, “Rising Up from Indian Country: The Battle of Fort Dearborn and the Birth of Chicago,” published by The University of Chicago Press. A faculty member since 1991, she holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.

In addition, Mary Reynolds (right), associate director of alumni events and coordinator of major campus events, received the Harold R. Wilde Distinguished Service Award. Presented during Honors Convocation, the award recognizes one person who has gone above and beyond to help students. Reynolds has served at North Central since 1995 and holds an M.S. from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater.