Outstanding faculty and staff are recognized for efforts during 2013-2014

In May, six outstanding North Central College faculty and staff for the 2013-2014 academic year received endowed Dissinger awards. Two further faculty members were honored as Ruge Fellows for their inspired teaching and dedication to students.  

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, the following four awards were based on student, faculty and staff nominations.

Administrative staff award recipients:
•    Jared Bogan M ’10, director of campus safety, received the award for Outstanding Administrative Manager. He has worked at the College since 2008 and holds a master’s of leadership studies (M.L.D.) from North Central College.
•    Heidi Popovich ’04, circulation and reserves assistant, received the award for Outstanding Administrative Support Staff. She has served in the College’s library since 2004, after receiving her bachelor’s degree from North Central.

Faculty award recipients:
•    Karl Kelley, professor of psychology, acting chair of the psychology department and director of First-Year Experience, received the award for Distinguished Teaching by Senior Faculty. He joined North Central’s faculty in 1988 and holds a Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University.
•    Katherine Heller, assistant professor of mathematics, 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.

•    David Janzen, associate professor of religious studies, received the award for Outstanding Faculty Scholarship for publication of two monographs, “The Violent Gift” and “The Necessary King,” several peer-reviewed journal articles and an entry in “The Oxford Encyclopedia of Bible and Theology.” A faculty member since 2005, he holds a Ph.D. from the Princeton Theological Seminary.

New this year is the Clarence F. Dissinger Memorial Award for Distinguished Service by Senior Faculty. Nominated by faculty, administrators and support staff, Rich Wilders is the award’s first recipient. The award is designed to recognize extraordinary, ongoing service that benefits the College community beyond the requirements of an honoree’s formal role. Wilders is the Marie and Bernice Gantzert Professor in the Liberal Arts and Sciences, professor of mathematics, chair of the Division of Science and director of the Lederman Scholars and Community Scholars. He joined the faculty in 1975 and holds a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University.
 
In addition to the Dissinger Awards, two senior faculty members—Nancy Keiser, professor of education, and Lou Corsino, professor of sociology—were honored as Ruge Fellows for their outstanding teaching.

The Ruge Fellows program was established to reward faculty for their contributions to teaching and learning. The program was named for the late Daniel Ruge ’39, M.D., a neurosurgeon, White House physician and previous chair of the Board of Trustees. Keiser joined the faculty in 2002 and holds an Ed.D. from Northern Illinois University. Corsino joined North Central’s faculty in 1998 and earned his Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts.