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Paul Schlag (far right), associate director of the Centennial Honors College and associate professor in the WIU Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration, with Anita Hardeman (far left), assistant professor, School of Music, and Hannah Porter (Macomb, IL), senior, music major. Hardeman was honored with the 2016 Centennial Honors College Award of Excellence in Teaching at the Thomas E. Helm Undergraduate Research Day and was nominated for the award by Porter.
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Robert Intrieri, professor, psychology, received the 2016 Award of Excellence in Mentoring and was nominated for this distinction by Honors College student Maria Kurth (Davenport, IA), junior, psychology major.
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WIU Music, Psychology Faculty Honored at 2016 Undergraduate Research Day

April 22, 2016

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MACOMB, IL — Two Western Illinois University faculty members were presented with awards of excellence at the 2016 Centennial Honors College Thomas E. Helm Undergraduate Research Day April 20 in the University Union. The awards recognize and celebrate faculty members "who energetically teach, support and mentor student research."

Anita Hardeman

Anita Hardeman, assistant professor, School of Music, was honored with the 2016 Centennial Honors College Award of Excellence in Teaching. Hardeman was nominated for the award by Hannah Porter (Macomb, IL), senior, music major. Porter is also the Golden Key International Honor Society president.

The Award of Excellence in Teaching is given to faculty members who exhibit an interest and enthusiasm for undertaking teaching, promote student learning, arouse curiosity, stimulate independent learning and encourage critical thought. The faculty member must also showcase a command of the subject matter, including the incorporation in teaching of recent developments in the field of study.

According to Porter, Hardemen meets all of the preceding criteria.

"In addition to being a great guide musically, [Dr. Hardeman's] passion for the subject is also constantly present. Dr. Hardeman's love for musicology is infectious. I had so much fun both in class and in our independent meetings for the project, and I think a lot of this is due to how much she enjoys the subject. I am so grateful for the role Dr. Hardeman has played in my studies at WIU."

Hardeman has advised Porter in her pursuit of selecting and applying to graduate school. She also took Porter with her to a conference, where Porter was able to meet with people from prospective graduate programs.

Robert Intrieri

Robert Intrieri, professor, psychology, received the 2016 Award of Excellence in Mentoring and was nominated for this distinction by Honors College student Maria Kurth (Davenport, IA), junior, psychology major. Intrieri joined the psychology department in 1998, after completing a postdoctoral fellowship and working at The Pennsylvania State University, where he also had a private practice in psychology. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi.

The Centennial Honors College Award of Excellence in Mentoring is given to faculty members who have a history of helping individual students develop independent projects, career goals and planning and professional competence through extensive one-on-one work with students outside of a classroom context. Award recipients have assisted students in completing honors' theses and projects; encouraged sharing of research and talents at Undergraduate Research Day and other conferences; helped students obtain grants, fellowships and other awards; and mentored students as they prepare for graduate and professional programs.

"Along with helping me excel in the classroom, [Dr. Intrieri] is also working with me to complete an honors thesis, which is focusing on ageism," Kurth wrote in his nomination. "He has helped me realize all that goes into a thesis, not only all the work that is required from me, but also how much time and effort it requires him to put in as well; I would say that his work load is equal, if not more, than mine in this process."

Kurth also said Intrieri has helped mold her into the exemplary student she now is and has inspired her to become a great psychologist.

For more information, contact the Centennial Honors College at (309) 298-2228.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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