University News
Fine Arts and Communication Faculty Awards
December 7, 2007
MACOMB, IL - - During the Fall 2007 semester, the Western Illinois University College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC) hosted and awards luncheon to recognize the 2007 outstanding faculty members and to welcome new faculty as well as to acknowledge promotions and tenure.
Faculty awards for 2007 were presented to the following: Christine Lapka, School of Music, Outstanding Teacher Award; Samuel Edsall, broadcasting, Scholarly Activity Award; William Howard, art, Creative Activity Award; and W. "Buzz" Hoon, broadcasting, Multicultural Teaching Award.
Bart Shanklin, School of Music director, said: "Chris Lapka represents the consummate in professionalism as an educator. She is eminently up-to-date, informed and highly effective and successful as a teacher. She is truly an outstanding practitioner of the art of education."
Edsall wrote "Computer Graphics for Television: A Reference Manual," which is a textbook and reference manual for the computer graphics community. The last reference guide in field was published in 1978, according to Sharon Evans, broadcasting chair.
"Professor Edsall is most deserving of the college scholarly activity award this year. He won first place at the Broadcast Education Association's annual conference in the fixed media category for his work 'Department of Broadcasting Promotional Video,' and he is actively involved in scholarly activities that benefit the broadcasting students and the industry.
"Seeing how active and involved he is in the department, it is only fitting to see that William 'Bill' Howard is the recipient of the Creative Activity Award," said Charles Wright, art department chair. "Bill is a dedicated and passionate member of the art faculty, and this award speaks volumes about his high level of commitment and enthusiasm. He is truly an artist/teacher who should be proud of this singularly significant accomplishment."
"Dr. Hoon is a worthy recipient of the college's multicultural teaching award," Evans added. "He is an outstanding teacher who incorporates a multicultural perspective into all aspects of his teaching. Professor Hoon developed the course, 'Mass Media and Minorities,' a popular course among broadcasting majors and non-majors.
"Outside of the classroom, Dr. Hoon has actively participated in the assessment of multiculturalism in the general education curriculum and he researches and presents both nationally and internationally on minority representation in the mass media," she added.
New administrators in the College of Fine Arts and Communication who began in Fall 2007 include department chairs Charles Wright in art and Roberta Davilla in communication.
New art faculty include James Allen, art education instructor; Assistant Professor Brett Eberhardt, painting; and Associate Professor Jo-Ann Morgan, who is a faculty member in African American Studies, as well as a practicing visual artist and art historian.
New to the School of Music are Hank Bordowitz, assistant professor, music business; Richard Hughey, assistant professor, director of orchestral activities; Jonathan Jones, music education instructor; Tammara Phillips, flute instructor; and Marlene Rosenberg, double bass instructor.
Joining the theatre and dance department is Bonnie Jacobs, faculty assistant, who is the costume shop supervisor.
Nine faculty members were recognized for promotions. Two School of Music faculty received promotion from associate to full professor: Douglas Huff, bassoon, and John Vana, saxophone. Music also had four faculty promoted from assistant professor to associate professor: Mike Fansler, director of bands; John Mindeman, trombone; James Romig, theory and composition; and Terry Solomonson, tuba. Also promoted to associate faculty were Nathan Miczo and Joseph Schmitz, communication; and Carolyn Blackinton, (acting) theatre and dance.
On sabbatical leave in COFAC are Matt Bean, School of Music; and Michael Murray and Richard Ness from broadcasting.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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