University News
Retirees Honored at CAS Spring Awards Reception
May 19, 2008
MACOMB, IL - - Western Illinois University's College of Arts and Sciences honored several faculty and students at its 2008 spring awards reception May 2.
Five retiring faculty members were recognized for their years of service to the college and the University.
Bill Combs, history professor, came to Western in 1966. During his 42 years of teaching he regularly offered his popular course "Germany under Hitler." The 1990 history department's Outstanding Teacher, Combs has been a regular presenter at the department's annual history conference and has made many other presentations on German history to high school teachers throughout the state. His book, "The Voice of the SS Journal 'Das Schwarze Korps'" is the only major scholarly study in English on the subject. He has received several requests for consultations with international scholars on "das Schwartze Korps," including several from the Netherlands, Great Britain and Norway. He is working on a new edition of "The Voice of SS," which will include information based on a 10-day interview with the editor of "das Schwarze Korps," Gunter d'Alquen.
Ken Mietus, sociology professor, began teaching at Western in 1972. His specialty areas include organizations, social stratification, theory and research methods. Mietus' research has included evaluation studies for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, and most recently questionnaire data analyses for the Western Survey Research Center. Mietus has served as an undergraduate sociology major adviser, as well as supervised a number of master theses and internships. He has chaired the Council on Admission, Graduation and Academic Standards (CAGAS), the Council of General Education and the Honorary Doctorate Committee, and he has served as a member of the Faculty Senate, Gradtrac Advisory Committee, Faculty Development Office, Illinois Articulation Initiative Panel and a Board of Governors Task Force. He has received the Outstanding Teacher Award, the Outstanding Service Award and the Senior Faculty Research Award from the College of Arts and Sciences. During Fall 2007, Mietus portrayed "Uncle Sam" at the Mock Presidential Election. He also is a guitarist for the College of Arts and Sciences faculty band, "The Endnotes."
Polly Radosh, the department of women's studies chairperson, came to Western in 1984. She served as a faculty member in the department of sociology before she was appointed director of women's studies in 1995, and selected as the chair of women's studies in 2005. She has taught a number of classes in sociology and women's studies. Radosh's research areas include women and crime, midwifery and Irish women with an emphasis on the intersections of race, class and gender. She received the Provost Award for Excellence in Multicultural Teaching (2005), the College Award for Excellence in Multicultural Teaching (2005), the College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Service Award (2002), the Western Organization for Women Achievement Award (2001), as well as four Faculty Excellence Awards (1988, 1992, 1994 and 1995). She was also named the 20007 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer. Radosh has accepted a position as dean at the State University of New York (SUNY) Geneseo, her undergraduate alma mater.
Paula Wise, psychology professor, began teaching at Western in 1977. One year later she was selected as the coordinator for the School Psychology program, a position she continues to hold. Wise has been a contributing editor of the Illinois School Psychologist Association (ISPA) newsletter for almost 30 years, has been actively involved with the Director's of University School Psychology Training Programs and has published a number of articles and handouts. She has also published two books, "The Use of Assessment Techniques by Applied Psychologists" and "School Psychology: Past, Present and Future," which is widely used by School Psychology training programs.
Janna Haworth, English instructor, came to Western 2001 after 30 years of teaching English at Macomb High School. While at Western, she was involved in helping the education program prepare for its accreditation review, as well as helping English education majors create portfolios to successfully meet the Illinois standards for teachers. She was also the adviser for Western's student chapter of the National Council of Teachers of English.
Faculty awards were presented to Amy Carr, associate professor in the philosophy and religious studies department, for teaching; Efrain Ferrer, physics professor, for research/scholarly activities; Matthew Blankenship, associate professor of psychology, for service; Heather McIlvaine-Newsad, associate professor of anthropology, for teaching with technology; Vincent Auger, professor of political science, for internationalization; Marjorie Allison, associate professor of English, for multicultural teaching; Michael Romano, professor of biological sciences, for undergraduate research throughout a career; and Lee Brice, history professor, for recent undergraduate research.
Senior political science major Julia Remes (Saint Paul, MN) was recognized as the CAS Spring 2008 Cecile A. Christison Sterrett College Scholar.
Student Council Honorary Recognition Awards were presented to senior English major Annette Glotfelty (O'Fallon, IL), humanities; senior psychology major Ray Serra (Silvis, IL), social sciences; and senior mathematics major Sarah Cane (Quincy, IL), mathematics and natural sciences.
The chemistry club received the Student Council Departmental Organization Award.
Posted By: Alisha Looney (AA-Looney@wiu.edu)
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