The Celebration of Faculty Awards will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Yehl Ballroom. The awards are sectioned into eight different categories.
Suzanne Richard, Ph.D., professor in the history and theology department, was awarded the Distinguished Professor Award.
Richard has been at Gannon since 1999 and this is her first time receiving this award. She has also published 85 scholarly articles, written two books – both of which received “Best Book” awards – and presented 55 papers at national and international conferences.
Richard said, at times, it is hard to give personal attention to each student in a big class, but she requires presentations in every class in order to get one-on-one time with students.
“This means that I can help, guide and advise each student in their research and ultimately, their presentation,” Richard said. “It really is my favorite part of class to have students take the role of teacher and see how they can work in a group and field questions about their presentation.”
Besides being a professor, Richard is also a director for the Khirbat Iskander Archaeological Expedition in Jordan. Richard has become the first American woman to receive a permit in Jordan for her own excavations.
Other awards are the College Advising Award, which was sectioned into three parts – College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences; College of Engineering and Business; and Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences.
Jeffrey Bloodworth, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the department of history and archaeology, was honored for the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
Bloodworth has been at Gannon for seven years and has won this award before.
“I think I won this award because I have an open-door policy,” Bloodworth said. “I am here from 8-2 every day and will always meet with students.”
Nathaniel Ropski, a junior history and political science double major, said he can tell Bloodworth wants his students to succeed both in and outside the classroom.
“He has given me advice on grad school, tips for writing and is letting me help him with research over the summer for an upcoming book,” Ropski, upcoming book,” Ropski, Bloodworth’s advisee, said. “He’s always open to working out an issue, yet he remains intent and easy-going throughout the process.”
Bloodworth said he has taken students on research trips and trips to New York City, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Europe, Jordan, Palestine and Israel.
“So, I try to open the world to my students,” Bloodworth said. “I also work hard to vary my assignments so that students work on their writing, read books, discuss ideas and, yes, receive information via an old-fashion lecture.”
Ropski said Bloodworth is very passionate about both his discipline and his classes.
“He loves history and it shows whenever he walks into a room,” Ropski said.
Richard Hauser, an assistant professor of finance, will be given the College Advising Award for the College of Engineering and Business.
Hauser said he is honored that his advisees nominated him for this award, as there are many other excellent advisers who also deserve recognition.
“I think my students know that I am passionate about teaching business,” Hauser said. “My role as an adviser is simply an extension of my role as a professor, where I inspire my students to do great things and contribute to society.”
The personal attention is one of the great parts of the Gannon experience, Hauser said.
“It’s wonderful that we have small class sizes so that I can know all my students by name,” Hauser said.
Kimberly Cavanagh, Ph.D., will receive the College Advising Award for the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences.
Cavanagh, an associate professor in the physician assistant program, has been at Gannon for 13 years and has won this award twice.
“I hope I was awarded this because they know that, above all, I want them to be happy and successful, not only here at Gannon, but also in their lives after they graduate,” Cavanagh said.
Gannon is full of amazing faculty “who all want only the best for their students,” Cavanagh said. “This certainly helps in students receiving an amazing education.”
COLLEEN LANGHAM
