2009 Faculty Awards

1. 2009 Faculty Awards 33rd AnnualUSF Service & Merit Awards May 13, 2009 • The University of San Francisco bestows three awards to • full-time faculty to recognize extraordinary achievement: • Sarlo Prize • Ignatian Service Award • Faculty Service-Learning award

2. Sarlo Prize Professor Steven Shatz School of Law Professor Shatz is one of the Law School’s premiere teachers. His classes are known for their rigor, high expectations, and academically challenging nature. Just as importantly, however, they are characterized by the passion for justice which our Sarlo recipient brings to all of his work. His students are challenged to understand the relationship between the law and society and the values implicit both in our actual practices and in our national aspirations. He seeks to educate students who understand that it is their responsibility as lawyers to create a more humane and just word. As a scholar our recipient has written a casebook on criminal law. Within that field, however, he has paid particular attention to the death penalty. In addition to producing a casebook on this topic, his theory on the unconstitutionality of California’s death penalty has become the basis of litigation challenging the use of the death penalty in over a dozen states. In addition, for the past eight years, he has guided the summer work of our students who assist in the representation of inmates on death row in California and several southern states. This has been a life-changing experience for many. In view of his commitment to furthering the common good and to promoting the mission of this University, USF is proud to award Professor Steven Shatz the 2009 Sarlo Prize.

3. Ignatian Service Award Professor Ronald Sundstrom College of Arts & Sciences The Ignatian Service Award recognizes exceptional commitment to the service of students, the University, and the community at large. As a member of our Philosophy department this year’s recipient has taught and written extensively in the areas of philosophy, race, and identity. Yet it is his service beyond the department which is truly notable. He has been a leader in the founding and direction of the African American Studies Program since its inception in 2004. In addition he has made important and significant contributions to the Peace and Justice Program, the African Studies Program, and the Ethnic Studies Program. He has made numerous presentations and offered guest lectures for the departments of Sociology, Politics, and Performing Arts & Social Justice. He is in a very real sense “of service” to the entire University community. A recent example of this was his creation of the Social Identities Reading Group – a reading group open to all faculty in the College of Arts & Sciences. Our recipient’s service is characterized not only by its extent and scope but also by its quality and spirit. It is inclusive, engaging, and supportive. It is based upon a recognition of the value and dignity of each individual. For these reasons, the University is proud to award Professor Ronald Sundstrom the 2009 Ignatian Service Award.

4. Faculty Service Learning Award Professor Seth Wachtel Art & Architecture, College of Arts & Sciences Professor Wachtel has developed service-learning projects on the USF campus, in Bayview/Hunter’s Point, in the Mission, in nine Bay area parks, and in Zambia, China, Mexico, and Nicaragua. In doing so, his project partners have included disenfranchised urban dwellers, neighborhood associations, children orphaned by AIDS, multinational organizations, and the residents of undeveloped squatter communities. Incorporating the best of service-learning pedagogy, these courses require that our students participate in dialogue with their community partners so as to understand the relevant socio-cultural factors that need to be acknowledged during the more technical design process. Thus in taking his courses, his students not only learn the principles and applications of architecture and community design but do so while engaging such issues as the environment, poverty, immigration, literacy, food security, health care, nutrition, and educational access. His numerous courses have run simultaneously both locally and internationally. This menu of impressive initiatives not only attests to this recipient’s incredible energy, but also to his creativity, commitment, and concern. In view of his work in developing courses which exemplify the values of academic rigor, pedagogical creativity, and service to others. USF is proud to award the 2009 Faculty Service Learning Award to: Professor Seth Wachtel.

5. 2009 Mentors of the Year This award recognizes a faculty member and staff person who furthers the Vision, Mission and Values of the University through demonstrated commitment to and excellence in advising and mentoring graduate and/or undergraduate students. The award recognizes individuals who help students: (1) identify their academic goals; (2) establish relationships between their curricular and co-curricular activities; (3) develop the expertise, skills and values that support academic and personal achievement; and, (4) discern how their USF experience will assist them in forming a more humane and just world.

6. Faculty Mentor of the Year Professor Heather Hoag International Studies College of Arts & Sciences Professor Hoag serves as the primary academic advisor to approximately 250 International Studies students. Although the sheer number of her advisees is remarkable in and of itself, it is the quality and care of her service to them that we are recognizing with this award. Her students attest that they feel both challenged and supported by her. She sets high standards for her advisees and then inspires and supports them to meet the challenge. She is always available to them whether they are here on campus or emailing her from abroad with questions about their program in Africa, Asia, Europe or where ever they may be studying. As one student wrote “It seems Heather is always advising.” Whether it’s assisting students to prepare for graduate school, helping them to navigate the USF curriculum, serving as an advisor to student clubs, or organizing specific student events, what is attested to over and over again is the relationship our mentor establishes with her mentees. It is one of care, support, and focused concern. She wants the best for and from her students. For these reasons, the University is proud to award, Professor Heather Hoag, its 2009 Faculty Mentor of the Year Award.

7. Staff Mentor of the Year Award Tom Merrell Student Disability Services Academic & Enrollment Services The Staff Mentor of the Year Award recognizes an exceptional commitment to advising and mentoring which assists our students in clarifying and achieving their academic, co-curricular, and personal goals. Tom Merrell not only helps students deal with the specific challenges that require them to seek the services provided by the Office of Student Disability Services, but also is widely known for his active concern regarding their general well-being. Whether the issues are primarily academic or personal, this recipient is available to our students. Whether it is dealing with a crisis or providing routine but necessary information, he is fully present to the student in the moment. He is perceived as their advisor, their advocate, and their friend. As one student wrote, “I cannot emphasize enough how fortunate I am to have found such an honorable, service oriented, supportive, friendly, caring, and skillful mentor.” For these reasons, USF is proud to award, Mr. Tom Merrell, its 2009 Staff Mentor of the Year Award.

8. 2009 CIT Awards • The CIT awards honor full- and part-time faculty who have demonstrated innovative uses of technology in education. Recipients have supported the development of teaching and learning, contributing to the overall quality of the USF learning environment.

9. Innovation In Teaching With Technology: Part-Time Faculty Carina Ljungwald Politics & Sociology College of Arts and Sciences This part-time faculty award recipient innovatively used Blackboard to connect students. The professor created an international virtual classroom within Blackboard, inviting the students to “be in the front seat of transforming the future of social work education.” The idea shared with the students was that “by collaborating and exchanging knowledge and ideas across countries, we can broaden our minds, widen our perspectives and look beyond what we, otherwise, easily take for granted.” In the virtual classroom, USF students worked collaboratively with students from Stockholm University to build a community of learners. Professor Ljungwald and a colleague at Stockholm University used a variety of applications to connect the students, including extensive use of discussion board forums, wikis, blogs, and surveys. Students shared that “she has exemplified innovation in bringing together students from two very diverse universities in a respectful and knowledgeable dialogue. She has created an extension to classroom learning and by using this technology has extended class hours to a possible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This award celebrates the innovation of Professor Carina Ljungwald in teaching along with her passion for her students and their learning.

10. Innovation in Teaching With Technology: Full-Time Faculty Mouwafac Sidaoui School of Business and Management This full-time faculty award recipient is passionate about digital learning and wants to ensure that students are as technologically advanced as possible. He teaches students how to use Excel to model business situations and solve “real-world” problems. His classes are paperless, and his syllabus, lecture notes, homework and tests are all digital. He teaches students how to learn more using technology and “goes the extra mile in order to help students gain a greater level of competency with technology.” Nominated for this award multiple times over the years, Professor Sidaoui has shown a sustained commitment to incorporating technology in the classroom to enhance student learning. He has the difficult task of helping non-technical students learn to use advanced techniques at the graduate level. When he senses that students are not keeping up with the technology, he is very good at framing it in a different way. He also finds creative ways to have the students implement what they have learned. According to one student, he “provides students with the skills to be able to handle technology, which is a requirement in today's professional world.” Congratulations to Mouwafac Sidaoui for this 2009 CIT award.

11. 2009 Individual Merit Awards • The Merit award honors individuals whose service, contributions and/or achievements are above and beyond the scope, responsibilities and/or expectations of their position, and who have made a significant positive impact on their department/division, the University or the community.

12. Individual Merit Award Tonya Miller Director, Student Academic Services Arts & Sciences Tonya Miller has been described by peers as a dynamic, hidden treasure. Her superiors say that she outdoes herself every year - this year, especially. This recipient is always on the look-out for creative ways to increase efficiency and save time and expense, while elevating the quality of service to our students. Her knack for technology and graphic design has helped to revolutionize the USF student orientation, registration and advising processes, making critical information readily available for all who need it. Video tutorials and online tools now enhance the students’ initial experience with USF, saving them valuable time, and increasing satisfaction. This recipient’s compassionate, collaborative style makes her a true innovator and leader for the University and her department. USF is proud to present Tonya Miller with this Individual Merit Award.

13. Individual Merit Award Way Leon Database Admin. Manager, Central System Infrastructure Group Enterprise Systems & Applications, ITS Way Leon is well known throughout the campus. He’s described by peers as the ultimate professional, never afraid of a challenge, and always striving to provide the best possible service to customers. This recipient has been called the “answer man.” Despite the severity of a crisis, he always keeps his cool, while he ferrets out the core problems and implements the right solutions, saving both time and re-work. He’s always just a phone call away, 24 – 7, ready, willing and able to help with your technological issues. Forever growing in knowledge, his expertise and support, especially on Banner, is a sought-after commodity. This 2009 Individual Merit Award rightfully goes to Way Leon.

14. Individual Merit Award Lisa Kosiewicz Assistant Director, International Student & Scholar Services University Life Lisa Kosiewicz is described as a passionate and tireless advocate for students, her team and division. When her area was without a Director this past year, she jumped into this position, and took on the extra responsibilities, while maintaining her own. An authority in her field, she resolves, seeming unsolvable problems, with patience and excellent judgment. She is gracious and charitable with her time, staying to meet with and help students, way past traditional working hours. Congratulations to Lisa Kosiewicz for this Individual Merit Award.

15. Individual Merit Award Diane Marbello Program Assistant, Development University Advancement Peers have expressed that without Dian Marbello’s knowledge and expertise, it would be very difficult for the University to maintain its historically exemplary level of support for the International Student and Scholar population. She is the ultimate volunteer, always putting in that extra effort to help her department and the University to recognize and appreciate its donors and funders. To help track the various donations and grants, and the reporting requirements that go along with them, this recipient created an electronic calendaring system, which saves valuable time and keeps the University in constant touch with its base of support. While her Assistant Director was on family leave for several months, this recipient handled the duties of the Assistant Director position, as well as her own. She is also one of the few Notary Public’s on campus for the University. This 2009 Individual Merit Award deservingly goes to Diane Marbello.

16. 2009 Father William J. Dunne Award This award honors an individual who has demonstrated excellence to USF and the community at large through service, creativity, innovation and leadership, above and beyond the scope of regular job duties.

17. Fr. William J. Dunne Award Julie Reed Director, Office of Service Learning Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service & the Common Good This award honors a staff person who demonstrates excellence to USF and the community at large through service, innovation and leadership, beyond the scope of regular job duties. For this year’s Fr. Dunne Award recipient, accolades from peers and superiors poured in. Descriptions include: “the ultimate service leader;” “goes the 11th mile;” “motivates everyone around her;” “committed to social justice;” “energy without end;”and, simply put, “she’s tops!” This recipient’s been called, “the champion of service learning,” because she has successfully brought conceptual and practical levels to service learning, and has found a way to meld the academic and service communities. One faculty member said she was a “24-7 resource,” helping to design curricula, and traveling to visit programs underway – ever looking for, and discovering ways to continually improve. She tirelessly uncovers opportunities for students to serve and to recruit others to the cause, to become advocates of the underserved. Her commitment to such causes does not stop with her University job; she constantly “walks her talk,” by rallying support and raising funding for such community causes as Leukemia/Lymphoma Social Research Association and the Nike Woman’s Marathon. USF takes great pride in showing appreciation to this esteemed colleague, who is truly focused on “giving back,” and living the University’s mission each day. The University of San Francisco is proud to present the 2009 Fr. William J. Dunne Award to Julie Reed.

18. 2009 Team Award This award honors a formal or informal team of three or more staff, faculty, and /or students whose collective efforts make a significant contribution to USF and/or the community, above and beyond the scope of their jobs.

19. 2009 Team Merit Award Shona Doyle, Marvella Luey, Tonya Miller, Kian Razi, Sara Solloway, and Laleh Shahideh The Office of Student Academic Services College of Arts & Sciences This award is presented to a cohesive high-performing team, whose collective efforts make a significant contribution to the University or community, above and beyond normal job responsibilities. This team has done that and more. Its members have unshaken faith in the power of the individual, and they have successfully demonstrated how to advocate for students and transform their environment into one that is truly “student-centered.” This forward-thinking team created and implemented a program bent on retaining 100 at-risk and probationary students, on the verge of failure. The results were astounding: a student retention rate of 90%, and an increase in the students’ collective GPA of a full point. Building on this success, they have implemented a pilot program, modeled after a well-established mentoring program called, EdgeOnCollege. This team is currently amassing a list of mentors to match up with students, interested in pursuing similar careers to their assigned mentors. This way, students will have a strong advocate to give that critical, individual attention and guidance to help them realize their goals. To quote one definition of appreciation: “to grasp the nature, worth, quality, or significance of,” USF is delighted to recognize this team’s significant contributions with the 2009 Team Merit Award.