Colwell, Department of Wildlife, is the Outstanding Professor of the Year; Chew, Department of Sociology, is HSU’s Scholar of the Year. Aldag, a lecturer in the Department of Music, and Doty, a professor in the Department of English, received Excellence in Teaching Awards.
The four will be honored by the academic community at a University Senate reception on Tuesday, May 7 at 5:30 at the Baywood Golf and Country Club, 3600 Buttermilk Lane, Arcata. Each will be invited to deliver a public lecture in the coming academic year.
Distinguished faculty also will be recognized at the University’s Humboldt State Honors Dinner on Friday, April 19, in the Kate Buchanan Room at University Center. The reception starts at 6 p.m., the dinner at 7:15. The 2012/2013 Distinguished Alumni, Outstanding Students and Staff Recognition honorees also will be acknowledged.
Outstanding Professor Colwell is honored for “superlative teaching, mentoring, scholarship and creative activities” since arriving at Humboldt State in 1989. The University Senate’s Faculty Awards Committee said his near-quarter century of service “has had a lasting effect at HSU through his excellence in teaching and sustained scholarly activities.” Highly praised by students for sharing his passion for science and ecology, Colwell also received plaudits for his research in shorebird ecology, with an emphasis on conservation and management. He is the author of the critically-acclaimed book, Shorebird Ecology, Conservation and Management.
Outstanding Scholar Chew is saluted for the diversity of his research and his scholarship in environmental degradation and ecological crisis. He joined Humboldt State in 1990 and developed a theoretical model of recurring dark ages, which he has applied to periods of socioeconomic change worldwide to examine the nature and causes of world transformations. His studies have included globalization’s impact on world migration, urban shrinkage and citizenship. Chew’s research has yielded seven books, 18 journal articles and book chapters and four encyclopedia entries, among others. The Faculty Awards Committee lauded him as “a very productive scientist and an excellent teacher.”
Excellence in Teaching awardee Aldag wins recognition for his exceptional work with jazz ensembles, consistently high teaching scores and high standards. He has served HSU for nearly two decades and in the past five years has taught 26 different courses, ranging from large lecture general education to small activity courses. Students praise his passion, dedication, clarity and willingness to help.
Doty also receives top teaching scores. The Awards Committee highlighted her dedication, talent and commitment in presenting difficult material in linguistics and rhetoric. The panel said many of Doty’s current and former students call her “the most influential professor they had during their college education” in teaching the politics of language and its impact on everyday life. She is also recognized for staying current in her field with continuing scholarship in both national and international settings.
The recipients of this year’s McCrone Promising Faculty Scholars Award are: Christine Cass, Department of Oceanography; Joseph Dieme, Department of World Languages and Cultures; and Matthew Derrick, Department of Geography.
In addition, John Mola is the recipient of the Graduate Fellowship. They will be honored at the annual Alistair and Judith McCrone Awards Banquet on Wednesday, April 24.
Details about the May 7 reception are available at 707/826-3311.