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Awards honor faculty members
as outstanding teachers

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Michael Ortiz (left), congratulates Karen Carey and Jerome Jackson for their teaching excellence. Ortiz will present the Excellence in Teaching Awards to Carey and Jackson. Carlos Muller (on front cover) and Michael Thomas are also honorees.

by Mary Lisa Russell

Four faculty members will be honored on May 14 with one of the university's highest academic honors - the provost's Excellence in Teaching Awards. Recipients will be presented cash awards as part of the citation.

The reception to honor the awardees will be held in the Renaissance Room from 3:30 to 5 p.m. The citations will be presented by Dr. Michael Ortiz, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Faculty members selected for the 1998 Excellence in Teaching Awards are Carlos Muller, professor and director, Enology Program; Jerome Jackson, professor of criminology; Karen Carey, professor of psychology and head of the Joint Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership; and Michael W. Thomas, professor of animal science and agricultural education.

Muller, who has been with the university since 1978, will receive the overall Excellence in Teaching Award and $2,000. He earned his bachelor of science, master of science and his doctor of philosophy degrees from the University of California, Davis.

"Muller was cited for his outstanding work in his role as a teacher and mentor to students at the university," said Ortiz.

Former students supported Muller's nomination with numerous letters that cited his exceptional inspiration, leadership and years of caring, coaching and advising.

"In the Enology Program we do not have any students - we have junior colleagues. Everyone here is a professional in training," said Muller.

Jackson, a faculty member since 1990, will receive $1,000 for the Teaching Excellence Award for Faculty Service. He earned his bachelor of arts degree from Southern University, his master of arts degree from Texas Southern University, and his doctor of philosophy degree from Sam Houston State University.

Jackson said that the honor meant a great deal to him and that he is grateful for all the support from his colleagues.

"Service is not something I do for recognition. It is a way of life," said Jackson. "Whether it is reaching out to a teenager in trouble or an agency seeking consultation in the handling of sensitive issues, it brings immeasurable pleasure to be able to serve. A life void of service is a dead existence."

Carey, who arrived at Fresno State in 1989, will receive $1,000 for the Teaching Excellence Award for Graduate Teaching and Mentoring. She earned her bachelor of science degree from San Diego State University, her master of science degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and her doctor of philosophy degree from the University of Cincinnati.

"I do not believe I would have been granted this award without the outstanding students I have had an opportunity to work with here," said Carey. "I hope the award will assist the two departments I work in to continue to attract high-caliber students to the university."

Thomas will receive $1,000 for the Teaching Excellence Award for Education and Technology. He has been a member of the faculty since 1985.

He earned his bachelor of science degree from Brigham Young University and his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Washington State University.

The recipients are selected by a committee composed of representatives from the university community. The awards honor faculty members who clearly surpass the expected standards of teaching.