Distinguished TeachersKhagendra Thapa - 2008
Teaching for Khagendra Thapa means making a difference in the lives of others. Dr. Thapa's colleagues agreed when naming the professor of Surveying Engineering the 2008 Distinguished Teacher at FSU.Thapa’s colleagues are not the only people who recognize the drive and dedication of the professor, who holds five degrees from four countries, including his native Nepal, Canada, England and the United States. He also was recently recognized by the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers with the Ralph Berry Moore Education Award for his leadership at the North American Surveying Educators Conference and his contributions to the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping. Specifically, Thapa has contributed to the ACSM as a member of the Curriculum, Accreditation, Registration and Education Committee. The U.S. Department of Labor also recognized Thapa with a Certificate of Appreciation for his contributions to the National Occupational Information Network Data Collection program. But, for Thapa it’s not about the awards. "Teaching is a noble profession in which I can make a difference in the lives of others," he said. "The students I teach are not my children, but when I see them succeed, I feel good that I made an impact in their lives." Teaching at Ferris for the past 21 years, after spending two years teaching at the Engineering Institute in Kathmandu in Nepal, Thapa will continue his active involvement. He was appointed 2008-09 commissioner of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, an organization he has been involved with as an evaluator for many years. He also will remain involved with Ferris’ Academic Senate, for which he has been involved since 1989. Annually, he will continue providing scholarship assistance to one Surveying Engineering student. Mary Rengo Murnik - 2007 
Mary Rengo Murnik, Ph.D., a professor of Biology, received the prestigious Distinguished Teacher Award from her academic colleagues in 2007. Dr. Murnik came to Ferris in 1980. She was honored with the Martin Luther King Social Justice Award in 2004, the Ferris Professional Women Woman of the Year award and the Michigan Association of Governing Boards' Award for Teaching Excellence in 1998.Dr. Murnik helps students learn to think through concepts of genetics and evolution, to "learn to think like biologists". She really enjoys teaching, and works hard to maintain currency and actively involve students in the learning process. She stresses understanding and application of concepts, not memorization. Classes include time for clarification, questioning, discussion, as well as group and individual problem solving. Her students comment: "...excellent instructor. Her passion and knowledge for the course and its material are...second to none. She has a welcoming smile when you enter the classroom and is sure you know the material before you leave." Dr. Murnik's research interests include mutagenesis, and she mentors undergraduate student research in that area. Dr. Murnik chairs the Pre-Dental Advisory Committee and is a Dental Admission Test Constructor, Biology Content Area, for the American Dental Association. 
Pasquale Di Raddo - 2006Ever since he was in high school, Pasquale Di Raddo had a keen interest in learning how environmental pollutant chemicals acted in causing birth defects and cancer. His fusion of interests in chemistry and biology led him to undergraduate and doctoral research studies in bio-organic chemistry at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec and then working as a research associate at the University of Chicago's Ben May Institute for Cancer Research. Pasquale began a second, rich, career as a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin and at Carthage College, a small liberal arts school, where his teaching responsibilities covered the humanities and heritage studies. He arrived at Ferris State in 1994, and has taught courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry and biochemistry. His classes are heavily populated by talented and ambitious pre-professional health science students and he will often use his own academic experiences as examples in his teaching. Di Raddo is faculty advisor to a number of campus RSO organizations: the pre-optometry, ACS chemistry and pre-medicine clubs, and the Kappa Psi pharmacy fraternity. He is a former recipient of the Douglas Fonner Award for Outstanding Faculty Advisor to the FSU Interfraternity Council (2004), and the Outstanding RSO advisor of the Year (2005). His ACS chemistry student chapter received both Green Chemistry Chapter Recognition and the Outstanding Chapter Award from the American Chemical Society (2006-07). Many of his former students are now successful practicing optometrists, pharmacists, chemists, doctors, nurses and dental hygienists. He has recently published poetry on various chemical themes and an article on the use of comics for the teaching of chemistry laboratory safety, and has been involved in undergraduate student research. 
Robert McCullough - 2005Robert McCullough, an associate professor of Mathematics, has taught algebra, trigonometry, calculus, operations research, discrete structures and numerous computer science classes over the past 25 years at FSU. His special interest lies in the mathematics needed for space exploration, and he regularly reviews publications for science books and films. As a regional resource person for the National Air and Space Museum, he has given more than 100 presentations on space exploration. McCullough is the author of the textbook Mathematics for Computer Technology, which has been used by 90 colleges in eight countries. He has done extensive research, writing and speaking about the mathematics used by the Wright brothers to prove that flight was possible. His lifelong interest in space exploration led him to be selected as a Regional Resource Person for the National Air and Space Museum in 1981. In this role he has given over 130 talks to various groups on aerospace topics. McCullough advises Applied Mathematics students, coordinates the Applied Mathematics and Mathematics programs and chairs the Program Review Panel for Applied Mathematics. In addition, he advises Ferris' MATH Challenge teams and mentors students in the University's Math/Science/Technology Center. 
Fred Heck - 2005Fred Heck has been a Ferris faculty member since 1988 and is the resident geologist at the University. He is an advisor for the Pre-Pharmacy program and teaches non-geology majors about Earth's wonders through courses in physical and historical geology, hydrogeology and earth systems science. Heck's teaching philosophy assumes students will learn better if they are more actively involved in their learning, so his classes work together in cooperative learning groups and make frequent excursions to the local countryside. He has led students on two-week geology field trips to the Canyon Country of the southwest United States, the northern Rocky Mountains, Michigan's Upper Peninsula and to Martinique. Dr. Heck developed a new Integrated Science Teaching major in 2003 and attended a workshop on designing courses in the Geosciences that was sponsored by the National Association of Geology Teachers and the National Science Foundation. 
David Pilgrim - 2004Professor David Pilgrim consistently maintains an open, student-centered classroom environment and remains committed to the success of his students. As the primary donor and curator of the University's Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, Dr. Pilgrim as been widely quoted by such national media outlets as the New York Times, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times and National Public Radio concerning issues of race and culture. Also, he is beginning work on the Sarah Baartman Room, which will be devoted to understanding historical and contemporary sexism. In addition to his teaching duties, Pilgrim is a consultant to the Public Museum of Grand Rapids' Ethnic History Exhibit and was recently elected to the Michigan Museums Association's Board of Directors. He has taught at Ferris State since 1990. Phillip Middleton - 2003 
Phillip Middleton, a professor of Languages and Literature, teaches composition as well as Black literature, African literature and Shakespeare. He has served as a Fulbright scholar in the Sudan and in Romania, and was awarded another Fulbright grant to teach in Syria.In addition to having an interest in cultures that are at the forefront of world politics, Dr. Middleton also embodies traits common to virtually all Fulbrighters -— being a willing host for the travel bug and having an unbelievable desire to learn. He's looking forward to visiting Jordan and Lebanon, where he’s never been and to re-visiting Turkey. "To understand another culture takes a long time. You bring back the knowledge that you’re not going to learn everything about a country or culture, but you can bring back a better understanding," Middleton said. David Hanna - 2003 
David Hanna, an associate professor of Construction Technology and Management, joined the Ferris faculty in 1992. He received the 1996 Dow Outstanding New Faculty Award and the 1997 Outstanding Teacher Award from the American Society of Engineering Education.Hanna has extensive experience with consulting engineering and construction management firms in the areas of project management, value engineering, design, administration and marketing. David's success in the classroom is based upon the belief that all students can learn when properly motivated to do so. According to Hanna, when educational objectives are clear, several methods can be utilized to match the various learning styles of students. David's many years of construction work, professional design and teaching have solidified his foundation principles and helped him achieve the results both he and his students desire. His beliefs and teaching strategies dictate that construction education must have an applied interdisciplinary base, be holistic in nature, build each student's skills in communications and presentations, be both practical and intellectual, and emphasize creative ability, rational evaluation skills and students' ability to solve problems independently as well as in interdisciplinary teams. David Aiken - 2003 
David Aiken, professor of Humanities, Philosophy and Religion, has earned high praise from students for his teaching philosophy."I interact personally with students because I believe that philosophical thinking is personally relevant to daily happiness," Aikens said. "It is my responsibility to transmit information, but also to find the key that allows students to receive information and make it their own." Professor David Aiken holds a Doctorat d État (summa cum laude, 1995) in the History of Ideas, Comparative Literatures and Philosophy from the University of Nice (France), and a Doctorat de Troisième Cycle (cum laude, 1981) in Philosophy from the University of Strasbourg (France). He has held post-doctoral research posts in Classical Philology at the University of Frankfort (Germany), and in the Department of Dutch Studies (Middle High German Literature) at the University of Hull (England). Dr. Aiken's research interests include history of religions, ancient Greek history, philosophy, Christianity and the ancient Near East, and Nietzsche studies. He teaches Comparative, Western, and Asian religions, Christianity, Mythology, Ancient Philosophy, Introduction to Philosophy, and Ethics, as well as Cultural History. Professor Aiken had his article entitled "Nietzsche’s Zarathustra. The Misreading of a Hero" published in the 2006 volume of Nietzsche-Studien (Germany). Sheila Squicciarini - 2002 
Sheila Squicciarini, program coordinator and assistant professor of Nuclear Medicine Technology, earned the Distinguished Teacher Award in 2002. "Sheila is an amazing teacher," one student wrote. "She has a great sense of humor; she is genuine and caring. I have learned more in one semester than in the last three years." Another student wrote, "She is enthusiastic about her job as a professor and I am so thankful to be one of her students."Squicciarini, who was elected to the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board of Directors, has traveled to China to evaluate medical technology there. She was also invited to take part in a summit sponsored by the Department of Labor to help in rewriting national health care standards. In addition to her work in higher education and with medical technology and health care standards, Squicciarini has mentored area high school students conducting research projects. J. Randall Groves - 2001 
Randy Groves teaches a variety of courses including Ethics, Introduction to Humanities, Eastern Religion, Western Religion, Comparative Civilization, Philosophy of Mind, Film, and Popular Culture. He joined the faculty in 1991 and was selected as a Distinguished Teacher by his peers in 2001. Groves also is a professional musician known for sharing his musical talents in the classroom, for bringing other artists and authors into the classroom and for using technology to create a multimedia, multidimensional approach to teaching music, art, literature, dance and film. He has invited guest artists to his classes, exposing students to previously unfamiliar cultures, including Chinese opera, Indian sitar music and Spanish and Indian dance. His integration of Ferris State's Arts and Lectures series into the classroom was the subject of a feature article in the Chronicle of Higher Education.Professor Groves' publications include An Introduction to Health Care Ethics, Comparative Philosophy Mind, Religion and War, India in Western Philosophy of History, and An Interview with James Emery. 
Abdollah Ferdowsi - 2001Abdollah Ferdowsi, Ph.D., a professor of Accounting, Economics and Applied Statistics in the College of Business, received the prestigious Distinguished Teacher Award from his colleagues in 2001. Dr. Ferdowsi carries an exemplary record of professional development activities, involvement with students both in and out of the classroom, and participation in the University community. Ferdowsi, who joined the faculty in 1984, devotes substantial time and effort to keeping current in his field and contributes to his professional society meetings and literature. He has attended and contributed to many teaching-related conferences both on and off campus, including the "Learning, the Learner, and Teaching Methodology" workshop sponsored by the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning. 
Richard J. Pisacreta - 2000Richard Pisacreta, who joined the FSU faculty in 1980, was instrumental in developing the University's Psychology major, developing new courses to expand the curricular offerings and support the degree. A visit to Dr. Pisacreta's classroom reveals his enthusiasm for his subject and an ability to connect with students. His open-door policy and reputation for effective teaching is evidenced by the number of students who return for additional courses. Beyond the classroom, Dr. Pisacreta is widely published in Psychology literature and serves as a senior editor for Psychological Record. He received the Michigan Association of Governing Boards Award for Teaching Excellence in 1989. Daniel Noren - 2000 
Professor Noren teaches French, and is very passionate about the need for a university education to produce a globally conscious world citizen. He therefore conducts study abroad tours to Martinique and France. He has a special interest in oral traditions in Francophone countries and has created unique teaching modules based on this interest.Noren was granted a sabbatical for the 2006-2007 academic year and traveled to Cameroon to pursue the elusive tricksters in the oral traditions of that African-Francophone country. He plans to create some instructional DVD's while in Cameroon about its culture, oral literature and history. One of his ambitions is to also research and develop a study-abroad program to Cameroon for FSU students and faculty. |