Board of Governors’ Award for Excellence in Teaching

Cathy McKinney, Music

“Perhaps what energizes my teaching more than any other single factor is contact with individual and small groups of students. I experience great joy in observing students' growth across their time in the program. Witnessing their enthusiasm, fears, dilemmas, and celebrations as they move toward discovery of who they are as people and as professionals is a profound privilege.”

“Teaching the capstone course for senior business majors is a highly rewarding experience. It enables me to apply my real world business experience and academic research in ways that help prepare students for their imminent careers as business practitioners. It also challenges me to keep current in knowing and conveying to my students new interpretations of an ever-changing competitive and global business environment. Moreover, a course design that emphasizes working closely with students enables me to build mentoring relationships that continue well past their graduation.”

 

Board of Governors’ Appalachian State University School/College Teaching Award 

Neva Specht, History

“Sometimes the most carefully planned lessons fall flat during a class and provide an opportunity to “wing it”-trying a new discussion approach, talking about something that wasn't on the syllabus, or brainstorming with each other about a topic in the news. I find that some of the best classes are when neither the students nor I know exactly what will happen but in the end we have learned something new about each other.”

Board of Governors’ Appalachian State University School/College Teaching Award 

Scott Tobias, Music

“Teaching is not simply relating the facts to the students, but rather helping them to understand the connections that exist. Much like a fine journalist, a teacher must answer all of the questions-who, what, where, when, why, and how. The most important of these questions is why and how. Helping students to find answers to these questions is extremely gratifying."

Board of Governors’ Appalachian State University School/College Teaching Award 

Angela Losardo, Language, Reading and Exceptionalities

“Three guiding principles inform my teaching philosophy. First, I believe a good teacher provides authentic activities so that learners can experience the value of applying what they have learned and feel the subsequent pride that comes with success. Second, a good teacher chooses functional and attainable goals that foster skills necessary for lifelong learning. And lastly, a good teacher always searches for understanding outside the realm of her or his own experiences and never forgets to question assumptions about teaching, best practice, and learning.” 

Board of Governors’ Appalachian State University School/College Teaching Award 

Steve Hageman, Geology

“There is truth in the old saying that the best geologist is the one who has seen the most rocks. This applies to the currency of any field, whether it be the breadth of ideas considered, number of real world examples experienced, case studies examined, problems solved, or works created. For me literally, this means spending the most time possible with our students outdoors learning from the natural laboratory that is the Appalachian Mountains.”