Brockman CHSBS award / Hartshorne psychology award / CMU teaching awards /

CMU distinguished service awards

English professor Elizabeth Brockman accepts the CHSBS Excellence in Teaching Award from interim dean Pamela Gates.

Brockman receives CHSBS teaching award

English professor Elizabeth Brockman’s open-door policy has earned her more than the respect of her students — it has earned her a prestigious teaching award.

Brockman was awarded the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award on April 4. She was nominated and selected by her peers and students in the college.

“Dr. Brockman won the award this year because she is an expert in her field. She has well organized, well prepared, well thought out classes,” said Mitchell Hall, interim associate dean of the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences. “She is obviously able to inspire her students and is admired by her peers.”

Brockman’s students have described her as “an outstanding teacher, professor, advisor and guide” whose “charisma, laugh, warm smile and active listening skills are contagious.”

Brockman was destined to become a teacher — her paternal grandparents, parents, in-laws, sister and brother-in-law are all educators. She taught in Midland, Chicago and Columbus at the middle and high school levels before starting at CMU in 1996. Since then, Brockman has taught composition methods to preservice English teachers and supervised student teachers with English majors.

She currently is director of composition, training and supervising English 101 graduate assistants. She also teaches seasonal one-day writing seminars for public safety personnel and is the author of the 2007 book “The Blue Guide: Written Communication for Leaders in Law Enforcement.”

Brockman enjoys the ability to work with individual students, a skill she believes is imperative to being a quality educator.

“Many people say that good teachers need to be passionate, and it’s true that good teachers often are passionate, but that characteristic, alone, is not enough,” Brockman said. “I believe it’s even more important for teachers to respect students, to possess subject matter expertise, and to plan meaningful classes.

“In addition, teachers need good ethos — that quality inspiring trust and confidence in others. I spend a lot of time on campus, my office door is always open and my students know they are welcome.”

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Hartshorne earns international psychology award

Psychology professor Tim Hartshorne has been awarded the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology’s highest professional designation, the Diplomate in Adlerian Psychology.

Hartshorne received the title in January from the Society, a group that promotes the teaching of late psychologist Alfred Adler. Adler is best known for developing the practice of individual psychology, an approach to psychotherapy that has a strong cognitive and social orientation.

The Diplomate in Adlerian Psychology is awarded to those who give outstanding contributions to Adlerian psychology through its many fields, including counseling and psychotherapy, clinical practice, education, parent education, theory, research, and organizational leadership.

“The Diplomate is recognition of having achieved the highest level of competence in the field,” Hartshorne said. “It is not exactly like being awarded an honor; you receive it based on making an application and documenting accomplishment. It serves primarily as recognition that this is an area of psychology where I am recognized by my peers as having reached the highest level of accomplishment.”

Hartshorne was honored at the Society’s annual conference in Vancouver in May. He is an expert on grief, the CHARGE Syndrome, severe developmental disabilities and child disability, especially children and youth who are deaf-blind.

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CHSBS faculty receive CMU teaching awards

Two faculty members from the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences have received CMU’s top teaching honors, the Excellence in Teaching Award.

Desmond Harding, of the English department, was honored for his creative teaching methods that bring intellectually stimulating experiences and humor into the classroom.

“He invites open exploration while still maintaining a clear presentation of his own thoughts, so that students are not only invited to explore their arguments, but also to interrogate his as well,” said one nominator.

Another wrote, “His instruction instilled in me a passion for literature that contributed to my decision to pursue higher education as a career. His professionalism became the model for the type of academic I hope to some day become.”

Brian J. Smith, of the sociology, anthropology and social work department, was honored for his ability to help students find their voice while inspiring them with a true passion for learning. 

A nominator wrote, “The candidate’s enthusiasm about teaching as well as his subject matter is phenomenal. In fact, his enthusiasm encouraged me to pursue the field and even strive to be a professor.”

“He has developed a variety of creative mechanisms that allow him to teach large classes while still providing students with the kind of personalized feedback often associated with a small liberal arts school,” said another nominator.

A committee of nine faculty members and five students selected the winners based on student evaluation scores, course information, and student and peer letters. The recipients were honored at commencement ceremonies in May.

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CMU honors faculty for distinguished service

Central Michigan University exemplifies its ongoing commitment to sustained service by presenting the Distinguished Service Award to faculty members who have maintained this tradition.

A committee of past winners selected two recipients based on the impact, quality, recognition, value and amount of service performed. The recipients were honored at commencement ceremonies in May.

Timothy S. Hartshorne, psychology professor, has displayed exemplary service to the psychology graduate program and department, the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences, and the university through leadership roles in a variety of areas.

“The breadth of his service allows him to understand the diverse strengths and needs of our university,” said a nominator.

Hartshorne recently chaired the provost search committee and is chair-elect of the Academic Senate. At the university level, Hartshorne has served on 10 committees including the Budget Review Advisory Committee, Raising Academic Standards Committee, Honors Task Force and Institutional Strategic Planning Committee.

He has served on 13 college-level committees including dean search committees for the colleges of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences and Graduate Studies. Hartshorne represents the university by providing service to national and international professional organizations.

Robert Newby, sociology professor, has served both the university and the sociology profession through leadership and advocacy.

He has served as the chairman of the sociology, anthropology and social work department and the Academic Senate. Newby was instrumental in the formation of the Association of Faculty and Staff of Color and the Multicultural and Diversity Education Council of the Academic Senate.

In the profession of sociology, Newby has been president and vice president of the North Central Sociological Association and chaired the Racial and Ethnic Minorities section of the American Sociological Association. He also has served as president of the Association of Black Sociologists.

A nominator wrote, “It is perhaps his ability and willingness to merge his commitments to social justice and diversity with his scholarly interests and professional service that is most note-worthy. His is a life of engaged scholarship and service — a model for many of us and a source of pride for CMU.

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