May 13, 2021
Trine University honored faculty members with its annual year-end awards during a special ceremony in Fabiani Theater on Monday, May 10.
Several faculty received the McKetta-Smith Excellence in Teaching Awards, established by trustee emeritus and 1937 alumnus Dr. John J. McKetta in 1989.
Andrea Mitofsky, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was awarded the Prof. Gerald H. Moore Overall Excellence in Teaching Award and the Charles & Sue Ragan Gelet Excellence in Teaching Award.
Martin Dygert, lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Physics, received the Helen Smith McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award.
Michael Staude, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Science, received the Robert Ewing & Gail Stewart Smith Excellence in Teaching Award.
Kimberly Wright, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and Social Sciences, received the Robert Andrew & Anne Ewing Smith Excellence in Teaching Award.
Anthony Layson, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Science, received the Merle J. & Anna Mae McKetta Thomas Excellence in Teaching Award.
Gregory Brooks, assistant professor in the Ketner School of Business, received the Charles William, Nelle Paris, & Mary Ann McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award.
Gary Greene, Ph.D., associate professor in the Reiners Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, received the Steve & Mary Yacynch McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award.
Kendall Teichert, Ph.D., associate professor in the Wade Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, received the Frank & Julia Gelet McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award.
Franklin Luchini, assistant professor in the Department of Design Engineering & Technology, received the John J. & Mary Gelet McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award.
The university also presented other awards to faculty and academic staff.
Julie Pfafman, senior executive assistant for the Office of Academic Affairs, received the Academic Service Award, which recognizes an individual who has gone well beyond regular duties and has committed an extraordinary amount of time, resources, and dedication to the betterment of Trine University.
Melissa Mayus, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Humanities and Communication, was honored for Outstanding Faculty Scholarship, given to a Trine University faculty member who has gone well beyond regular duties and has dedicated much time and effort to produce quality scholarly work.
Maria Gerschutz, Ph.D., associate professor in the Bock Department of Biomedical Engineering, received the Barrenbrugge Award for Faculty Excellence, which recognizes all-around excellence in teaching, scholarship and service to the university.
Thomas Tierney, Ph.D., professor emeritus, received the Jannen Renaissance Scholar Award, given to a faculty member who exhibits a breadth of interest and accomplishment consistent with Renaissance ideals and who encourages students and faculty to aspire to such breadth.
John Shannon, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs, presented Debra Strong with the VPAA Years of Service Award. Strong, an administrative assistant in the Allen School of Engineering and Computing, will retire at the end of May after 30 years at Trine.
The university also announced the winners of several other faculty awards:
Prof. Gerald H. Moore Overall Excellence in Teaching Award - Andrea Mitofsky, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Trine University, center, receives the Prof. Gerald H. Moore Overall Excellence in Teaching Award from John Shannon, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs, left, and university President Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., during a ceremony on Monday, May 10.
Charles William, Nelle Paris, & Mary Ann McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award - Gregory Brooks, assistant professor in the Ketner School of Business, center, receives the Charles William, Nelle Paris, & Mary Ann McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award from John Shannon, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs, left, and Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., university president.
Helen Smith McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award - Martin Dygert, lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Physics, center, receives the Helen Smith McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award from John Shannon, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs, left, and Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., university president.
Steve & Mary Yacynch McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award - Gary Greene, Ph.D., associate professor in the Reiners Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, center, receives the Steve & Mary Yacynch McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award from John Shannon, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs, left, and Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., university president.
Merle J. & Anna Mae McKetta Thomas Excellence in Teaching Award - Anthony Layson, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Science, receives the Merle J. & Anna Mae McKetta Thomas Excellence in Teaching Award from John Shannon, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs, left, and Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., university president.
John J. & Mary Gelet McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award - Franklin Luchini, assistant professor in the Department of Design Engineering & Technology, center, receives the John J. & Mary Gelet McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award from John Shannon, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs, left, and Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., university president.
Robert Ewing & Gail Stewart Smith Excellence in Teaching Award - Michael Staude, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Science, center, receives the Robert Ewing & Gail Stewart Smith Excellence in Teaching Award from John Shannon, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs, left, and Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., university president.
Robert Andrew & Anne Ewing Smith Excellence in Teaching Award - Kimberly Wright, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and Social Sciences, receives the Robert Andrew & Anne Ewing Smith Excellence in Teaching Award from John Shannon, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs, left, and Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., university president.
Frank & Julia Gelet McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award - Kendall Teichert, Ph.D., associate professor in the Wade Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, center, receives the Frank & Julia Gelet McKetta Excellence in Teaching Award from John Shannon, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs, left, and Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., university president.
Outstanding Faculty Scholarship - Melissa Mayus, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Humanities and Communication, center, receives the award for Outstanding Faculty Scholarship from John Shannon, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs, left, and Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., university president.
Barrenbrugge Award for Faculty Excellence - Maria Gerschutz, Ph.D., associate professor in the Bock Department of Biomedical Engineering, received the Barrenbrugge Award for Faculty Excellence. From left are John Shannon, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs, Gerschutz, Sarah Franzen, Ph.D., dean of the Jannen School of Arts and Sciences, and Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., university president.
Jannen Renaissance Scholar Award - Thomas Tierney, Ph.D., professor emeritus, second from right, receives the Jannen Renaissance Scholar Award during Trine University’s faculty awards ceremony on Monday, May 10. Pictured are, from left, John Shannon, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs, Jeanette Goddard, Ph.D., director of the Humanities Institute, Tierney, and Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., university president.
Academic Service Award - Julie Pfafman, senior executive assistant for the Office of Academic Affairs, center, receives the Academic Service Award from John Shannon, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs, left, and Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., university president.
VPAA Years of Service Award - Debra Strong, administrative assistant in Trine University’s Allen School of Engineering and Computing, center, receives the VPAA Years of Service Award from John Shannon, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs, left, and university President Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., during a ceremony Monday, May 10. Strong will retire at the end of May after 30 years at Trine.
Tusk, the Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute, will bring the band’s greatest hits to the stage of Trine University’s T. Furth Center for Performing Arts on Friday, Nov. 17.
Angola Main Street and Trine University are hosting the second annual Trine Fest on Thursday, Aug. 24, in downtown Angola.
Recognizing the dramatic growth of its online and international programs, Trine University has promoted Keirsten Eberts to the new role of vice president of online and international studies.