By Jeff Samoray, OU Web Writer

Oakland University honored many of its finest faculty members for their excellence in teaching, scholarship and service during the seventh annual Faculty Recognition Luncheon, held April 17 before a full audience in the Oakland Center Gold Rooms.

The luncheon was one of several events associated with Founders' Day, on which the OU community celebrates its dedication to the arts, students, outstanding faculty and the growth attained over the past year.

A total of 27 faculty members were honored at this year’s luncheon. Of those, four received special recognition for excelling in their fields through teaching and research:

• Jude Nixon, associate professor of English, received the Teaching Excellence Award.
• Meir Shillor, professor of mathematics, received the Oakland University Foundation Research Excellence Award.
• Balaji Rajagopalan, assistant professor of management information systems, received the New Investigator Research Excellence Award.
• Edith Diggory, adjunct professor of music, received the Excellence in Teaching Award.

This was the first year the Excellence in Teaching Award was given, which recognizes a non-tenure track or part-time instructor.

“It’s great to be the first person to receive this award,” said Diggory, who teaches voice. “I know part-time instructors donate so much of their time to their students, and I’m glad to see that it’s recognized.

“I’m very pleased to be working with a great department with colleagues that are very dedicated to their students. And my students have a lot of talent and will go on in their careers in many different ways. Some will go into opera, others will pursue doctorates at other institutions, and others will teach.”

Before the 2002 honorees were recognized, last year’s excellence award recipients – Todd Estes, associate professor of history; David Maines, professor and chair of sociology and anthropology; and Kathleen Pfeiffer, assistant professor of English – delivered their remarks.

Maines, who received the 2001 OU Foundation Research Excellence Award, downplayed his academic achievements and spoke of his continuing scholarly drive.

“I’m perpetually dissatisfied with my scholarship,” Maines said. “There is always more work to be done and work to be done better. This award keeps me going and simply tells me that I’m on the right track.”

Three longtime OU faculty also received special recognition as 2002 Distinguished Professors:

• Sheldon Appleton, professor of political science
• Ronald Cramer, professor of education
• Jane Donahue Eberwein, professor of English

The OU Board of Trustees created the faculty rank of distinguished professor in 1988. The criteria is based on preeminence in scholarship, teaching and public or professional service. Appleton, Cramer and Eberwein join just seven other OU faculty members who have been honored with this prestigious status.

The other 2002 honorees included:

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

• Amanda Bryant-Friedrich, assistant professor of chemistry
• Andrea Eis, special instructor of art and art history
• Dick Goody, special instructor of art and art history; director of Meadow Brook Art Gallery
• Barbara Mabee, professor and chair of modern languages and literatures
• David Maines, professor and chair of sociology and anthropology
• Bruce Mann, associate professor of English
• Lynetta Mosby, assistant professor of sociology and athropology
• Gopolan Srinivasan, professor of physics
• Robert Stewart, professor and chair of psychology
• John Paul-White, professor of music, theatre and dance

• David Doane, professor of decision and information systems
• Vijayan Sugumaran, assistant professor of management information systems

• Sherri Oden, associate professor of human development and child studies
• Mary Stein, assistant professor of curriculum, instruction and leadership
• Monica Tracey, associate professor of human resource development

• Michael Latcha, associate professor of mechanical engineering
• Fatma Mili, associate professor of computer science and engineering

• Teresa Cervantez Thompson, assistant professor of nursing

• Elizabeth Kraemer, assistant professor of Kresge Library

• Sitaram Ari, professor of biomedical sciences