Academic Affairs Honors Three Decades of Outstanding Faculty

The Academic Affairs Awards Reception recognized faculty award winners from almost 30 years ago to the present. Hosted by Academic Affairs with a welcome from Vice President Donald S. Castro, the event honored those faculty receiving the Outstanding Professor Award and the Lyle E. Gibson Distinguished Teacher Award.

The first Outstanding Professor Award was presented in 1971. In its second year, the award was presented to Dr. Lois Chi, emeritus professor of biology, who was present at the event. Also present, and acknowledging award winners, was Dr. Herman Loether, emeritus professor of sociology, a 1973 and 1984 recipient. Joining Loether in recognizing other faculty were President James E. Lyons, Sr. and Academic Senate Chair Cynthia McDermott, professor of teacher education. In his remarks to the gathering, Lyons expressed his appreciation for the work of faculty, "who lie at the heart of the operation here."

Medallions and plaques were presented to each recipient for both the Outstanding Professor and the Gibson awards. Also, an Honor Wall is in place on the second floor of the library special exhibit area, east wall. Permanent plaques identify the awards and recipient over the years.

Many other faculty were present to receive their Outstanding Professor awards. They were, followed by the year of the award (Lyle E. Gibson Awards indicated as "LGA"): Marshall Bialosky (1977); Porfirio Sanchez (1978, LGA-1976); Laura Robles (1986 & 1988, LGA-1980); Lyman Chafee (1987); Don Hata (1990, LGA-1977); Hal Charnofsky (1992, LBA-1990); Frances Steiner (1991); Beverly Palmer (1995); Burhan Yavas (1996); Rudy Vanterpool (1999); and Farah Fisher (2000, LGA-1993).

Lyle E. Gibson Distinguished Teacher award winners present were: Judson Grenier (1974); David Morafka (1978); Richard Beym (1979); Marilyn Sutton (1980); James Lyle (1985); Lisa Gray Shellberg (1986); Doris Okada (1987); Joyce Johnson (1988); Susan Prescott Johnson(1989); Sydell Weiner (1989); Larry Press (1990); Miguel Dominguez (1993); Sue Gemmell (1994); Mary Auth (1995); Wayne Martin (1997); Kazimierz Kowalski (1998); David Karber (2000); Richard Malamud (2000) and for the late William Armacost (1991), his wife Pamela Armacost accepted.

Hostesses for the reception were Loretta Adikhai, Lee Broussard, and Tracy Haney, all of Academic Affairs.