Faculty Awards
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Contact Information
Email: provost@apu.eduPhone: (626) 812-3087
Fax: (626) 815-2044
Location
Ronald BuildingAzusa Pacific University faculty are scholars and mentors committed to helping students become purpose-driven servants who will make a positive impact on society. The university presents a number of awards to recognize particular faculty members who personify this commitment.
Excellent Teaching Awards
Each year, Azusa Pacific University presents an award to each of two worthy faculty members. They are The Chase A. Sawtell Inspirational Faculty Award and The Teaching Excellence Award, which were funded for two years initially by the Sears Roebuck Foundation. Each award is accompanied by a memento and an honorarium.
Criteria for the Chase A. Sawtell Inspirational Faculty Award
The recipient shall be a full-time APU faculty member on an extended contract; shall model significant faculty involvement in the lives of students; shall have a strong Christian influence in the lives of students, peers, alumni, and administrative staff; and shall be seen as living a life of service to others, affirming the worth of each person as a unique individual created by God. Past recipients are not eligible.
Criteria for the Teaching Excellence Award
The recipient shall be a full-time faculty member on an extended contract who has demonstrated excellence in the classroom and who has made a positive impact on student learning in her or his academic unit. Candidates may be selected on the basis of their IDEA scores, innovative teaching strategies, unique course design, and/or effective mentoring of other faculty at the university. Past recipients are not eligible.
Past Recipients
Year | Sawtell Award | Teaching Excellence Award |
---|---|---|
2024 |
Monica Ganas, PhD |
Lewis Bonney, PhD |
2023 |
Patricia Brown, PhD |
Wendi Dykes McGeHee, PhD, CF-LSP |
2022 |
Grace Moorefield, PhD, APRN-BC |
Sharon Titus, PhD |
2021 | Paul C. Boles, PhD Theology |
Richard A. Slimbach, PhD Global Studies, Sociology, and TESOL |
2020 | Phil Shackleton, DMA Music Studies |
Michael Lee, MM Music Technology |
2019 | Dennis Royse, PhD Music |
Tolulope Noah, EdD Liberal Studies |
2018 | Paul Flores, PhD Liberal Studies |
Stan Deal, MS, CPA Business and Management |
2017 | Ken Otto University Libraries |
Abbylin Sellers History and Political Science |
2016 | Dick Pritchard Practical Theology |
Jennifer Livingston Exercise and Sport Science |
2015 | Jon Milhon Biology and Chemistry |
Barbara Johnson Social Work |
2014 | Eileen Hulme Higher Education |
Diana Glyer English |
2013 | Tedd Szeto Mathematics and Physics |
Sharon Lehman Exercise and Sport Science |
2012 | Frank Berry Adult and Professional Studies |
Kathleen Bacer Educational Tech. and P.E. |
2011 | Harold Clousing Music |
Michael Lee Music |
2010 | Stephen Lambert Psychology |
Jennifer Walsh History and Political Science |
2009 | Mary Rawlings Social Work |
Elizabeth Leahy University Libraries |
2008 | Rodney Cathey Music |
Thomas Allbaugh English |
2007 | Roger Conover Business and Management |
Renee Pozza Nursing |
2006 | Bryan Lamkin History and Political Science |
William Yarchin Theology |
2005 | Guy Kinnear Art |
Phil Shackleton Music |
2004 | Kimberly Battle-Walters Social Work |
Jan Kodat Physical Therapy |
2003 | Michael Laymon Physical Therapy |
Gary Lemaster Business and Management |
2002 | Diana Glyer English |
Orlando Griego Business and Management |
2001 | Jim Hedges English |
Earl Grant Theology |
2000 | Glenn Austin Music |
Nancy Brashear Education |
1999 | Ilene Bezjian Business and Management |
Cahleen Shrier Biology |
1998 | Marv McKissick Music |
Don Isaak Mathematics and Physics |
1997 | Clarence Butz Business and Management |
Ann Croissant Education |
1996 | Stan Deal Business and Management |
Bill Catling Art |
1995 | June Hamlow Modern Languages |
Bruce Simmerok Education |
1994 | Carole Lambert English |
Beverly Stanford Education |
1993 | Bruce Baloian Religion |
John Hartley Religion |
1992 | Al Clifft Music |
David Weeks Political Science |
1991 | Wendel Scarbrough Engineering and Computer Science |
Carole Lambert English |
1990 | Terry Franson Physical Education |
Bruce Baloian Religion |
1989 | Matthew Touhey Social Work |
N/A |
1988 | Chase A. Sawtell English |
N/A |
Scholarly Achievement Awards
The awards for scholarly achievement are given to faculty members on extended contracts—one whose primary assignment is teaching graduate courses, and one whose primary assignment is teaching undergraduate course—who value and promote scholarship through discovery, integration, or application, and actively support dissemination of that work through presentations and publications. The individuals selected are ones who recognize the linkages between active scholarship, teaching, student learning, and service. Past recipients are not eligible.
Note: In 2007, the Graduate Scholarly Achievement Award was renamed the Rose Liegler Graduate Scholarly Achievement Award.
Past Recipients
Year | Graduate | Undergraduate |
---|---|---|
2024 |
Chris Patterson, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS |
Ethan Schrum, PhD |
2023 |
David Dunaetz, PhD |
Sándor Volkán-Kacsó, PhD |
2022 | No Award Given |
Rico Vitz, PhD |
2021 | Stacy M. Kula, PhD EdD in Educational Leadership Program |
Kevin Sheng-Lin Huang, PhD Biology and Chemistry |
2020 | Karen Winslow, PhD Biblical and Theological Studies |
Chong Ho Yu, PhD Research and Grants |
2019 | Michael Kozubek, MM Music |
Dennis Okholm, PhD Theology |
2018 | Claire Fedoruk, DMA Music |
Eugene Alcalay, DMA Music |
2017 | Karen Longman Higher Education |
Robert Mullins Biblical and Religious Studies |
2016 | Lyrica Taylor Modern Art History, Theory, and Criticism |
Megan Prosser Biology |
2015 | Young Kim Higher Education |
Skyla Herod Biology |
2014 | Mary Wong Global Studies, Sociology, and TESOL |
Rachel Castaneda Psychology |
2013 | Vivien Dee Nursing |
Thomas Parham Cinematic Arts |
2012 | Gary James Daichendt Art and Design |
B.J. Oropeza Biblical Studies |
2011 | Robert Welsh Psychology |
Monica Ganas Theater Arts |
2010 | Don Thorsen Theology |
Samuel Sambasivam Engineering and Computer Science |
2009 | Carol Lundberg College Counseling and Student Development |
Jim Willis Communication Studies |
2008 | Cheryl Canary Nursing |
Diana Glyer English |
2007 | Kimasi Browne Music |
Carole Lambert Academic Research and Grants |
2006 | Kevin Reimer Psychology |
Donald Isaak Math and Physics |
2005 | Laurie Schreiner Higher Education and Organizational Leadership |
Kenneth Waters Sr. Theology |
2004 | Marianne Hattar Nursing |
Emily Griesinger English |
2003 | Felicitas dela Cruz Nursing |
Joseph Bentz English |
2002 | Marsha Fowler Nursing and Theology |
Gerald Wilson Religion |
2001 | John Hartley Theology |
Bill McCarty Business |
2000 | Kathryn Scorgie Education |
Vicky Bowden Nursing |
Alice V. Watkins Imago Dei Ethos Award
The Alice V. Watkins Imago Dei Ethos Award, named for Alice V. Watkins, PhD, former dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Studies, recognizes full-time faculty who play a substantial role in advancing diversity efforts at APU. Candidates who are on extended contract may be selected on the basis of curriculum design or pedagogy that supports diverse learners, scholarly research in the area of diversity, mentoring historically underrepresented students, faculty, or staff, leadership of, or participation in, diversity organizations that positively impact APU, and encouraging greater awareness of opportunities for inclusion. Past recipients are not eligible.
Past Recipients
Year | Name |
---|---|
2024 |
Michelle Cox, PhD |
2023 |
Frances Wu, PhD |
2022 |
Angela Guta, PhD |
2021 | Courtney W. Davis, PhD Communication Studies |
2020 | Patricia Brown, PhD English |
2019 | Monica Ganas, PhD Theater Arts |
2018 | Jennifer Young, PhD Biology and Chemistry |
2017 | Alexander Jun Higher Education |
2016 | Chinaka DomNwachukwu Teacher Education |
2015 | Maria Pacino University Libraries |
2014 | Christine Guzman Social Work |
2013 | Annie Tsai Psychology |
2012 | Christopher Bassey Mathematics and Physics |
2011 | Pam Christian Higher Education |
2010 | Nilsa Thorsos Special Education |
2009 | Judy Hutchinson Center for Academic Service-Learning and Jon R. Wallace President |
2008 | Carol Lundberg Higher Education and Organizational Leadership |
2007 | Thomas Andrews University Libraries |
2006 | No Award Given |
2005 | Mark Eaton English |
2004 | Sue Clark American Language and Culture Institute |
2003 | David Miyahara Global Studies |
Community Engagement Faculty Award
This award recognizes a full-time faculty member who has clearly integrated APU’s Four Cornerstones—Christ, Scholarship, Community, and Service—in ways that significantly contribute to the reciprocal partnership between APU and the public and private sectors. Candidates may be selected on the basis of community-engaged scholarship, community-based research, academic service-learning, work that addresses issues of social justice, advancement of the university’s engagement in civic and democratic values, and efforts that inspire greater involvement in community engagement and service to others.
Note: This award, renamed in 2018, was previously known as the Service-Learning Cornerstone Award, and past recipients of either award are not eligible.
Past Recipients
Year | Name |
---|---|
2024 | No Award Given |
2023 | Jesse Negron, MFA Cinematic Arts |
2022 | Koy Parada, PhD(c) Nursing |
2021 | Lydia D. Garcia-Usry, RN, MSN, PHN Nursing |
2020 | Jessica Cannaday, PhD Teacher Education |
2019 | Alexander Koops, DMA Music |
2018 | Catherine Heinlein, EdD Nursing |
2017 | Skyla Herod Biology and Chemistry |
2016 | Marcela Rojas Modern Languages |
2015 | Jim Thompson Art and Design |
2014 | Roxanne Helm-Stevens Business and Management |
2013 | Mary Rawlings Social Work |
2012 | Robert “Bobby” Duke Biblical Studies |
2011 | Paul Flores Liberal Studies |
2010 | Stuart Strother Business |
2009 | No Award Given |
2008 | Melanie Weaver Art and Design |
2007 | Bryan Lamkin History |
2006 | Karen Sorenson Communication Studies |
2005 | Sean Rochelle Education |
University Leadership Award
The recipient shall be a full-time faculty member on an extended contract who has served the university by advancing the vision of her or his academic unit or the university at large. Candidates may be selected on the basis of their effective leadership, effective service on councils or committees, or other contributions to the APU community. Past recipients are not eligible.
Past Recipients
Year | Name |
---|---|
2024 | Courtney Davis, PhD Communication |
2023 | Catherine Hahs Brinkley, EdD Teacher Education |
2022 | Christina Bivona-Tellez, DNP, MPH, BSN, NEA-B Nursing |
2021 | David R. Morrison, EdD School Counseling and School Psychology |
2020 | Joshua Morris, PhD Biology and Chemistry |
2019 | Kenneth L. Waters Sr., PhD Theology |
2018 | Bryant Mathews, PhD Mathematics and Physics |
2017 | Ryan Hartwig Communication Studies |
2016 | Bryan Lamkin History |
2015 | Bradley “Peanut” McCoy Mathematics and Physics |