2008 Woodie Awards
Faculty members earn top honors
By: Joe Borlik
Issue date: 3/21/08 Section: News
It's not every day that someone is given a President's Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity.
But it happened Wednesday to CMU faculty members Brigitte Bechtold and Valeri Petkov in the Charles V. Park Library.
The President's Award is the most prestigious award a CMU faculty member can receive. Just to be nominated, the faculty member must be a CMU employee for a minimum of seven years and have many notable achievements regarding educational research.
Having written eight books and 92 articles for professional magazines, Bechtold, a professor in the sociology, anthropology, and social work department, has done her share of research.
"I'm working on two more books right now," Bechtold said.
Her research often includes topics such as infanticide and social justice. Some of her books include "Killing Infants" and "Economy and Society."
Petkov, associate professor of physics, also was honored Wednesday.
"This award recognizes that the college supports the research of the educational process," Petkov said.
Petkov said he always has loved education.
"I wanted to become a teacher because I loved science," he said. "I was one of the students who went beyond taking classes. I wanted to gain knowledge and spread it to students."
One of the reasons Petkov loves the education process is because it never gets old.
"There is nothing permanent about education," he said. "A professor must not only teach, but convey knowledge by always making new facts and innovations."
Before coming to CMU, Petkov was a professor in Europe, Japan, Germany and at Michigan State University.
The Provost's Award is a smaller version of the President's Award; it's similar but recognizes the achievements of faculty members just beginning their careers.
Solomon Addis Getahun, an assistant professor of history, was presented this year's award.
He has written two books and is working on a third.
Award nominees are determined by student opinion surveys, alumni letters, students and colleagues.
Music Professor John Nichol and Associate Music Professor Daniel L. Steele were honored with a smaller but also prestigious award. They were both awarded Excellence in Teaching Awards, which is only given to five faculty members.
This is the second time Nichol has won this award, but the first time for Steele.
"It's truly an honor, I'm honored to be an awardee," Steele said. "To me, this award is an affirmation that students and colleagues like me."
Nicol said he gets by with a little help with his friends.
"If we're successful, it's because we have so much help," Nichol said. "We get a lot of help from CMU, we have a great dean."
news@cm-life.com
But it happened Wednesday to CMU faculty members Brigitte Bechtold and Valeri Petkov in the Charles V. Park Library.
The President's Award is the most prestigious award a CMU faculty member can receive. Just to be nominated, the faculty member must be a CMU employee for a minimum of seven years and have many notable achievements regarding educational research.
Having written eight books and 92 articles for professional magazines, Bechtold, a professor in the sociology, anthropology, and social work department, has done her share of research.
"I'm working on two more books right now," Bechtold said.
Her research often includes topics such as infanticide and social justice. Some of her books include "Killing Infants" and "Economy and Society."
Petkov, associate professor of physics, also was honored Wednesday.
"This award recognizes that the college supports the research of the educational process," Petkov said.
Petkov said he always has loved education.
"I wanted to become a teacher because I loved science," he said. "I was one of the students who went beyond taking classes. I wanted to gain knowledge and spread it to students."
One of the reasons Petkov loves the education process is because it never gets old.
"There is nothing permanent about education," he said. "A professor must not only teach, but convey knowledge by always making new facts and innovations."
Before coming to CMU, Petkov was a professor in Europe, Japan, Germany and at Michigan State University.
The Provost's Award is a smaller version of the President's Award; it's similar but recognizes the achievements of faculty members just beginning their careers.
Solomon Addis Getahun, an assistant professor of history, was presented this year's award.
He has written two books and is working on a third.
Award nominees are determined by student opinion surveys, alumni letters, students and colleagues.
Music Professor John Nichol and Associate Music Professor Daniel L. Steele were honored with a smaller but also prestigious award. They were both awarded Excellence in Teaching Awards, which is only given to five faculty members.
This is the second time Nichol has won this award, but the first time for Steele.
"It's truly an honor, I'm honored to be an awardee," Steele said. "To me, this award is an affirmation that students and colleagues like me."
Nicol said he gets by with a little help with his friends.
"If we're successful, it's because we have so much help," Nichol said. "We get a lot of help from CMU, we have a great dean."
news@cm-life.com
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