Colorado State University Honors Six Members of the College of Liberal Arts for Outstanding Teaching, Mentorship and Service

Colorado State University’s College of Liberal Arts presented six awards to outstanding members of the university community during the school’s annual Honors Dinner Feb. 27. Faculty awardees were honored for outstanding contributions in teaching, mentoring and community service, professional achievements and advancing the mission of the university.

"These award-winners represent the best from a group of outstanding nominees," said Bob Hoffert, dean of the College of Liberal Arts. "Choosing award-winners is a difficult task considering the expertise and dedication of all faculty in the college to provide the best education possible."

This year’s honorees include Mary Crow, English professor and Colorado’s poet Laureate, and Jeffrey Eighmy, anthropology professor, who each received the John N. Stern Distinguished Professor Award, the college’s highest honor. The Stern Award recognizes exemplary contributions of faculty in teaching, mentoring, advising, scholarship/creativity and professional and community service.

Also honored was Louann Reid, associate professor of English, who received the Award for Distinction in Advancement for exceptional contributions to strengthening the college by enhancing its image and creating valuable relationships among the school’s many constituencies.

Excellence in Teaching Awards were presented to: Debby Thompson, English, Non-Tenured Faculty Award; Ginger Guardiola, history, Temporary/Special Faculty Award; and Martin Adamian, political science, Graduate Teaching Assistant Award.

Mary Crow, English professor, recipient of the John N. Stern Distinguished Professor Award

Mary Crow joined the university in 1964 and was named poet laureate in 1996 on the basis of her artistic excellence, service in the advancement of poetry and interest in presenting poetry and literature to Colorado and the nation. She was reappointed poet laureate by Gov. Bill Owens in 2000. Over the course of her career, Crow has been nationally and internationally recognized by three Fulbright awards, a Colorado Book Award and writers’ residencies in the United States and in the Czech Republic, Israel and Spain.

Crow is author of 10 collections of poetry – five of her own and five translations – and has published hundreds of poems in anthologies and literary magazines. She is well known for her service to the profession, the university and the community.

A student noted that Crow is "constantly gracious, caring and genuinely interested in her students… Mary is as much a global citizen as she is a mentor and friend to CSU graduate students."

Jeff Eighmy, English professor, recipient of the John N. Stern Distinguished Professor Award

Jeff Eighmy’s research, scholarship and teaching span more than 30 years. During his tenure, Eighmy has done groundbreaking research with archaeomagnetism, a method of chronometric dating critical to providing time depth to the archeological record. Eighmy also served as chairman of the Department of Anthropology from 1993-2002 and has consistently provided leadership in advancing the quality of research, undergraduate instruction and institutional excellence.

His wide range of community service includes his effort to preserve the Kaplan-Hoover bison kill site in Windsor, Colo., which included placing the site in the national register of historic places.

A colleague noted that Eighmy "is a person of great integrity – both in his research and his dealings with others." Another faculty member said, "Undergraduates, graduate students and colleagues in other departments have all remarked on the outstanding ‘personality’ and scholarship of our department. In large measure, these realities are the legacy of Jeff Eighmy."

Louann Reid, associate professor of English, recipient of the Award for Distinction in Advancement

Louann Reid, who joined the university in 1993, is known for bringing credibility and visibility to the college in her work with public school teachers, community members, CLA faculty and educators throughout the nation.

Three of Reid’s latest advancement achievements include:

• development of the William McBride Endowment to help support teachers in the English education program;
• receipt of an NEH Focus Grant in the Humanities, which brought junior high school teachers and administrators from Fort Collins together with university preservice teachers and faculty; and
• selection as editor of English Journal, which will help connect the college with secondary school English teachers in public and private schools and with English educators in colleges and schools in Colorado and the nation.

A colleague, who called Reid a tireless worker and a consummate professional, noted, "Members of the campus community and many, many alumni firmly believe in creating and maintaining a strengthened relationship between the university and its public school colleagues. Thanks essentially to Louann, such a vision has come closer and closer to reality."

Debby Thompson, non-tenured faculty in English, recipient of a CLA Excellence in Teaching Award

Debby Thompson from the English Department, winner of the Non-Tenured Faculty Award, is known for challenging undergraduate and graduate students to learn beyond their expectations of themselves. In addition to teaching, she regularly presents guest lectures, is active in curriculum development and extends her teaching outside the classroom through other service.

A student noted, "Dr. Thompson is a rare professor who has both an impressive command of multiple subjects and the ability to really teach the material… She is without reservation one of the top professors in the department."

Ginger Guardiola, special faculty in history, recipient of a CLA Excellence in Teaching award

Ginger Guardiola, who received the Temporary/Special Faculty Award, is an alumna of the university who has been teaching in the Department of History since 1994. She is well loved by students and colleagues for her enthusiasm, warmth and personal attention.

"(She) teaches for the love of it," colleagues said in a nominating statement. "For her, teaching is a committed interactive engagement with students and she gives most generously, way beyond what is expected in her job requirements."

Martin Adamian, graduate teaching assistant, recipient of a CLA Excellence in Teaching award

Martin Adamian, winner of the Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, is recognized for his commitment to the goals and values of liberal arts education and for his innovative teaching in political science. In addition to being a GTA for a number of different professors, he has taught his own courses and has developed a Web course.

A faculty member noted, "He is truly committed to creating a vibrant and caring learning environment in which students are asked to creatively and critically engage in the most important issues in politics."