Topic: College of Sciences and Humanities
October 5, 2007
<b>Mellisa Holtzman</B>
In the past few years, Mellisa Holtzman has earned several prestigious distinctions. Now, she can add the Lawhead Award for Teaching in the University Core Curriculum to the list.
Holtzman said the award was particularly meaningful because several peers who previously received the same award nominated her this year.
"It's just very gratifying to have your colleagues recognize your teaching in such a meaningful way," said Holtzman, an associate professor of sociology.
The Lawhead Award is presented annually and is based on a teaching evaluation, contribution to the core curriculum, freshman activities, service to the community and support letters from faculty and students.
Students have a high regard for Holtzman, said Roger Wojtkiewicz, chair of the sociology department.
"Professor Holtzman has high expectations for performance from her students, and her students respond by providing excellent work," Wojtkiewicz said. "I think that the Lawhead Award is another indicator of the wonderful job that professor Holtzman does in the classroom."
In 2005, she received an Excellence in Teaching Award, which recognizes faculty members selected by students and colleagues for outstanding teaching. That same year, she also received the John Fisher Faculty Research Fellowship, which supports study in American business and politics; and a Lumina Foundation for Education Summer Fellowship. The competitive fellowship supports research about learning in core curriculum and major-related courses taken early in a student's college career.
While immersed in the Lumina fellowship, Holtzman said she used the time to change her introductory sociology course.
"I restructured my Sociology 100 course to help strengthen students' skills at applying sociological information, especially within the framework of multiple-choice exams," she said. "This made them better learners and better critical thinkers - skills that not only helped them in my class, but in many of their other college courses as well."
The Lawhead Award was established by Vic and Doris Lawhead. Vic Lawhead was Ball State's dean of undergraduate education, and he helped form the Honors College.
University Core Curriculum is planning a reception to honor Holtzman from 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 2 in the Pittenger Student Center, Music Lounge.