May 20, 1999
Contact: Chris Curran
513-556-1806
chris.curran@uc.edu

Cincinnati -- The University of Cincinnati honored the best teachers, researchers, and scholars on east and west campus during the annual All-University Faculty meeting.

Five awards were presented to full-time faculty members recognized for teaching excellence or outstanding scholarship and research. These are the highest awards given to UC faculty. The awards and recipients are:

MRS. A. B. "DOLLY" COHEN AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING:

Diane Harris-Cline, assistant professor of classics
Harris-Cline would prefer to take her ancient history students on a grand tour of Europe to see sights such as the Acropolis in Athens, the Rosetta Stone on display at the British Museum or to Mt. Vesuvius in Italy. Instead, she relies on modern technology to overcome the obstacles of time, distance and money. She uses the Web and an online syllabus rigged with all sorts of materials on Western civilization in antiquity, all disguised as fun. For example, she tempts her students into learning about one of history's worst natural disasters, the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D., by posting online two eyewitness letters written by Pliny the Younger. A UC faculty member since 1995, she regards teaching as her primary role as a professor, but the Princeton University and Stanford University alumna also is an expert on Greek art and archaeology, epigraphy and mythology.

Glenn Markle, professor of education
Markle describes teaching as "more than telling." Markle wanted to be a teacher even when he was very young. A high school physics and mathematics teacher was an early role model, and he began his career in 1965 teaching these subjects. In 1974, he came to UC, where he continued his studies of effective instruction. Markle believes effective teachers are able to convince students that what they teach is of value to them. Markle collaborated with fellow professor Ted Fowler to improve the quality of teaching at UC by offering a series of workshops for faculty in the College of Engineering from 1992 through 1994. They met with faculty four hours a week for 10 weeks, then provided individual coaching to help faculty implement the approaches taught. Since then, Markle has worked with faculty in several other departments and has continued to explore how to effectively reach his students. Markle is presently working to develop skills for distance education and using the computer as a teaching tool.


GEORGE B. BARBOUR AWARD FOR GOOD FACULTY-STUDENT RELATIONS:

Robert Hagerty, associate professor of art (Raymond Walters College)
To students at Raymond Walters College, Robert Hagerty is a "birthday" kind of professor; he always gives them a little extra effort. During his 13 years at the college, Hagerty has served as a program adviser, sponsored the student art club, worked with students at local art galleries and promoted their work to the local professional community. Hagerty said his motivation to give additional help to his students stems from his admiration for them and what they endure to get an education. "Many of them work, have families, are older and coming back to school," he said. "I find myself wondering if I'd have what it takes to do that." Former student Ken Carmichael returned to college at age 41 to start a new career, graduated and launched his own business as a graphic designer. Hagerty helped him through the early rough times when business was sparse. "Class was over," said Carmichael, "but his guidance and involvement in my life was not."


GEORGE RIEVESCHL JR. AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH:

Daniel Nebert, professor of environmental health
Nebert has been a leader in the field of environmental genetics and one of the first scientists to demonstrate that genetic differences in individuals can make some people more susceptible to cancer, more likely to have an adverse drug reaction, or at higher risk of birth defects. Nebert has always been a few years ahead of his colleagues in the field. For example, his work identifying a dioxin receptor in humans was rejected at first as "impossible." One of Nebert's latest research projects involves the use of genetically modified zebra fish to detect pollutants in the environment. The transparent fish turn green when exposed to toxins. The color change is caused by a "reporter" gene and is not harmful to the fish or the environment.


GEORGE RIEVESCHL JR. AWARD FOR SCHOLARLY OR CREATIVE WORKS:

Wolf Preiser, professor of architecture
Hospitals give architect Wolf Preiser fits. One facility he studied didn't have back entrances, so deceased patients were wheeled out through lounge areas. Another had a cobbled-together snack room so close to cancer patients that the food odors made the scent-sensitive patients sick. Preiser is a "building pathologist," diagnosing problems in an effort to create better buildings and better cities. Preiser is the world's preeminent authority in a specialty he helped to found in 1969: post- occupancy evaluations (POEs). With safety and service as his watchwords, Preiser assesses buildings ranging from schools and senior centers to prisons, farms and historic treasures. For instance, he was called in to troubleshoot plans for a Center for Multi-Handicapped Blind Children in Jerusalem. There, Preiser introduced the world's first Hebrew-speaking elevator and changes to the floors as they neared doors and elevators. Marble flooring changes to rubber material dotted with bumps at the approach to an entrance. Israel is just one of 27 countries which has used Preiser's expertise over the years.