Faculty, GTAs lauded for graduate education, mentoring efforts
The Office of Research and Graduate Studies honored 11 outstanding graduate teaching assistants with about $6,500 in awards at a reception April 23.
KU students and representatives of departments and academic programs from throughout the university nominated graduate students for the awards. A selection committee chose winners based on their commitment and dedication to teaching, departmental and student comments and level of responsibility.
Four faculty members were recognized by Dean Joseph Steinmetz with College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Mentor Awards: Geraldo de Sousa, English; William Johnson and John (Chris) Brown, geography; and Rick Ingram, psychology.
Keri Sanburn Behre, Wichita doctoral student in English, and Joshua Long, Bastrop, Texas, doctoral student in human geography, received $1,250 Carlin Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards. Diana Carlin, professor of communication studies, endowed the awards, which were first presented in 1993. Carlin, former dean of the graduate school and international programs, is completing an appointment as dean-in-residence and director of international outreach with the Council of Graduate Schools in Washington, D.C. She will return to KU in August.
Natabhona Marianne "Natty" Mabachi, Nairobi, Kenya, doctoral student in communication studies, and Papa Bousso, Saint-Louis, Senegal, doctoral student in French, received $750 Distinguished Service Awards.
Four students received $500 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Awards: Karen S. Probey Blakeman, Kansas City, Kan., master's student in journalism; Evelyn Adair Clark, Auburn, Ala., and Laramie, Wyo., doctoral student in sociology; Robert Fucci, Westbrook, Conn., and Haddon Township, N.J., master's student in history of art; and Jennifer Kittlaus, Evanston, Ill., doctoral student in philosophy.
For the first time this year, the Office of Research and Graduate Studies recognized three students with Exemplary Teaching Awards. They are Hong "Frank" Cai, Yantai, China, doctoral student in American studies; Shelly Cline, Belleville doctoral student in history; and Regine Kroh, Neubrandenburg, Germany, master's student in Germanic languages and literatures. Cai and Cline are GTAs for humanities and western civilization classes.



