Kent State University at Stark recently announced the recipient and finalists of the 2010-11 Distinguished Teaching Award and the recipient of the Award of Distinction. These honors were presented during the Spring 2011 Commencement.

This year’s recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award, a tribute which is presented to full-time Kent State Stark professors, is Robert Hamilton, Ph.D., an assistant professor of biology. A resident of Canton and employed at the campus since 2005, he earned a bachelor’s in biology from Bowling Green State University, a master’s in biology from Howard University and a doctorate degree in ecology and evolution from Rutgers University. At Kent State Stark, Hamilton instructs the following courses: Human Biology, Life on Planet Earth, Lab Experience in Biology, General Ecology, Invertebrate Zoology, Entomology, Biogeography and he was part of the faculty team to teach the inaugural Introduction to Environmental Media course this past semester.

In addition,he is the faculty co-advisor to the Biology Club and will be advising a new student organization, called Think Outside Yourself. Included in the numerous nominations submitted for Hamilton, one student wrote, “The amount of knowledge that he demonstrates in all aspects of biological sciences is truly amazing. He frequently introduces material in humorous and/or memorable ways, and often uses in-class group exercises to give us practice with the material. Dr. Hamilton is a professor that pushes his students to levels they might not reach without his consistently fair, yet challenging expectations.” Hamilton says, “I am humbled. This campus’s main function is teaching students and all of our instructors are distinguished. So to be recognized by my students and peers as distinguished amongst such colleagues is truly humbling.”

The finalists for the Distinguished Teaching Award are Greg Blundell, lecturer of management and information systems, and Dr. Kim Finer, professor of biology. Blundell, a resident of North Canton, earned his bachelor of commerce degree from the University of South Africa and a master’s in business administration, granted by South Aftrica’s Business Studies Unit of Technikon Natal and the University of Cardiff in Britain. Finer, a resident of Wooster, holds a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Miami University in Ohio, and a doctorate in veterinary microbiology from Texas A&M University.

The recipient of the Award of Distinction, an honor presented to part-time Kent State Stark faculty, is Ashley Meinke, an adjunct professor of mathematics and a resident of Cuyahoga Falls. A member of the Kent State Stark faculty since 2009, Meinke teaches Core Math I-IV and Intuitive Calculus. She earned a bachelor’s in integrated mathematics from Kent State University. In August 2011, she will receive her master’s degree in pure mathematics, also from Kent State. In addition to teaching, Meinke assists with the annual Stark County High School Mathematics Competition for high school students, which is hosted by Kent State Stark, by writing exam questions and grading the students’ scores.

A student’s nomination for Meinke, stated, “Her classroom instruction is clear, she makes no assumptions and she never, EVER makes any of us feel inadequate when we are lost or confused. I recommend her to every student I come across that complains about math. I can’t explain it any other way than to say she has turned on the light for me and I am so incredibly grateful to have stumbled upon her!”

In response to her selection for the award, Meinke says, “I am very honored and excited to be the recipient of this year’s Award of Distinction. My love of teaching and mathematics has brought me to where I am today, and it is very rewarding to receive an award for simply doing something I love.”

A selected committee, consisting of representatives of the Kent State Stark faculty and students, chose the recipients and finalists for these awards, after thorough examination of the nominations submitted by members of the campus community. Each finalist met the needed criteria, which consisted of being an instructor at Kent State Stark; having comprehensive knowledge of his or her field; being effective in organizing and presenting classroom material; having the ability to stimulate thinking and develop the students’ understanding; demonstrating resourcefulness; being able to arouse student interest; and having concern for students.

For more information on the Distinguished Teaching Award and Award of Distinction recipients and finalists, contact Cynthia Williams at 330-244-3262 or cdwillia@kent.edu.