Alumni Association Honors 13 Teachers For the fourth year, the Alumni Association has supported the Excellence in Teaching Awards as a way to recognize publicly the critical importance of teaching at Hopkins. The Alumni Council designates $2,000 for each university division. Students, faculty and administrators select one or two faculty members-- including teaching assistants and junior faculty--to receive the award. The following are the 1995 Excellence in Teaching Award winners: Arts and Sciences ----------------- Gregory Ball, an associate professor of psychology, specializes in behavioral neuroendocrinology, which deals with how the brain responds to hormones and how the experience of different environmental stimuli leads to changes in hormonal secretion. Continuing Studies ------------------ Burney Hollis, who teaches in the master of liberal arts program, is recognized for his interdisciplinary methods of teaching, his eloquence and wit with which he discusses ideas and the high standards to which he holds students. John Haas brings a sense of humor to his real estate courses along with "a seemingly endless knowledge of subject matter," one student says. James McGowan, of the Division of Education, has helped the division develop partnerships with public school systems to merge theory and practice in a school setting. Engineering ----------- Kaliat T. Ramesh, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, says he tries to be friendly and approachable and has a policy of not defining office hours "because I believe that students should be able to see me at any time." Eric Brill, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science, also guides a number of independent study students, and urges all undergraduates to take advantage of that option. "Nothing prepares students more for the real world than independent study and undergraduate research," he says. "It's a vital part of the educational experience." Hygiene & Public Health ----------------------- Susan Baker, professor of health policy and management, is founding director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy and is known for her work in analyzing commuter plane crashes. James Tonascia, professor of biostatistics, designs, conducts and analyzes large multicenter clinical trials through the Center for Clinical Trials. Medicine ---------- Francis M. Giardiello, a specialist in gastroenterology, is an associate professor of medicine and an assistant professor of oncology. Nursing ---------- Researcher Marie Nolan teaches advanced specialty nursing, which prepares master's level nurses in issues such as stress and coping, family theory, grief, fatigue and other challenges they may face in advanced practice roles. Jean Trotter (see the following) was the School of Nursing's other award winner. ***************************************************************** When Jean Trotter sees one of her students "really connect" with a patient, she knows they are learning. "The students are my motivation," she says. "It's rewarding to see the light begin to come on when they have connected with someone and when they have realized the impact of the community on the client." "I am just amazed and thrilled to have received this award," says Trotter, an instructor in the School of Nursing. "There is so much talent and excellence on the faculty. I am honored to have been given the award." As a community health nurse, Trotter has students working with vulnerable populations at places such as Rutland Transitional Housing Program, A Family Place, the American Indian Center, the Baltimore City Health Department, public schools and individual homes. "I want students to learn that community nursing is about empowering the community," she says. "It's about helping people help themselves. "I've done hospital work, but always come back to community work." ***************************************************************** Peabody ----------- Ray Sprenkle is a man of many and broad interests, with an insatiable curiosity and keen perceptiveness. He is described time and again as imaginative, stimulating, knowledgeable and "dedicated to opening our minds and enlarging our musical spectrum ... a real treasure." SAIS ------------ Lyman Miller, associate professor at SAIS, directs the school's Chinese Studies program. He has written numerous books on Chinese history, politics and foreign policy.