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(863) 667-7077
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Contact:
Tom Hagerty
(863)
667-7077
Professor Mathur claims first honor
Assistant Professor
Smita Mathur, Ph.D.
LAKELAND,
FL (July 11, 2007) - The University of South Florida Lakeland has announced that Assistant Professor Smita Mathur, Ph.D., has received the inaugural Outstanding Faculty Award for Spring 2007, presented by the USFL Student Government Association.
The SGA initiated the award and plans to honor an outstanding faculty member each semester. The award is the highest campus-level honor for USFL faculty members, according to USFL's chief academic officer, Judith Ponticell, Ph.D.
"This is certainly a wonderful statement about Prof. Mathur's achievements as an educator," she said, "but the fact that our students conceived and launched this award program themselves also speaks volumes about their engagement with our campus. I am very, very proud of Dr. Mathur and the SGA."
Explaining the origin of the award, Kristen Dailey, former SGA president, said, “The SGA decided to sponsor a student-nominated and student-selected award to recognize the faculty on our campus. Stacey Pouliot, the current SGA VP, and I put together a nomination form with criteria, and then we emailed the student body, faculty, and staff about the award. From there, USF Lakeland students really embraced the opportunity to nominate a professor who made an impact on them and USF Lakeland.”
Added Stacey Pouliot, “We have an Outstanding Staff Award, so we thought it was time to recognize our faculty for their dedication to our students. This award is one way for the students to honor their professors.
“The decision was a difficult one to make, as we had several outstanding professors nominated. The SGA congratulates Dr. Mathur for her hard work and devotion.”
Dr. Mathur is a member of the Department of Psychological and Social Foundations in the College of Education. She joined the USF Lakeland faculty in 2004.
“Winning the outstanding faculty award is an energizing and gratifying experience for me,” said Dr. Mathur. “It motivates me to remain student-centered and keep experimenting with strategies that put students in charge of their own learning.
“Since teaching does not happen in isolation, I must share this award with my students, USF Lakeland administration and my colleagues who were always there to brainstorm issues as they came up. So as I accept the award, I thank all of them for making this possible.”
When nominating Dr. Mathur for the award, students praised her dedication to education and her importance in their lives.
“Dr. Mathur is a master educator is every sense,” said student Alicia Cavazos-Torres. “She brings to the classroom her vast, up-to-date knowledge and research, valuable experience, and profound layers of wisdom that evolve only from scholars, psychologists and sociologists who possess a passion to teach.”
Student Tammie Smith said, “Dr. Mathur provides an atmosphere of honesty, integrity and communication in her classroom. Each student’s opinions and beliefs are listened to and discussed in a safe environment that gives way to learning. Through this she is able to educate and empower students as informed human beings.”
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