Seven Eastern Michigan University professors will be honored
at the 16th Annual Teaching Excellence Awards Saturday,
Oct. 21. The awards ceremony, scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in
the McKenny Union Ballroom, honors faculty who have distinguished
themselves in the classroom. The EMU Alumni Association
and the Office for Alumni Relations host the event.
"The Teaching Excellence Awards are a wonderful way
for the Alumni Association to salute some of EMU's outstanding
teachers. One of EMU's strengths has always been its faculty,
and these awards highlight their dedication to providing
a quality education for our students," said Vicki
Reaume, executive director of alumni relations at EMU.
Faculty members — nominated by former students, current
students or other faculty from each of the five colleges
— will be honored.
The award recipients are:
 |
Aldridge |
Henry B. Aldridge, of Ann Arbor, professor,
communications and theatre arts. Aldridge began teaching
at EMU in 1972. He is being honored for his dedication
to students and his thorough, resourceful classroom performance.
Aldridge's fondness for film is contagious and motivating,
according to a former student.
"Dr. Aldridge's love of the arts is infectious," said
Steven Wild, a former student. "He has infected me and
I have since found that there is no cure."
He also is an organist who led fundraising efforts to
restore the historical Barton pipe organ in Ann Arbor's
Michigan Theater and later initiated efforts to save the
theater itself.
Aldridge is a member of many professional organizations,
including the Popular Culture Association, Society for
Cinema Studies and the Theater Historical Society. Aldridge
earned his master's degree in English and his bachelor's
degree in English from the University of North Carolina-Chapel
Hill, and his doctorate in speech communication from the
University of Michigan.
 |
Williams-Boyd |
Patricia Williams-Boyd, of Ypsilanti,
professor, teacher education. Williams-Boyd began teaching
at EMU in 1996. She is being honored for her passion for
teaching and for being an encouraging voice to students.
She not only sets high expectations for students, but she
gives them the support that they need to succeed in and
outside of the classroom.
Affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina
in New Orleans, Williams-Boyd spearheaded "Project Backpack" at
EMU, providing school supplies to children who were displaced
by the weather event.
"She channeled that emotion into action — combining her
compassion as an educator with the ability to instill that
same compassion in her students and the EMU community," said
EMU Provost Don Loppnow.
Williams-Boyd was awarded a Woman of Excellence Award
from EMU (2001) and the Middle Level Professor of the Year
for Southeast Michigan (2003). She received a doctorate
in curriculum and instruction from the University of Kansas;
another doctorate in ethnomusicology from Ball State University;
her master's degree from Ball State University; and a bachelor's
degree from Grace College.
 |
Fulkert |
Ronald F. Fulkert, of Ypsilanti, associate
professor, business and technology education. Fulkert began
teaching at EMU in 1997. He is being honored for his superb
understanding of technology and ability to share his knowledge
with, and challenge students.
"He motivates his students to participate in related business
professional organizations to keep abreast of important
changes in state and national requirements related to business
education," said one former student.
Fulkert received an EMU Institutional Values Award in
2004; assisted in the development of the business, management,
marketing and technology curriculum for Michigan high schools;
and started a collegiate chapter of Business Professionals
of America at EMU. He is a member of the National Business
Education Association and the Michigan Business Education
Association. Fulkert received his doctorate in curriculum
and instruction from the University of Toledo; his master's
degree in business education from Bowling Green State University;
and his bachelor's degree in business education from the
University of Toledo.
 |
Holmes |
Heather L.S. Holmes, of Ypsilanti, associate
professor, chemistry. Holmes began teaching at EMU in 1998.
She is being honored for her ability to stimulate students'
minds and to demonstrate a deep understanding of chemistry.
She is able to take difficult material and explain it in
a way that her students can understand, said one former
student.
"The material was not easy, but her form of teaching enabled
students to grasp the material and apply its concepts," former
student Brahmlin Sethi said of Holmes' General Chemistry
II course.
Holmes is a member of the American Chemical Society and
serves as adviser for the chemistry honors society. She
has won numerous awards, including EMU's Outstanding Young
Alumnus Award.
She received her doctorate in analytical chemistry from
the University of Michigan and her bachelor's degree in
chemistry from Eastern Michigan University.
 |
Moyer |
Steve W. Moyer, of Willis, professor,
health promotion and human performance. Moyer began teaching
at EMU in 1988. He is being honored for his genuine interest
in and commitment to the success of his students. He has
played a vital role in placing students. Many of those
students have gone on to apply Moyer's teaching methods
in their own classrooms.
Many students point to Moyer's ability to get on a personal
level with them and offer positive reinforcement.
"Dr. Moyer was a great influence on the teacher I am today," said
Mike Kostovski, a former student who is in his eighth
year as a physical education teacher for Dearborn Schools. "Dr.
Moyer's real-world experience, advice and leadership have
made me the teacher I am today, and most of the knowledge
I gained from him cannot be found in a textbook."
Moyer's service to EMU includes serving on the Personnel
Committee from 1996-2006, chairperson of the Student Teaching
Committee from 1995-present, and placement of physical
education student teachers from 1995-present.
Moyer received his doctorate in curriculum and instruction
from Temple University; his master's degree in physical
education from East Stroudsburg State College; and his
bachelor's degree in physical education from Lock Haven
State College.
 |
Ross |
Barbara Waddington Ross, of Ypsilanti,
associate professor, accounting and finance. Ross has been
teaching at EMU since 1997. She is being honored for her
devotion to students in the classroom, and for her innovation.
Ross and a colleague have developed an interactive Web-based
learning tool for introductory accounting information systems
courses. The tool, nicknamed "Stevie," reinforces the learning
of data modeling, a concept that is difficult for many
accounting majors. The tool is now used by almost 100 professors
at more than 50 universities around the world, has been
used by upwards of 10,000 students and has been recognized
by the American Accounting Association as an outstanding
contribution to accounting pedagogy.
She is a member of numerous accounting committees on campus
as well as the American Accounting Association. She received
her doctorate in accounting from Michigan State University
and her master's degree and bachelor's degree in accounting,
both from the University of Michigan.
 |
Zinggeler |
Margrit V. Zinggeler, of Ypsilanti,
associate professor, foreign language and bilingual studies.
Zinggeler has been teaching at EMU since 1999. She is being
honored for her involvement in all aspects of the German
program at EMU. She has accompanied many students
on outings to German cultural experiences throughout the
Midwest, as well as this past spring's educational excursion
through Germany.
One student said that Zinggeler "approaches her job in
a holistic way, serving the students in numerous and important
ways outside of the usual scope of school."
Zinggeler is a member of the Michigan World Language Association
and the German-American Chamber of Commerce. She is adviser
for EMU's German Club. She received her doctorate, a master's
degree in German and a bachelor's degree in Anglistic Studies,
all from the University of Minnesota.
Friends and guests are welcome to attend, but advance
tickets are required. Tickets are $18 per person or a table
of eight can be reserved for $120.
Tickets can be purchased through the Office for Alumni
Relations at (734) 487-0250 or e-mail alumni.relations@emich.edu .
