FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2003
CONTACT: Carol Anderson
canderson@emich.edu
734.487.4400

EMU Honors Four Professors with Distinguished Faculty Awards

YPSILANTI – Four Eastern Michigan University professors were recently honored for their teaching with Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Faculty Awards.

The honors, the highest EMU bestows upon its faculty, were presented at the 26th annual faculty awards ceremony March 26 at EMU’s McKenny Union Ballroom.

“The recipients are the very best among an outstanding faculty,” said Paul Schollaert, EMU provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We celebrate the successes of all of our faculty when we recognize these remarkable individuals. Those receiving this honor have exceptional accomplishments.”

Those honored were:

• Joseph Csicsila, of Canton, assistant professor of English language and literature, received the Teaching I Award, for his passion and dedication to teaching. The award is given to faculty with less than five years at EMU.

Last summer, Csicsila taught a five-day course, “Mark Twain for Teachers,” at Twain’s summerhouse at Elmira College, Elmira, N.Y. Eighteen students experienced intensive study about Twain that included brainstorming sessions and front porch discussions about the “novel of the day” and teaching techniques. “It was the experience of a lifetime,” said Csicsila.

• Jamin Eisenbach, of Ypsilanti, professor of biology, received the Teaching II Award for teaching both major and non-major biology classes. This award is given to faculty with five or more years at EMU.

Eisenbach has earned student praise for his energetic and enthusiastic teaching style and his no-nonsense approach. One highlight of his teaching experience, said Eisenbach, is seeing students get turned on by biology and discover the desire to learn. Some even become biology majors. “I love teaching the introductory courses because of the challenge,” said Eisenbach. “Each class is an ever-changing mixture of capabilities, work ethic and interest.”

• Catherine Bach, of Ann Arbor, professor of biology, received the Scholarly/Creative Activity Award for her 42 publications and development of a research program that includes the study of ecological interactions between plants and animals. This award is granted for scholarly and creative activity in publications, performances, and other professional recognitions.

Bach is currently in New Zealand researching the effects of forest fragmentation on the biology of mistletoe plants. “I have always studied basic ecological questions, but often with the hopes of contributing to the solving of environmental problems.” she said.

• Mildred Lintner, of South Lyon, professor of computer science, received the Service to the University Award for her key role in bringing to EMU the Banner System, a package of software tools that replaces all major administrative or core software systems on campus. Lintner was recently named to the university technology advisory committee that will look into implementing strategies for using and expanding technology on campus.

The award is granted for contributions to department projects and committee tasks, college and university committee activities, involvement in student activities and professionally related community activities.

During her first 20 years of teaching, Lintner specialized in all aspects of theatre. “It doesn’t really matter what field you are in. Problem-solving is problem-solving,” she said. “There are different tools and different methodology, but it is all problem-solving.”

Eastern Michigan University (www.emich.edu) is a four-year, comprehensive metropolitan university committed to the needs of its students and communities through teaching, research and service. EMU offers more than 200 programs in the arts, sciences and professions through traditional classroom settings, on-site continuing education classes and on-line courses. EMU is the fifth largest university in Michigan, serving 24,500 students from around the world, and offers undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate programs.

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