UW Selects Top First-Year Course Instructors

Thirty-five University of Wyoming instructors who inspire students intellectually in first-year courses are this year’s Promoting Intellectual Engagement (PIE) Award recipients.

PIE Award recipients were nominated online by first- and second-year students, and then they were selected by a committee based on the number of nominations and students’ comments. The committee reviewed nearly 300 nominations this year.

"This year marks the 16th PIE Award celebration. This award is meant to recognize faculty and staff who are genuinely involved and passionate about their first-year courses,” April Heaney, UW LeaRN director, says. “Student nominators frequently praise their nominee’s ability to engage them in difficult course material, often making a lifelong impact on the student’s learning and understanding of the discipline. We are very proud of all of the nominees and thank them for their care, imagination, accessibility and hearts for first-year students.”

Several programs within the Office of Academic Affairs and the Division of Student Affairs sponsor the PIE Award: Advising, Career and Exploratory Studies; the Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning; the LeaRN Program; and Residence Life and Dining Services.

Each PIE Award recipient will receive a pie from Residence Life and Dining Services, and five-time recipients each will receive a personalized pie plate. All recipients will be recognized at a reception from 4-5 p.m. Thursday, May 1, in the Wyoming Union Yellowstone Ballroom. The reception is open to faculty, staff and students.

 Some of the student nominees included these comments:

-- “His passion for teaching and his ability to create engaging and supportive class activities motivated us to stay focused and put in our best effort.”

-- Anyone can see the love he has for his profession and discipline and he shares that love with all of his students.”

-- “She showed extreme dedication to the personal development of her students. Her course gave me affirmation that I am pursuing the correct major.”

PIE Award recipients, listed by their programs, departments, schools or colleges, are:

-- Navamoney Arulsamy, Department of Chemistry.

-- Maggie Bourque, Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources.

-- Nathan Clements, Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

-- Robert Erikson, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.

-- Tim Etzkorn, LeaRN Programs.

-- Todd Fantz, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.

-- Irina Fay, Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

-- Casey Frome, Department of Management and Marketing.

-- Dana Govaerts, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences.

-- Matt Gray, Department of Psychology.

-- Esther Hartsky, Division of Communication Disorders.

-- Harvey Hix, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies.

-- Lori Howe, Honors College.

-- Cheyenne Hume, Department of English.

-- Shelby Hutson, LeaRN Programs.

-- O’Neil Jones, Department of Music.

-- Erin Klauk, Science Institute.

-- Christina Knox, Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

-- Chip Kobulnicky, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.

-- Greg Livingston, Department of Management and Marketing.

-- Peyton Lunzer, LeaRN Programs.

-- Mark Lyford, Department of Botany.

-- Shelley Macy, Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering.

-- Jason McConnell, School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies.

-- Ahmad Nadalizadeh, Honors College.

-- Eric Nigh, School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies.

-- Kate Northrop, Department of English.

-- Ronald Pepino, Department of Physics and Astronomy.

-- Joseph Russo, School of Teacher Education.

-- Brian Sebade, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management.

-- Joseph Schroer, School of Teacher Education.

-- Shelby Shadwell, Department of Visual Arts.

-- Amanda Sikirica, Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology.

-- Nicolina Taylor, Department of Management and Marketing.

-- Cedar Wiseman, Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

A list of all recipients from previous years may be found at www.uwyo.edu/learn/fac_resources_recognition/pie/index.html.