The Eastern Michigan University Alumni Association held its annual teaching excellence awards Thursday.
The recipients of the award this year included William Douglas Baker of the Department of English
Language and Literature, Cory D. Emal of the Chemistry Department, James P. Sheerin of the
Physics and Astronomy Department, Phil Simmons of the Theatre Arts Department, Diana J. Wong of the College of Business, Management Department, and Nancy Caine Harbour of the College of Technology, Paralegal Studies Department.
“Education first is not just a tagline from the marketing department, it’s a reality of this university,” Patrick Barry, president of the EMU Alumni Association, said. Barry introduced the provost and vice president-elect of EMU, Kim Schatzel.
Schatzel introduced each recipient of the award, and in addition to providing her own remarks, read from the remarks of students who nominated each honoree.
“It comes from the students, to be fortunate enough to have your students think so much of you as an educator, as a teacher,” Schatzel said about the awards. “It’s just such a wonderful recognition because you can’t buy them – it really comes from the heart.”
Each recipient of the award spoke briefly.
“You travel down the path that life lays out for you, you observe the people you meet along the way and then you mercilessly steal all of their good ideas,” Cory Emal said during his speech.
Wong told an anecdote of an assignment she gave over spring break one year. She said she wanted to instill in her students a passion for reading. She picked a book specifically for each of her students to have them read over break.
Baker, who has been teaching at EMU for 13 years, said he was surprised when he was told he would receive the award.
“I try to be collaborative,” Baker said. “I try to help students achieve whatever they are trying to achieve.”
Nancy Caine Harbour spent 28 years as a trial lawyer before coming to EMU. She has been teaching for 10 years. Harbour said her goal is to get students prepared for the legal profession, and to get them jobs after they graduate.
Harbour offered advice to those considering teaching.
“Do it,” she said. “Students will take you to place you never thought you would go.”
Robin Baum,chair of the Alumni Chapters Committee, said the Alumni Association accepts nominations for the teaching excellence awards year-round. A committee is chosen from the board to go over the applications, and then the nominees the committee decides on is presented to the full board for consideration.
“I think they are all so deserving and what unites them all is their passion for teaching,” Baum said about this year’s recipients.
Details on the nomination process are available on the website for the EMU Alumni Association at emich.edu/alumni.
