Nineteen Ohio State faculty have been honored this spring as recipients of the 2001 Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching, the Distinguished Scholar Award and the Faculty Award for Distinguished University Service. They received their awards at a May 9 reception and banquet. The awards are supported by the offices of Academic Affairs and Research, The Ohio State University Alumni Association and private donations to the University.

The Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching honors faculty members who have done a superior job of teaching. Recipients are nominated by students and colleagues, and are chosen by a committee of alumni, students and faculty. They receive a cash award of $3,000 and a $1,200 increase in their base salaries. Teaching award recipients also are inducted into the Academy of Teaching, which provides leadership on improving teaching at Ohio State.

Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching

Javad Abdalkhani Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics -- Lima Campus

Abdalkhani has taught mathematics at Ohio State's Lima campus since 1988, and also serves as a resource for local educators, offering workshops for teachers and principals. He is highly respected by his students, many of whom credit him with inspiring them to careers in teaching and mathematics."Dr. Abdalkhani changed my career direction," one student wrote."I signed up for additional math classes in order to get a concentration area so I can teach math. Dr. Abdalkhani is a model of what a math teacher can be. He makes math fun, shows us how to teach it, and connects with his students in a special way." In addition to his teaching, Abdalkhani is active in curriculum design and the use of creative teaching methods. He implemented cooperative learning at the Lima campus by emphasizing reading and writing in elementary mathematics classes, incorporating textbook reading skills and journal writing to connect mathematics theory with everyday practice. His doctorate is from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Neeli M. Bendapudi Assistant Professor, Department of Marketing

Students speak of Bendapudi's strong interest in their welfare and her knowledge of the subject matter. Evaluations by students who have taken her classes are full of superlatives."I have had several good professors, however, I can definitely call Professor Bendapudi the best professor I have had," one student wrote. In addition to her classroom teaching, she acts as an informal adviser and mentor to many undergraduates and has participated on her department's Ph.D. coordinating committee. She has won numerous awards within the Fisher College of Business for her teaching, including the MBA program's Outstanding Elective Professor Award from the class of 2000. Business Week magazine mentioned a course she developed and taught as one of the Fisher College's most recommended courses. A faculty member at Ohio State since 1996, Bendapudi holds a doctoral degree from the University of Kansas and previously taught at Texas A&M University.

Julia F. Guy Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy and Medical Education

An innovative teacher, Guy inspires her students"to work harder than ever before" and"to learn more than thought possible," wrote one nominator. Guy designed Anatomy 199, an introductory anatomy course, when she became an Ohio State faculty member in 1986. Lauded by her colleagues as an"exemplary teacher," she has authored Learning Human Anatomy: A Laboratory Text and Workbook and designed a multimedia tool for her class to help students better understand anatomy. She is currently developing a Web-based version of Anatomy 199 to respond to the needs of nontraditional students who cannot attend the course on campus. Guy"is not only an exceptional teacher," wrote another nominator, but she is"also one who is undying in her efforts to assist all those who knock on her ever-open office door." She received her doctoral degree in anatomy from Ohio State, previously worked as an anatomy instructor at the University, and also taught junior high and elementary school in Flint, Mich.

David J. Hart Professor, Department of Chemistry

Though Hart received the Distinguished Scholar Award 15 years ago, he considers himself a teacher foremost. He overhauled the Honors Organic Laboratory to make it one of the most demanding, yet most popular, courses, and designed an innovative program of small-scale experiments so the department could afford to offer undergraduates sophisticated new laboratory equipment. Hart earned his Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley, and joined Ohio State's faculty in 1978. He has graduated 21 master's and 36 Ph.D. students, while shepherding numerous undergraduates in his research group."Many students work in a graduate group as part of their undergraduate experience," wrote one nominator,"but I doubt most have the type of experience I had. Professor Hart and his group took the time to make me feel important." A Ph.D. student wrote,"Dr. Hart had confidence in me when I didn't have confidence in myself. [He] cares about my success."

Timothy E. Heron Professor, School of Physical Activity and Educational Services

Alumni and current students supporting Heron's nomination routinely described him as fair, knowledgeable, organized, compassionate and an expert teacher."His knowledge of the subject matter he teaches is phenomenal, and he supplements his lectures with citations from extremely current research in the field," one student wrote. A member of the faculty for 25 years, Heron is renowned for his research in special education and is considered a major contributor to the program's high national ranking. Colleagues say he serves as a role model to students in three ways: by showing how teaching and research are linked, providing them with applied examples, and offering a variety of instructional arrangements. Students take notice of his commitment:"He gets so excited about his students and what they're learning that he practically beams," a student wrote. Heron earned his Ed.D. from Temple University. His publication The Educational Consultant is adopted widely for classes in special education across the nation.

Randy D. Hodson Professor, Department of Sociology

Students who have taken classes with Hodson say that he is interested in teaching, well-organized, a clear communicator and well-prepared. In the past three years, he has taught a large introductory course in sociology that involves supervising seven to eight teaching assistants, handling testing and grading, and assisting students in learning. He has also taught the required graduate methods course for MA and Ph.D. students, as well as graduate and undergraduate courses in his area of expertise, the sociology of work. Even students in his large lecture classes testify to Hodson's skill and enthusiasm as a teacher. One student wrote that the size of her Sociology 101 class"did not stop Professor Hodson from making the class feel exceptionally smaller." A faculty member at Ohio State since 1996, Hodson holds a doctoral degree from the University of Wisconsin.

Keith Merrill Irvin Professor, Department of Animal Sciences

This is not the first time Irvin has been honored for his outstanding work with students. He received the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Outstanding Student Advisor Award in 2000 as well as the Outstanding Academic Advisor Award in 1997. He goes beyond the normal call of professorial duty by participating in the activities of many student-run organizations. And, as one nominator put it, Irvin's"dedication to his profession" also shows through in the classroom. He"approaches teaching with the student in mind," and is currently working on developing several classes within the department. He has also designed a new model for teaching that incorporates student-centered and student-guided activities. A faculty member since 1975, Irvin received his master's and doctoral degrees in animal science from Ohio State.

Ralf G. Rahwan Professor, College of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacology

Honored an unprecedented six times with the college's prestigious Miriam R. Balshone Memorial Award for Distinguished Teaching, Rahwan impresses colleagues and students alike. A passionate teacher and an able researcher, Rahwan is praised as a"true educator" who makes students feel"challenged rather than intimidated by the material." When he arrived at Ohio State in 1972, Rahwan developed an elective toxicology course to help students better understand certain facets of the subject. In the time since, he's written no fewer than 13 study manuals. And the effects of his teaching efforts are long-lasting. A former student wrote that"alumni É are able to apply the knowledge from Dr. Rahwan's lectures to their professional practices, even years after graduating." Rahwan received his doctoral degree in pharmacology-toxicology from Purdue University and previously worked at both Dow Chemical and Hoechst Pharmaceutical companies.

Barbara L. Seidl Assistant Professor, School of Teaching and Learning

Recognized with the 2000 School of Teaching and Learning Teaching Award, Seidl is lauded for her student-centered approach to teaching."Students know they can count on her to hold them to high academic standards while validating their experiences on a personal level," one student wrote. Actively engaged in student advising, Seidl teaches courses primarily focused on issues of equity and diversity, the foundations of elementary education and teacher education. Her emphasis on multiculturalism is praised by many, and her ability to absorb details of her students'work receives high marks."She knew our work better than we ourselves did!" one student remarked. Another asserted,"She is energetic, understanding and brilliant." Seidl is active in programs offered by her college's Office of Diversity and Outreach. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and joined Ohio State in 1996.

Ian M. Sheldon Professor, Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics

Described by one nominator as a"must-take teacher," Sheldon teaches courses in industrial organization, international trade and policy analysis."Students note Professor Sheldon's meticulous preparation, accessibility both in and out of the class, use of case studies based on current economic problems, ability to simplify economic concepts and focus on the key relationships, and his effective use of humor," another wrote. Sheldon advises both undergraduate and graduate students and is deeply involved in outreach teaching to agribusiness leaders around the state. Sheldon was one of the first professors in his department to place all his course materials on the Web, and recently chaired a department committee that significantly revised the doctoral program. A member of Ohio State's faculty since 1989, Sheldon earned his doctorate from the University of Salford, UK, and previously taught at the University of Exeter, UK.

Biographies by David Bhaerman, Emily Caldwell, Pam Frost Gorder, Jeff Grabmeier, Earle Holland, Amy Murray and Holly Wagner; Photography by Kevin Fitzsimons and Jo McCulty

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