Biographies by Melinda Sadar; Photography by Kevin Fitzsimons and Jo McCulty

Recognizing excellence
at Ohio State

Nineteen Ohio State faculty have been honored this spring as recipients of the 2003 Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching, the Distinguished Scholar Award and the Faculty Award for Distinguished University Service. They received their awards at an April 21 ceremony.

The awards are supported by the offices of Academic Affairs and Research, The Ohio State University Alumni Association and The Ohio State University Foundation.

Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching

The Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching honors faculty members for superior teaching. Recipients are nominated by present and former students and colleagues and are chosen by a committee of alumni, students and faculty. They receive a cash award of $3,000, made possible by contributions from the Alumni Association, graduates, former students and friends of Ohio State. They also receive a $1,200 increase in their base salaries from the Office of Academic Affairs. The recipients will be inducted into the university's Academy of Teaching, which provides leadership for the improvement of teaching at Ohio State.

Lawrence Baum
Professor, Department of Political Science

Lawrence Baum is an old hand at receiving awards for his teaching prowess. He is already the recipient of the Colleges of Arts and Sciences' Outstanding Teaching Award, the Pi Sigma Alpha Award for Undergraduate Instruction in Political Science, the Council of Graduate Students Outstanding Service Award and the Department of Political Science Distinguished Teaching Award. Despite the rigorous demands he makes on his students, he consistently receives top accolades from them. He has authored two highly regarded undergraduate textbooks that are used nationwide, and his courses and counsel are sought by undergraduates, graduates and colleagues alike. He is an outstanding scholar of judicial politics, publishing in his discipline's top journals, and is one of the departmental leaders in citations to his work. As one of his students commented, "Professor Baum has certainly found his calling!" Baum earned his Ph.D. in political science at the University of Wisconsin and joined the Ohio State faculty in 1973.

Joseph E. Brandesky Jr.
Associate Professor, Department of Theatre
Ohio State Lima

According to one of his students, Joseph Brandesky "knows quite a bit about theatre and its workings." That becomes amply clear when considering his academic career. He single-handedly built Ohio State Lima's theatre department, serving as the single faculty member, scene designer, lighting expert, carpenter, painte
d fund-raiser when he joined the faculty in 1988. He is responsible for bringing in a large gift that is making the renovation of the campus theatre possible. He has brought internationally eminent theatre professionals to campus to interact with his students, and he has taken his students abroad to enhance their educational opportunities. He continues to offer new classes based on his commitment to presenting a broad, coherent program to his students. His respect for and patience with his students allows him to form an extraordinary rapport with them, making him a trusted adviser and mentor. His teaching extends from the classroom to the proscenium to the community, enriching faculty, students and citizens. Brandesky earned his doctorate from the University of Kansas.

Gwendolyn Cartledge
Professor, School of Physical Activity and Educational Services, College of Education

Preparing a new generation of children to participate fully in society is a critically important and often difficult task, and Gwendolyn Cartledge understands that. Not only has she done extensive -- and acclaimed -- research on children with learning and behavior disorders, but she has trained many new teachers who will follow in her stead. Her concern for the needy children of the inner city and her extensive work with them has enabled her to bring her real life experiences to the classroom. She has developed two curricula based on her research for students with severe emotional disturbances, and her expertise on such students is sought nationwide. She continues to work with faculty in other academic units, creating opportunities for other students to be exposed to her knowledge, instruction, mentoring and research expertise.

Cartledge earned her doctorate from Ohio State in special education.

James W. DeWille
Professor, Department of Veterinary Biosciences

First-year veterinary medicine students get a great introduction to their future careers from James DeWille. As team teaching leader of the core course on cell biology, he gives incoming students a solid base for their next four years of assimilating scientific knowledge and does so with clarity and patience. His passion for teaching and his concern for his students are obvious from such student superlatives as "awesome," "epitome of organization," "incredible" and -- even -- "he makes us laugh!" In addition to his teaching duties, he maintains an active and well-funded research program that attracts high-quality graduate students to the department. Since joining the faculty in 1988, he has consistently provided leadership in improving the professional and graduate curriculum in veterinary biosciences, and his skill as a research scientist allows him to apply emerging knowledge directly into his classroom teaching. To DeWille, who holds a Ph.D. in nutrition and immunology from Michigan State University, each student is worthy of his time and respect, and no question is too trivial.

Nicklaus F. Fogt
Assistant Professor, College of Optometry

Nicklaus Fogt has been called "a rare gem in the academic arena"; his teaching, "insightful and enlightening" and his sense of humor, "wacky." His students are pleased to be called by name and relish the individual attention they receive. His ability to bridge the gap between vision science and clinical application makes him a popular teacher and a valued colleague. Fogt earned his O.D. and his Ph.D. in physiological optics at Ohio State and joined the optometry faculty in 1996. In a short period of time, he has significantly influenced and improved the clinical teaching program, earned a national reputation for his work on eye movements and binocular vision and developed a track record for obtaining external funding.

Samir D. Mathur
Professor, Department of Physics

Samir Mathur's lectures are so organized and enlightening that they are well worth getting up for an 8:30 a.m. class, according to one of his electromagnetism students. "Mathur rules!" writes another. Mathur's ability to convey in an understandable way some of the most complicated and esoteric subjects in theoretical physics attracts not only high-level graduate students to his classes, but a number of faculty members also have sat in to brush up on their string theory. Mathur is able to make the more tedious basic fundamentals of physics interesting and challenging to his undergraduate students. His research on the physics of black holes has brought him international attention, and he is generous in sharing his knowledge. Since coming to Ohio State in 1999, he has developed two courses from scratch on general relativity and on string theory, one of the most exciting areas in physics today. Mathur holds a doctorate in physics from the University of Bombay, India, and was a faculty member at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology prior to his Ohio State appointment.

Patrick C. McKenry,
Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Science

Patrick McKenry has a knack for making and keeping friends among the graduate students he has advised. As they establish their own careers, many have stayed in touch with him, continuing to conduct research with him and relying on his advice. His success as a mentor reflects his strong commitment to classroom teaching and to instilling a love of learning in his students. According to one alumna, "He motivates undergraduates toward graduate study and graduate students toward meaningful dissertation topics." His scholarship is impeccable; he has authored or co-authored (often with Ohio State students) some 100 journal articles, five books and monographs, 16 book chapters, and has made more than 50 presentations at national and international meetings. He has served on the editorial boards of seven refereed journals. His students are the direct beneficiaries of his many contributions to the body of knowledge within his field. He is the epitome of the university professor, engaging in teaching, research and service. McKenry earned his Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee in child and family studies.

Teresa M. Mensing
Associate Professor, Department of Geological Sciences
Ohio State Marion

Teresa Mensing is very well-connected -- a real advantage for her students. She has fully embraced computer technology and has put it to work in her classroom, creating colorful and informative presentations to explain the science of geology. Her expertise with WebCT allows her students to check their grades, review lectures and ask questions online. She has created Web-based learning modules that are suited for students on a non-residential campus and has set up a wireless notebook lab for her students to use on campus. Although her use of modern computer technology has made her an extremely effective teacher, she retains her personal touch, making herself available not only in her electronic chat room, but in her office, where she encourages her students to come with questions or concerns. She also has been generous with her time in bringing her colleagues up to technological speed and is an expert in getting grants to pay for all this new equipment. Mensing holds a doctorate in geology from Ohio State.

Paul F. Robbins
Associate Professor, Department of Geography

Paul Robbins exemplifies the ideal of teacher-scholar. He brings his internationally recognized research in the human dimensions of environmental change into the classroom, and, in turn, the classroom informs his research. Within two years of arriving at Ohio State in 1998, he was one of 10 finalists for the Outstanding Teaching Award for the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, a student-driven competition. His students pay him the ultimate compliment of recommending his classes to their friends. Using his own highly effective pedagogical style, Robbins challenges his students to think, examine their preconceived notions and form their own ideas. His creativity extends to curriculum development, and he recently led a faculty team that designed and implemented a new undergraduate track in geography, entitled "People, Society and Environment," in less than a year. He also helped design a new centerpiece course for the track called "Geographical Perspectives in Environment and Society." Robbins holds a Ph.D. in geography from Clark University.

W. Maurice Shipley
Assistant Professor, Department of African American and African Studies, Department of English

W. Maurice Shipley's class in African-American literature came as a surprise to at least one student, who wanted simply to get a requirement out of the way. Shipley's passion for and knowledge of his material impressed not only this reluctant student, but also many others who have rated this professor "one of the best." His animated and engaging lectures inspire students to delve further into the subject matter, and his attention to the concerns of individual students is exemplary. Shipley holds a Ph.D. in 19th century American literature and African-American literature and composition from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and joined the Ohio State faculty in 1980. During his tenure here, he also has served in a number of administrative positions, including coordinator for the Committee on Academic Misconduct and acting assistant vice provost for the Office of Minority Affairs. He is currently teaching a number of introductory courses at the undergraduate level as well as graduate courses in special research topics. He is at work on a book-length study of black women writers and the art of the short story.

Distinguished Scholar Award

The Distinguished Scholar Award, established in 1978, recognizes exceptional scholarly accomplishments by senior professors who have compiled a substantial body of research, as well as the work of younger faculty members who have demonstrated great scholarly potential. The award is supported by the Office of Research with honoraria provided by The Ohio State University Foundation. Recipients are nominated by the departments and chosen by a committee of senior faculty, including several past recipients of the award. Distinguished Scholars receive a $3,000 honorarium and a research grant of $20,000 to be used over the next three years.

Eric A. Braaten
Professor, Department of Physics

Eric Braaten's research is remarkable for its wide range of subject matter and its intellectual depth. In a time of increasing specialization, he has made major theoretical contributions to the fields of high energy physics, nuclear physics and atomic physics. Although a member of the High Energy Theory Group in the Department of Physics, he has transcended the traditional divisions, working closely with the other theoretical and experimental research groups within the department. His scholarly output is prodigious, and two of his papers on particle theory have achieved the rank of "renowned" on the physics bibliographic database, with more than 600 citations each. His international reputation has been influential in attracting other eminent figures in his field to campus to interact with students and faculty. Since joining the faculty in 1995, he has advised six post-doctoral students. Braaten received two bachelor's degrees in mathematics and in physics and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Wisconsin.

Ruth Colker
Grace Fern Heck Faust Memorial Chair in Constitutional Law
Moritz College of Law

As only the second person in the College of Law's history to be recruited to join the faculty at the chair level, Ruth Colker brought an amazing wealth of knowledge to Ohio State when she came in 1996. With an international reputation in the intersecting fields of feminist theory, disability discrimination, empirical studies and constitutional law, she brings a passion for careful scholarship and creative thinking to her students and a passion for those left behind by society to her research, writings and presentations. Ranked among the most cited law professors in the country, she has written 45 articles, 10 book chapters, four academic press books, one casebook and one handbook during her career. She has received the University Distinguished Diversity Enhancement Award for her collaborative work with her students in improving Columbus campus accessibility and the University Distinguished Lecturer Award. Colker, who is an affiliated faculty member in the Department of Women's Studies and The John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy, received her J.D. degree from the Harvard University School of Law.

Gregory Jusdanis
Professor of Modern Greek,
Department of Greek and Latin

An academic career that began with an acclaimed study of the works of the 20th century Greek poet, Constantine Cavafy, has evolved into one that is incredibly broad, encompassing comparative literature, critical theory and cultural studies. Acknowledged as one of the leading scholars in the world in modern Greek literature, Gregory Jusdanis also has gained a solid reputation as a public intellectual through his perceptive and provocative contributions to the understanding of contemporary cultural issues. In his most recent book, The Necessary Nation, he explores the resurgence of nationalism and the place of ethnic identification in modern national and international politics, a topic particularly relevant in today's troubled world. He has played a leading role in transforming the field of modern Greek studies, enabling Ohio State's program to achieve international stature. A recipient of both Woodrow Wilson and Guggenheim fellowships, he has been a member of Ohio State's faculty since 1987. Jusdanis earned his doctorate in Greek literature at the School of Hellenic and Roman Studies at the University of Birmingham, U.K.

Ellen S. Mosley-Thompson
Professor, Department of Geography

We call it dust. Ellen Mosley-Thompson calls it evidence of anthropogenic climate impact. Along with her husband, Lonnie Thompson, Mosley-Thompson has devoted her academic career to measuring dust concentrations in polar ice cores, reconstructing a history of Earth's atmosphere over tens of millennia. She is a pioneer in promoting the participation of women in remote field research areas, serving as a team leader on numerous ice-core drilling and glaciological programs in Antarctica and Greenland. Her careful analysis and rigorous research back in the Ohio State lab have earned her a well-deserved reputation as one of the top ice-core paleoclimatologists in the world, and certainly the top woman in the field. Her energy and enthusiasm for her work make her a popular speaker to the general public and a creative teacher for students at all levels. She earned a master's and a doctorate in climatology from Ohio State and began her service to the university in 1973 as a graduate research associate in the Institute of Polar Studies. Mosley-Thompson joined the geography faculty in 1990.

Berl R. Oakley
Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics

The building blocks of life are the province of Berl Oakley, a founding member of Ohio State's Department of Molecular Genetics. His discovery of g-tubulin, a critical component in the construction of a cell, resulted in the creation of a new field of study, microtubule nucleation. This was even more remarkable because the work was done in a small research lab by a university professor with significant teaching and advising duties as well. The full significance of Oakley's discovery continues to evolve with implications for the greater understanding of human cancer. His scholarly contributions are recognized throughout the international scientific community, making him a popular invited speaker on cell biology and a valued mentor to numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Oakley, who joined the Ohio State microbiology faculty in 1982, holds a Ph.D. in botany and cell biology from the University of London, U.K.

Stewart D. Shapiro
O'Donnell Professor of Philosophy,
Department of Philosophy

Acknowledged as one of the leading philosophers of mathematics in the world today, Stewart Shapiro began his Ohio State career at the Newark campus in 1978 and joined the Columbus campus Department of Philosophy faculty in 2002. He published three books and numerous articles, which propelled him to the forefront in his field, all the while carrying a heavy teaching load and concurrently serving on both Newark and Columbus campus academic committees. In addition, he organized a departmental colloquium series in logic, philosophy of mathematics and philosophy of science that has attracted a number of eminent speakers to Ohio State. The brilliance of his teaching and mentoring skills is reflected in his graduate students, both at Ohio State and the University of St. Andrew in Scotland, where he has served as a fellow in logic and philosophy since 1996. Shapiro earned his doctorate in philosophy at the State University of New York, Buffalo.

Faculty Award for Distinguished University Service

The Faculty Award for Distinguished University Service honors faculty members who have impacted the quality of the university through non-administrative roles. Their contributions include development and implementation of university policies and programs, in addition to continuing effective teaching and active programs of research, scholarship or creative work. Recipients are nominated by members of the university community and selected by a committee of faculty, administrators and previous recipients. They receive both a cash award of $3,000 and an increase of $1,200 to their base salaries from the Office of Academic Affairs.

Don M. Dell
Associate Professor and Vice Chair,
Department of Psychology

For more than 30 years, Don Dell has served Ohio State at every possible level from curriculum revision to space allocation. He has dealt with the delicate (dealing with student complaints about teachers) and the difficult (ensuring the protection of human participants in research) with wisdom, fairness and skill. His ability to organize and to achieve consensus among sometimes unwieldy groups has made him one of the university's most sought-after committee members, and he continues to apply the same zeal to his significant teaching and advising duties. He currently serves as departmental liaison to the University Architect's Office and as a member of the psychology department's Graduate Program Committee, the University Senate Ad Hoc Committee on the Undergraduate Curriculum and the Council on Academic Affairs subcommittee on Curricular Quality Control. He received his doctorate in counseling and student personnel psychology from the University of Minnesota.

Zita M. Divis
Associate Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Mathematics

During two terms on the University Senate and on a number of university-level councils and committees, Zita Divis has become a mainstay of university governance over the past decade. With a clear vision of what Ohio State can and should be, she has applied her analytical skills as a mathematician to the issue at hand and led the way to the appropriate solution. She has served on, and often chaired, some of the most influential, important and time-consuming committees at the university, including the Council on Academic Affairs, the Faculty Compensation and Benefits Committee, the University Fiscal Committee and the Committee on Academic Freedom and Responsibility. Her recent appointment to the Evaluation of Central Administrators Committee, for which she was nominated by the faculty and selected by the university president, is further evidence of the esteem awarded her by both her colleagues and the university's administration. She received a Ph.D. in mathematics from Ruprecht-Karl University in Heidelberg.

Daniel M. Farrell
Professor, Department of Philosophy

Dan Farrell defines the ideal of a university citizen, serving at the departmental, college, university and community levels for the past 30 years. As an effective and respected department chair, he guided Ohio State's philosophy program into the top 25 graduate programs in the nation. While serving as chair, he simultaneously held leadership roles in several College of Humanities' committees, including the Promotion and Tenure Committee, and in the University Senate, where he chaired the Senate Ad Hoc Budget Restructuring Oversight Committee during particularly fiscally challenging times. His creative work on behalf of the university's talented undergraduate students has resulted in broadened research opportunities and expanded curriculum in the Honors and Scholars program. He brings an unhesitating and thoughtful generosity of time and talent to all that is asked of him, earning him the highest respect of his peers. He earned his doctorate in philosophy at The Rockefeller University.

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