University of Richmond presents 2007-08 Distinguished Educator Awards
August 29, 2007
Five University of Richmond faculty have been given the university's Distinguished Educator Award.
Interim provost Joseph Kent presented the honors during the university's annual faculty colloquy. The award recognizes select full-time professors for "a consistent record of outstanding contributions to excellence in education" and includes a $3,000 gift for professional development.
Recipients include:
Joanne B. Ciulla, professor of leadership studies and the Coston Family Chair in Leadership and Ethics. A founding faculty member of the Jepson School of Leadership Studies, Ciulla is an expert in leadership ethics, critical thinking and conflict resolution. The author of more than 70 publications, her most recent book, "The Working Life: The Promise and Betrayal of Modern Work," examines the philosophical, economical and linguistic elements of work culture.
Mirela S. Fetea, associate professor of physics. An expert in nuclear theory, Fetea has conducted research on the subject in South Africa, Romania, Germany, Sweden and the United States. She speaks and presents research at conferences around the world and previously won UR's 2004-05 Outstanding Mentor Award.
James Gibson, associate professor of law. Gibson specializes in intellectual property law with specific expertise in copyrights, trademarks, cyberlaw, Internet law, file-sharing and P2P networks. He is the first director of the university's Intellectual Property Institute, which offers a comprehensive curriculum in intellectual property and other programs.
Michelle L. Hamm, associate professor of chemistry. Hamm has mentored dozens of students during her career at Richmond and holds a National Science Foundation career award, one of the organization's most prestigious. Her current research focuses on DNA abnormalities that play a key role in major diseases, such as cancer.
Rick Mayes III, associate professor of political science. An expert in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), health care, mental health care and Medicare policy, Mayes has written and presented extensively on these subjects, as well as hospital cost shifting, pay-for-performance reimbursement and Medicare. He is author of "Universal Coverage: The Elusive Quest for National Health Insurance" and co-author of "Medicare Prospective Payment and the Shaping of U.S. Health Care" with Robert Berenson, M.D.