Faculty honored at Père Marquette Dinner
Four Marquette faculty members were honored with the university’s highest teaching honor, Teaching Excellence Awards, and one faculty member received the first Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award at last night’s Père Marquette Dinner. The event was emceed by Dr. Philip Voglewede, associate professor of mechanical engineering and a 2015 Teaching Excellence Award winner.
Dr. Dennis Brylow, associate professor of mathematics, statistics and computer science, Klingler College of Arts and Sciences; Dr. Paul Gasser, associate professor of biomedical sciences, College of Health Sciences; and Cindy Gruber, instructor in accounting, College of Business Administration; received the John P. Raynor, S.J., Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence. Dr. Amy Van Hecke, associate professor of psychology, Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, received the Robert and Mary Gettel Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence.
Dr. Cheryl Maranto, chair of the Department of Management, received the university’s inaugural Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award, which was established to recognize a faculty member who demonstrates exemplary leadership and has shown an ability to put the ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion into practical action.
“I teach the students in my diversity class that the single best way to overcome prejudice is to work together toward a common goal,” Maranto said. “We can and must learn how to have civil discourse about issues where we have disagreements.”
Dr. Dennis Brylow’s love of teaching stems from a love of teachers — more than 400 elementary school teachers over the past two years have attended his workshops on teaching computer science in grades K-5.
“I took an improbable path,” Brylow said. “I was the first Brylow to go to a four-year college. I didn’t have a lot of things, but what I did have, and what I’ve come to recognize is the most important aspect, is access. It really is all about access.”
Dr. Paul Gasser’s curiosity was the driving force behind his early interest in science — especially biochemistry. It’s his goal to awaken that same curiosity and excitement in his students, both in the classroom and the research laboratory.
“As I stayed on the path to become a scientist, I really had good teachers,” Gasser said. “While I was learning how to learn and watching my good teachers, I realized they were all very excited about what they taught. These people all brought a real joy to their work. Watching them made me want to teach.”
Cindy Gruber is known in the College of Business Adminstration as a student-favorite faculty member, an honor she’s earned by building relationships based on mutual respect, trust and genuine concern for her students.
“I really believe I learn more from my students than they learn from me,” Gruber said. “Seeing their growth is something that is really rewarding to me. I’m really thankful to my students for letting me be a part of their journey.”
Dr. Amy Van Hecke received a Teaching Excellence Award, but she also says she learns just as much from the undergraduate and graduate students she teaches every day, something for which she is quite thankful.
“Our students are gifts that are given to us for a short amount of time,” Van Hecke said. “They are entrusted to us so that we can make them men and women in service for others.”
In his remarks to the faculty, President Lovell began by talking about what makes the university great.
“One thing I’ve learned about Marquette is that we really celebrate what is great about this university. Marquette’s reputation is based on the great work of our faculty. You are all making me very proud to be president. I couldn’t be happier with what you are doing and what you represent. We are here to transform peoples’ lives so that that they can go out and change the world.”
President Lovell closed by recognizing the Faculty Hearing Committee for their work and service to the university regarding the personnel matter of Associate Professor John McAdams.
“Our people are our most valuable assets,” Lovell said. “We could never accomplish the things we do without the commitment, the time and the beliefs in Marquette University. Thank you.”
