The Board of Directors established the Extraordinary Faculty Award to be conferred annually on Walden University faculty members who demonstrate the university’s core values of quality, integrity and student-centered instruction. This year, Walden chose four faculty members for the recognition.

The Extraordinary Faculty Award recipients for 2008 are Dr. Aqueil Ahmad, College of Management and Technology; Dr. Christina M. Dawson, The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership; Dr. Carol S. Kleinman, College of Health Sciences; and Dr. Steven Little, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

College of Management and Technology: Dr. Aqueil Ahmad

Dr. Aqueil Ahmad, left, receives his award from Board of Directors member Dr. Estanislado Y. Paz.

Ahmad was nominated by fellow faculty member Dr. Raghu Korrapati:

“Dr. Ahmad is noted for his concern for students, as consistently demonstrated by very positive, even affectionate and laudatory comments from students who have worked with him. He has offered numerous intensive seminars, colloquia and special topic seminars at Walden residency sessions. None have ever been evaluated less than excellent on average.”

The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership: Dr. Christina M. Dawson

Dr. Christina M. Dawson, right, receives her award from Board of Directors member Dr. Barbara Solomon.

Dawson was nominated by Dr. Joe Ann Hinrichs, associate dean for doctoral programs, for demonstrating a high caliber of service to students and the university:

“Tina provides the guidance and support that is necessary to guide students through this tough process of becoming a scholar-practitioner. This year she has carried over 20 doctoral students and taught over six courses while serving as a coordinator of the administrative specialization. Students have testified to her dedication and support.”

College of Health Sciences: Dr. Carol S. Kleinman

Dr. Carol S. Kleinman, right, receives her award from Dr. Paz.

Kleinman was nominated by a group of students, who had the following to say about her:

“We learned so much from Dr. Kleinman and really felt a connection when watching her on the DVD. … She explained complex financial concepts and formulas very well. Dr. Kleinman is a talented, intelligent and very supportive instructor. She provided excellent and timely feedback as well as guidance throughout both courses. We feel very fortunate to have had Dr. Kleinman as our instructor. She is an altruistic teacher and a true role model to all of her students and to other instructors.”

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences: Dr. Steven Little      

Dr. Steven Little, right, receives his award from Dr. Paz.

Little was nominated by program director Dr. Miguel Ybarra and associate dean Dr. Nina Nabors, who said the following:

“Dr. Little has excelled in working with students through a mentoring role … conducting research working with survivors of Hurricane Katrina in the New Orleans area. Dr. Little has met with students since then to discuss this research and the research ideas presented by students that have been born from this experience. [He] remained active in healing the community injuries sustained by the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. His efforts have focused primarily on the children, a population often without a strong voice of protection, advocacy and compassion.

Read more about the Extraordinary Faculty Award and its past recipients.

August Ponder front page

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