Six outstanding educators at Northwestern State University will be recognized for their contributions to the university and their individual colleges as recipients of this year’s Excellence in Teaching Awards. The outstanding teachers were selected by their peers and were recognized during this year’s Homecoming festivities Oct. 24-25.
The faculty and their colleges are Dr. Zafer Hatahet, College of Science and Technology; Dr. Marcus Jones, College of Business; Dr. Karen McFerrin, College of Education; Dr. Susan Pierce, College of Nursing; Dr. Wade Tyler, College of Liberal Arts, and Dr. Lisa Wolffe, Louisiana Scholars’ College.
Hatahet is head of the Department of Biological Sciences at NSU and instructs classes in biology, genetics, molecular biology and biological chemistry. He also advocates a strong undergraduate research program and has actively sought funding to modernize NSU’s laboratories with the latest equipment in scientific technology. Publications of his biomedical research have appeared in numerous scientific journals. Hatahet earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University in Detroit, and a Ph.D. in biochemistry at McGill University and completed post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Vermont. He began his career as a research associate and professor, and arrived at NSU in 2005. He serves on several advising committees within the Department of Biological Sciences and completed a comprehensive revision of the biology curriculum.
Jones is vice president for University Affairs and associate professor of business law and international business. In addition to overseeing the maintenance of all university facilities and grounds, he also teaches courses in law, microeconomics and personal finance. He serves on several committees within the College of Business and serves as treasurer and consultant for private businesses and philanthropic organizations. Before graduating from Northwestern in 1992 with a degree in business administration, Jones completed a year at the University of Plymouth, England, where he studied international business and economics. After earning a master’s degree in 1994, he returned to NSU as an instructor of economics and computer information systems. After earning a law degree in 1999, he began instructing courses in business law, international business and public school law. He was appointed vice president for University Affairs in 2007 and continues to author articles in international business and public administration for business journals.
McFerrin is an associate professor of education technology and serves on numerous faculty committees within the College of Education, including the Electronic Learning Advisory Council and the Teacher Education Council. She is editor of the Louisiana Middle School On-line Journal and Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference Annual and serves a peer reviewer for other professional journals. She had authored numerous publications and made presentations related to her research on information technology, on-line learning and technology method strategies. McFerrin holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and sociology, masters in student personnel services and counseling, secondary English and social studies teaching certification, secondary counseling certification, master’s +30 in education and a doctorate in education leadership and instruction with a concentration in education technology, all earned at Northwestern. She has developed and taught several on-line courses, written numerous grants for technology upgrades and completed technology-related projects for professional development benefiting NSU and other state agencies.
Pierce has been a professor in the College of Nursing since 1992. She is responsible for supervision of students in pre-clinical, fundamentals and pediatrics for the BSN program and is a member of the graduate program faculty. She also mentors clinical students in pediatrics using Shreveport-area hospitals as teaching and learning facilities. Pierce developed a healthcare informatics course for undergraduate students and also developed a graduate research seminar for advanced practice nurses. She has served on the university’s Strategic Planning and Budget Council and chaired the Information Technology Advisory Council, the Faculty Affairs Committee and several other committees within the university and the College of Nursing. Pierce has partnered with area schools to offer of community service health fairs on a variety of topics and has collaborated with faculty from other universities in securing grants for a Biomedical Informatics institute. Pierce is the author of numerous publications and is active in offering presentations to nursing organizations throughout the nation.
Tyler has been a professor of social work at NSU since 1997, teaching social work, directing field education, advising, engaging research and serving on several departmental and university committees. After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and masters with a concentration in social work, Tyler began his career in 1977 as a church-affiliated social worker and later as a residential childcare social worker before he began teaching in 1985, teaching social work, psychology, sociology and criminal justice while counseling students, planning curriculums and directing counseling programs. He earned his doctorate in 1999. Tyler is a member of several professional organizations and has authored several papers on social work values, gerontology and ethics. He has served NSU as a member of the University’s Strategic Planning and Budgeting Council and is currently chair of the Department of Social Work Tenure and Promotion Committee.
Wolffe is a professor of Romance languages, teaching courses in literature, history, culture, conversation, French and Spanish. After studying and teaching abroad for several years, she returned to the United States to earn a Ph.D. from the University of Texas and joined the faculty at the Louisiana Scholars’ College during the year of the College’s inception in 1987. Wolffe has published articles and made numerous presentations on a variety of topics related to French history and sociopolitical culture, including its relevance to Louisiana history. In addition, she often serves as a translator and proofreader for genealogists, writers, historians and civic groups. Her current project is a dual language edition of Pénicaut’s journal, an account by a French soldier of the founding of Louisiana. Wolffe has previously been recognized with the Outstanding Educator Award at NSU, as well as the Dan Seymour Award for outstanding service and dedication to the students of NSU.
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