{"id":982,"date":"2014-07-18T13:34:11","date_gmt":"2014-07-18T18:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.augsburg.edu\/ctl\/?page_id=982"},"modified":"2025-08-09T13:51:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T18:51:06","slug":"2014-distinguished-contributors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.augsburg.edu\/ctl\/awards\/past-award-winners\/2014-distinguished-contributors\/","title":{"rendered":"2014 Distinguished Contributors"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"140404<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a02014 Distinguished Contributors<\/strong>
\nShanna Watters, Phil Adamo, and Stacy Freiheit<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stacy Freiheit, Associate Professor of Psychology,Excellence in Teaching<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stacy Freiheit is recognized for her ability to teach across a range of course levels and in both face-to-face and hybrid course formats.\u00a0 Her ability to make the content of her courses in psychology approachable, relevant, and meaningful is notable. Student Amineh Safi, \u201914, notes that \u201cas a professor, she ensures that she engages students in the material that she is teaching and makes it personal\u2026.She does not just teach you something, she puts you in situations where you act it out. She is very creative and open, \u201cand that she \u201cimplements a multitude of methods to help students learn, from videos, to interviews, to live demonstrations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nominators and colleagues Bridget Robinson-Riegler and David Matz state, \u201cDr Freiheit\u2019s classroom style reflects her diligent preparations. She begins every class with an overview of the goals to be achieved that day and reminds students of how new content fits with previously covered material. She puts students at ease with her relaxed and approachable demeanor and establishes an air of mutual respect. One notable aspect of Dr. Freiheit\u2019s technique in the classroom is the care she takes to ensure that all students understand the material. She is known for showing great patience with students in the classroom and when meeting with students outside of class. She provides multiple channels through which students can engage course material, and she brings a strong sense of confidence and organization to each course she teaches.\u201d<\/p>\n

Phil Adamo, Associate Professor of History and Director of the Medieval Studies Program, Excellence in Scholarship<\/strong><\/p>\n

Phil Adamo, is an internationally recognized scholar of Medieval Studies, recently completing a second edition of the textbook,\u00a0The Medieval Church: A Brief History; and with another book forthcoming,\u00a0New Monks in Old Habits: The Formation of the Caulite Monastic Order, 1193-1267. History Chair Michael Lansing notes that the latter \u201crepresents original research and analysis and will be a major contribution to the field of monastic history\u2026the production of such books is the most highly prized form of scholarship. They take anywhere between 6 to 10 years to produce and represent an enormous amount of work.\u201d In addition to this, Adamo has produced essays and articles, and delivered over 20 scholarship presentations outside of Augsburg in both medieval history and the scholarship of history teaching and learning.<\/p>\n

Alongside this impressive body of scholarly work, Adamo has \u201can ability to fold students into his scholarship, providing them with rich and meaningful experiences that develop them as young scholars,\u201d notes Dixie Shafer, URGO Director. \u201cNot surprisingly, knowing his rapport with students, Dr. Adamo provided some Augsburg students with the opportunity to contribute scholarship to the Medieval Church book. Currently, he is working on a book for Augsburg\u2019s upcoming Sesquicentennial and once again, has provided opportunities for Augsburg undergraduates to be significant contributors. Further, Dr. Adamo has exposed students to scholarship by bringing, on average, ten students each year to the International Congress on Medieval Studies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shana Watters, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Excellence in Advising and Mentoring<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shana Watters has been beyond active with students on campus: serving on the Student Standing Committee, volunteering for SOAR, Scholarship Weekend, and Sneak Peek; serving as AugSem Director, and working as faculty mentor in the McNair Scholar program. \u00a0Computer Science chair Noel Petit notes that Watters \u201chas done an amazing job as advisor, mentor, teacher, and scientist.\u00a0 This includes all of the above, along with being the advisor to the rebirth of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) chapter on this campus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Academic Advisor Carrie Shidla writes that Watters \u201creally shines. She is interesting; she is supportive; she has high expectations; she is fun. She takes her responsibility to her students very seriously, but never takes herself too seriously. As a result, she has been a remarkable mentor to many students, even those who have not chosen to pursue computer science.\u201d Students confirm Watters\u2019 enthusiasm for her discipline and her commitment to them. Karin Driggers \u201914 says that Watters \u201cis understanding when students are struggling and does everything in her power to help\u2026she is truly dedicated to helping others, teaching, and being there for her students.\u201d Banna Kidane \u201915 notes that Watters \u201chas helped me receive four different scholarships with her outstanding list of recommendations. I have been able to go to [her] office with many problems, whether academic or personal\u2026Shana is like a mother figure to many of her students. She has an unconditional love and care for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a02014 Distinguished Contributors Shanna Watters, Phil Adamo, and Stacy Freiheit Stacy Freiheit, Associate Professor of Psychology,Excellence in Teaching Stacy Freiheit is recognized for her ability to teach across a range of course levels and in both face-to-face and hybrid course formats.\u00a0 Her ability to make the content of her courses in psychology approachable, relevant, and … Continue reading “2014 Distinguished Contributors”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":87,"featured_media":0,"parent":4182,"menu_order":10,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-982","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.augsburg.edu\/ctl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.augsburg.edu\/ctl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.augsburg.edu\/ctl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.augsburg.edu\/ctl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/87"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.augsburg.edu\/ctl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=982"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/sites.augsburg.edu\/ctl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/982\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4191,"href":"https:\/\/sites.augsburg.edu\/ctl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/982\/revisions\/4191"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.augsburg.edu\/ctl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.augsburg.edu\/ctl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}