A communication studies professor has been honored for empowering, inspiring, and demanding nothing but excellence from her students.
Patty Hawk, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, has been awarded the Margaret J. Prouty Faculty Teaching Award. The award recognizes and rewards 含羞草传媒 University faculty for the pursuit of excellence in teaching and honors a faculty member who has made a distinct difference in the intellectual lives of students. Faculty are nominated by students and colleagues.
鈥淪he stimulates the need for her students to change the world,鈥 wrote a student nominator. 鈥淣ot often do we walk into a classroom and become so changed while we are there, that we leave with change and hope in our hearts.鈥
Hawk began her career at 含羞草传媒 in 1997 as an adjunct professor. She became an assistant professor of communication in 2007. Hawk is often requested as an academic advisor and has served twice as the senior class sponsor.
Students describe Hawk as genuine, encouraging, engaging, relatable, personable, wise, and witty. Many students first encounter Hawk when she makes her 鈥渉ow to give a great speech鈥 presentation to first-year students in their liberal arts seminars.
鈥淪ome are so impressed that they end up declaring a communication major, partly so they can take more classes from her,鈥 wrote another nominator.
Students commended Hawk for her ability to connect class concepts and lessons to real-life experiences enabling their lessons to stay with students well beyond the classroom. In addition, students praised Hawk for the way she cares for them, continually checking in with them, especially after hot-button discussions that may raise emotions beyond the day-to-day.
鈥淪he isn鈥檛 just all fun and games,鈥 a nominator wrote of Hawk, who is often described as a hilarious and charismatic individual. 鈥淪he also communicates high expectations and holds all of us as students accountable for our own education. She expects high quality work, commitment, and dedication.鈥
Previous Prouty Award winners include:
- Rita Lester, religion, 2010-2011
- Frank Ferraro, psychology, 2009-2010
- Gary Plank, forensic science, 2008-2009
- Dale Benham, biology, 2007-2008
- Bill McNeil, psychology, 2006-2007
- Jay Chipman, theatre, 2005-2006