University Of Southern Indiana: USI Recognizes Faculty Award Recipients At Fall Meeting

Press release from the University of Southern Indiana:

University Communications

8/19/2021

At its Fall Faculty and Staff Meeting on Tuesday, August 17, the University of Southern Indiana recognized the following faculty members as award recipients:

University of Southern Indiana Distinguished Professor Award  

Dr. Silvia Rode, Professor of German and Assistant Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, was named the 2020 USI Distinguished Professor. Rode joined the USI faculty in 2007 as an Associate Professor of German and Chair of Modern and Classical Languages. During her time at USI, she has led in the development of new certificates and the Master of Arts in Second Language Acquisition and Culture. 

The Distinguished Professor Award was established in 1983 and is USI’s highest award given in recognition of significant achievement in teaching, scholarship and service. As a recipient, Rode will receive a $7,000 stipend plus a $3,000 faculty development grant underwritten by generous donors to the USI Foundation.  

The Distinguished Professor Award was established in 1983 and is USI’s highest award given in recognition of significant achievement in teaching, scholarship and service. As a recipient, Rode will receive a $7,000 stipend plus a $3,000 faculty development grant underwritten by generous donors to the USI Foundation. 

Lee Cooper Core Curriculum Teaching Award

Lee Cooper Core Curriculum Teaching Award

Jenn Horn, Instructor in English, was awarded the 2020 H. Lee Cooper Core Curriculum Teaching Award. Horn, who serves as the First Year Experience Liaison for the College of Liberal Arts as well as a mentor for Living Learning Communities, is also the 2021 recipient of the College of Liberal Arts Excellence in Teaching Award. 

The H. Lee Cooper Core Curriculum Teaching Award was established in 2000 and honors a USI faculty member whose work in University Core Courses (UCC) has been especially creative and successful in furthering UCC goals. As a recipient, Horn will receive a $4,000 stipend and a $2,000 faculty development grant underwritten by longtime and generous University friends, Ann and H. Lee Cooper III.  

Sydney and Sadelle Berger Faculty Community Service Award 

Bryan K. Bourdeau, formerly Instructor in Business, was awarded the 2020 Sydney L. and Sadelle Berger Faculty Community Service Award. Bourdeau, a co-founder and co-facilitator of Connect with Southern Indiana and Startup Weekend Evansville, has contributed his time and expertise to countless students and community members in the areas of business and management. 

The Sydney L. and Sadelle Berger Faculty Community Service Award was established in 1997 and recognizes a USI faculty member for distinguished community service to groups, agencies and institutions external to the University of Southern Indiana. 

USI Foundation Outstanding Teaching Award by New Faculty 

Dr. Srikanth Dandotkar, Assistant Professor of Psychology, was awarded the 2020 USI Foundation Outstanding Teaching Award by New Faculty. Dandotkar joined USI in 2016 and is being recognized for his ability to both teach and assist students throughout the transition to online courses caused by the pandemic, as well as his service as a mentor for a number of his students with Endeavor Research Grants.   

USI Foundation Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award by Adjunct Faculty 

Dr. Sarah Wannemuehler ‘74, Adjunct in Teacher Education and Director of Early Field Experience, was awarded the USI Foundation Outstanding Teaching Award by Adjunct Faculty for her commitment to her students inside and outside of the classroom. Wannemuehler holds a bachelor’s degree in teacher education from USI, a master’s degree in elementary education from Indiana University and a doctorate in educational leadership from Spalding University. 

This press release was produced by the University of Southern Indiana. The views expressed here are the author’s own.