Every year, the West Virginia University Foundation celebrates a special class of teacher:
The kind that nudges students toward their dreams.
The kind that groggy-eyed underclassmen have no problem waking up for at 8 a.m.
The kind that you remember and keep in touch with decades after graduating.
These professors leave a lasting impact, and are recipients of the WVU Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching.
This year’s honorees are:- Joshua Arthurs, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences ;
- Damien Clement, College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences ;
- Melissa Morris, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
- Mario Perhinschi, Statler College;
- Michael Strager, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design ; and
- Elaine Wilson, College of Law.
“These six professors inspire students to achieve more than they themselves ever thought they could,” said Provost Joyce McConnell. “President Gee and I often publicly assert that West Virginia University offers an exceptional education – and we’re proud to be able to point to this kind of passionate, exciting teaching as the foundation of that education.”
The WVU Foundation established the awards in 1985 as a way to celebrate faculty who’ve established patterns of distinguished teaching and exceptional innovation in teaching methods, course and curriculum design, and instructional tools. A list of previous recipients is available here.
“We congratulate this year’s recipients who truly go above and beyond in their areas of expertise,” said Cindi Roth, WVU Foundation president and CEO. “WVU is fortunate to have such high caliber faculty inspiring our students. The Foundation is pleased to be able to fund these awards annually because of the tremendous generosity of our donors.”
Clement, a CPASS associate professor, obtained his undergraduate degree in sports medicine/athletic training from the University of Charleston in 2003.
While at the University of Charleston, Clement captained the track and field team his junior and senior years. Upon graduation, he enrolled at WVU to concurrently pursue a doctoral degree in sport and exercise psychology and a master’s degree in community counseling.
He went on to earn those degrees and in August 2008, he was hired as an assistant professor at WVU to teach undergraduate sport and exercise psychology courses and graduate athletic training courses.
Clement’s research interests span both sport and exercise psychology and athletic training. More specifically, he is interested in attitudes towards sport psychology, professional issues in sport psychology and psychology of injury.
For the full story and list recipients of the WVU Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching: http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2015/04/08/six-professors-earn-2015-wvu-foundation-award-for-outstanding-teaching.