Four TJC Professors Named 2015 Endowed Teaching Chairs

TYLER — Four Tyler Junior College professors have distinguished themselves as endowed teaching chairs for 2015. The TJC Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence program enables professors to nominate and reward their peers who demonstrate excellence as educators, according to a TJC news release.

This year’s endowed chair recipients are:

• Gigi Delk, computer information systems/game and simulation development professor, The Mable Williams Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence
• Stephanie Lassanske, social work/sociology professor, The Thomas H. Shelby Jr. Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence
• Mary Pyle, criminal justice professor, The George W. Pirtle and El Freda Taylor Pirtle Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence
• Lara Smith, speech professor and chair of the TJC Department of Speech, Theater and Dance, The Dorothy Fay and Jack White Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence

Winners were surprised during their respective classes with a fanfare of applause and balloons, followed by presentations of certificates and checks from TJC President Dr. Mike Metke and Dr. Juan Mejia, TJC provost and vice president for academic and student affairs. Endowed teaching chair recipients receive $2,000 for each of two years ($4,000 total), which includes a $1,500 cash stipend and $500 for professional development for each year. The professional development portion may be applied toward a personal professional development plan, including travel, books, conferences and equipment.

Nineteen full-time TJC professors were nominated by their peers to apply for the award. Of the 19 nominees, 12 professors chose to undergo the intense application process. Those 12 nominees were Karen Anglin, TSI mathematics; Jacob Cabera, vocational nursing education; Chris Chappa, mathematics; Delk; Lassanske; Angela Porter, speech; Pyle; Jenelle Reynolds, TSI mathematics; Jodi Seal, associate degree nursing; Smith; Desha Stewart, TSI writing; and Maria Stewart, vocational nursing education. Each received a certificate of recognition and a nomination from TJC to be recognized at the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) annual conference in May in Austin. Since the program’s inception in 1990, 71 professors have been designated as distinguished TJC endowed chairs.