Excellence Honored

VALDOSTA -- The Valdosta State University community recognized two faculty members for their exemplary professional contributions during the 2012 Fall Convocation Monday, Aug. 6. Gardner Rogers, lecturer of English, was honored with the 2012 Excellence in Teaching Award and Dr. Gretchen Bielmyer, assistant professor of biology, was honored with the 2012 Excellence in Professional Activity Award.

The Faculty Excellence Awards recipients were recommended by a committee of faculty members who represent all colleges and divisions at VSU. The recipients were chosen from a field of candidates who have previously received top honors in their respective colleges and divisions.

Rogers is described by students and colleagues as someone who works hard to prepare all his students to become better writers and become thoughtful and reflective individuals. Gardner was instrumental in the start of the new online hybrid format for the English Department World Literature courses. He has also assisted faculty and students from the Art Department in writing and research.

“Valdosta State University graduates will join an endangered middle class,” said Rogers. “They will raise families, teach their children the values they’ve learned and write letters to the editor. They will vote -- or so I hope -- for in fact, they face a perilous future. My first task as a teacher of general education core courses is to help prepare them for those lives and to encourage open-mindedness, inquisitiveness, fairness, tolerance and a measure of objectivity that extends beyond simple self-interest.”

Since her arrival at Valdosta State University in 2008, Bielmyer has published seven refereed journal articles and several book chapters. She also has a journal manuscript in revision and three more in preparation. Inaddition, Bielmyer has delivered several conference papers, has a pending grant from the National Science Foundation and has received a grant from the City of Jacksonville St. John River Accord and several VSU internal applied research grants.

Bielmyer has mentored 18 undergraduate students in her research lab and co-authored publications with six undergraduates. She alsochaired the Undergraduate Research Council in the College of Arts and Sciences and currently serves as the biology representative on the new university-wide council.

For more information on the Excellence Awards, go to http://www.valdosta.edu/pres/Award.shtml .