News and Information
GSA Faculty Awards Announced for Winter 2022 Semester
April 19, 2022
Each year the Graduate Student Association (GSA) asks graduate
students to nominate faculty members that have made an impact upon
them in a variety of ways. For the Winter 2022 semester, faculty
members were nominated for each of the three awards: the GSA Faculty
Mentor Award, GSA Outstanding Teaching Award, and the Kimboko
Inclusion Award. Each nominee exemplified leadership and teaching
qualities that set them apart through the eyes of graduate
students; therefore, they deserve to be recognized and appreciated for
their hard work and caring attitudes.
KIMBOKO INCLUSION AWARD
College of Education & Community Innovation
Dr. Carrie Buist, Department of Criminal Justice
Nominated by: Haley Rothe, Criminal Justice
Dr. Buist has an advanced understanding of underrepresented groups and has demonstrated this knowledge within her many works as a criminologist. Dr. Buist’s publications have focused on feminist criminology, critical criminology, transgender victims and offenders in the criminal justice system, and more focusing on gender and LGBTQ+ topics involving the criminal/legal system.
GSA FACULTY MENTOR AWARD
College of Education & Community Innovation
Dr. Nagnon Diarrassouba, Department of Literacy Studies –
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language
Nominated by: Molly Roesler, Literacy Studies – Teaching English
to Speakers of Other Languages
Dr. Diarrassouba always encourages compassion, empathy, and hard work
in his classes. As a mentor he always challenges students to see
things from other perspectives. He also highly encourages
communication and collaboration with other professionals in order for
his students to gain more knowledge in the field.
College of Health Professions
Ms. Josie Fowler, Department of Communication Sciences and
Disorders
Nominated by: Jenna Snyder, Speech-Language Pathology
Jenna writes: “Throughout this journey I have learned to trust that I
am in the right place because every step along the way Ms. Fowler has
made me feel confident, calm, and competent. She has been there as an
ear to listen, a sage to turn to for good advice, and somebody whose
expertise I trust."
Kirkhof College of Nursing
Dr. Amy Manderscheid, Kirkhof College of Nursing
Nominated by: Kelsey Crampton, Nursing-Doctorate
Kelsey writes: “I have been so fortunate to have been assigned
Dr. Manderscheid for my project advisor for my doctoral program. Not
only is she kind, encouraging, and supportive, she displays exemplary
leadership. Throughout my time working with her she has encouraged me
to reach beyond what I thought possible for myself. She has guided me,
step by step, through the creation of my graduate project and I do not
think I could have done nearly as well without her."
GSA OUTSTANDING TEACHING AWARD
College of Health Profession
Ms. Kristen Vu, School of Interdisciplinary Health
Nominated by: Kelly Alley, Medical Dosimetry
Kristen Vu is an asset to GVSU and should be recognized for all her
hard work and dedication. Kristen is a very wonderful professor,
medical dosimetrist and person in general. She truly cares about her
students and their understanding of the incredibly important
material.
Dr. Cathy C. Harro, Department of Physical Therapy
Nominated by: Hayley Hall, Physical Therapy
Her Neuro Interventions course carries a reputation as very
rigorous, sitting at the pinnacle of the DPT curriculum in its
intensity and challenge. Classroom and lab components emphasize
breadth and depth of understanding both the theories and their
clinical applications. Cathy masterfully scaffolds these concepts
throughout the semester and compiles them in her comprehensive course
pack, which included notes and additional resources.
Dr. Heather Wallace, Department of Public Health
Nominated by: Leigha Filips, Public Health
Leigha writes: "Although our current class is around certain sensitive topics, such as religion and spirituality, she does an amazing job creating a safe space to speak our thoughts and often gives critical feedback. Her knowledge of health and disease disparities as they relate to social determinants of health and behavioral theories has allowed me to have a better understanding of why certain things exist in public health and how I can approach these problems once I am in the field."