Rice Magazine Summer 2006

[
WHO'S WHO
]
— Michael Emerson
— Richard Baraniuk
— Michael Gustin
— James Brown
— Richard Stoll
— Alexander Byrd
—
Faculty Awards
John Hutchinson
— Kyriacos Athanasiou
— Lisa Meffert
— Robert Roux
— Carlos Jimenez
— William Wilson
— Jose Narbona
Emerson Wins Teaching Prize of Sociology faculty since 1999, Mentoring achievement in mentoring that has
Emerson left during the 2004–05 earned Boles the 2006 Presidential
This year’s recipient of Rice’s most Rice’s 2006 Presidential Award for
academic year to teach at the Mentoring Award.
prestigious teaching award vividly Mentoring has been presented to bio-
University of Notre Dame in Indiana. Former students roundly lauded
recalls his social psychology professor engineering’s Kyriacos Athanasiou
But he came back last year because Boles for his patience, engagement,
at Loyola University in Chicago. “He and history’s John Boles.
he missed Rice students. wisdom, and advocacy. “I regard
came into class one day with his tie Athanasiou, the Karl F. Hasselmann
When he isn’t immersed in him as the ﬁ nest living example of
on his head and his shirt open down Professor of Bioengineering, is in-
teaching, Emerson is likely to be how to mold and shape future col-
to his belly button so you could see ternationally known for his research,
conducting research or writing a leagues in academia,” wrote one
the chains he was wearing,” says actively involved in professional
book. He has co-authored Divided
student in a nomination letter for
Michael Emerson, the Allyn and organizations, and a leader of one
by Faith: Evangelical Religion and
the award.
Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology. of the largest research groups on
the Problem of Race in America,
“He made the point that we would campus. But, he says, interacting
which won the 2001 Distinguished
think differently of him if he dressed with students is the primary reason
Book Award from the Society for the
Ecology’s Meffert Takes Home Phi
this way all the time. His creativity he is a faculty member. Beta Kappa Award
Scientiﬁ c Study of Religion, United
in teaching stood out.” Athanasiou has mentored more
by Faith, and Against All Odds. His
Assistant professor of ecology and
Now Emerson’s own outstand- than 130 postdoctoral research-
latest book, People of the Dream:
evolutionary biology Lisa Meffert’s
ing teaching is in the spotlight. He ers, medical residents, graduate
Multiracial Congregations in the
favorite teaching evaluation starts out,
was awarded the 2006 George students, undergraduates, and high
United States, was published in
“Even though I have no interest in Dr.
R. Brown Prize for Excellence in school students. In 2003, he won
April. Emerson also is director and
Meffert’s ﬁ elds whatsoever, I’ve got
Teaching. The recipient is chosen the Graduate Student Association
founder of Rice’s Center on Race,
to say that she did an amazing job
on the basis of survey responses Teaching and Mentoring Award.
Religion, and Urban Life.
of holding my attention and getting
from alumni who graduated two “It exhilarates me when I see
Six other Rice professors were
me to learn her material.”
and ﬁ ve years ago. young people reach for the stars,”
honored for their outstanding skills
These same sentiments were
hW ether he’s teaching courses on he says. “It is such a joy to see
in the classroom with the 2006
echoed in many of the teaching
race and ethnicity, the sociology of students garner prestigious awards
George R. Brown Award for Superior
evaluations that helped her win the
religion, statistics and methods, or and accolades and then leave the
Teaching. The recipients are Richard
2006 Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Prize.
urban sociology, Emerson strives to program knowing they have what it
Baraniuk, the Victor C. Cameron
A committee reads the evaluations
relate the material to his students’
Professor in Electrical and Computer
takes to be at the very top. It’s also
of the assistant professors with the
lives. Being authentic is one of the
Engineering; Michael Gustin, asso-
rewarding when they keep in touch
highest teaching evaluation numeri-
essential ingredients of successful
ciate professor of biochemistry and
professionally and personally.”
cal scores to determine the winner
teaching, according to Emerson.
cell biology; James Brown, profes-
Boles, the William Pettus Hobby
of the award.
“You can read a lot of books about
sor of economics; Richard Stoll,
Professor of History, decided when
teaching and take courses,” he
associate dean of social sciences
he was a boy that he wanted to be
notes, “but at the end of the day,
and professor of political science;
a college professor, even though he
Shepherd School’s Roux Honored
what matters is whether you truly
Alexander Byrd, assistant professor
knew nothing about it. Hundreds of
With Chance Prize
care about your subject and your
of history; and John Hutchinson,
Rice students are happy he didn’t The Shepherd School of Music’s
students. I try to live what I’m
professor of chemistry.
fancy being a cowboy or a ﬁ reman, Robert Roux is the 2006 recipient
teaching, and I want my students for they have been beneﬁ ciaries of of the Julia Mile Chance Prize for
to apply it in their own lives.” his skill at writing, talking, teaching, Excellence in Teaching, which is
A member of Rice’s Department Athanasiou, Boles Honored for and advising. But it is his outstanding given annually to an associate or
44 Rice Sallyport
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