Kent State University at Stark recently announced the recipient and finalists of the 2009-10 Distinguished Teaching Award and the recipient of the Award of Distinction. These honors were presented during the Spring 2010 Commencement.
 
“Kent State Stark takes great pride in our outstanding faculty, particularly exemplified by this year’s group that was nominated for the Distinguished Teaching Award and Award of Distinction,” says Interim Dean Ruth Capasso. “They are instructors who are consistently praised by students for their knowledge, commitment to student learning and passion for teaching.”
 
This year’s recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award, a tribute which is presented to full-time Kent State Stark professors, is Daniel Castaneda, Ph.D., an assistant professor of modern and classical language studies. A resident of Canton and employed at the campus since fall 2007, his most recent position was as a spanish graduate teaching assistant for West Virginia University, Morgantown, where he received two master’s in secondary education and foreign languages and a doctorate degree in technology education. His bachelor’s degree in education was earned at Universidad de Piura (Piura, Peru). At Kent State Stark, he instructs courses in elementary and intermediate Spanish, Spanish grammar and composition and Spanish reading and conversation. In addition, Castaneda is the faculty advisor to the Spanish Club.
 
Included in the numerous nominations submitted for Castaneda, one student wrote, “Dr. Castaneda is a fantastic professor. Typically, I’m not very analytical with a foreign language, but my mind was constantly engaged. Highly recommended!!” In reference to instructor characteristics, another student wrote, “The professor went above and beyond what he had to do, as far as being available for individual consultation.”
 
Castaneda says, “I am honored to receive this award from an institution that values high-quality scholarship and teaching.”  

The finalists for the Distinguished Teaching Award are Erin Hollenbaugh, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication studies, and Laurel Seeds, M.M., assistant professor of music. Hollenbaugh, a resident of Barberton, earned her bachelor’s degree in communication arts from Malone University and her master’s and doctorate of communication studies from Kent State University. Seeds, a resident of North Canton, holds a bachelor’s degree in music and a master’s degree in vocal performance from Kent State University.
 
The recipient of the Award of Distinction, an honor presented to part-time Kent State Stark faculty, is Shawn Selby, Ph.D., an adjunct professor of history and a resident of Canton. A member of the Kent State Stark faculty since 2003, Selby teaches history courses, including U.S. formative period and modern period history, American social and intellectual history and the history of the Civil War. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Kent State University and his master’s and doctorate degrees from Ohio University.
 
A selected committee, consisting of representatives of the Kent State Stark faculty and students, chose the recipients and finalists for these awards, after thorough examination of the nominations submitted by members of the campus community. Each finalist met the needed criteria, which consisted of being an instructor at Kent State Stark; having comprehensive knowledge of his or her field; being effective in organizing and presenting classroom material; having the ability to stimulate thinking and develop the students’ understanding; demonstrating resourcefulness; being able to arouse student interest; and having concern for students.

Distinguished Teaching Award Recipient
Daniel Castaneda, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Modern & Classical Language Studies

Distinguished Teaching Award Finalist
Laurel Seeds, M.M.
Assistant Professor of Music

Distinguished Teaching Award Finalist
Erin Hollenbaugh, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Communication Studies

Award of Distinction Recipient
Shawn Selby, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor of History

For more information on the Distinguished Teaching Award and Award of Distinction recipients and finalists, contact Cynthia Williams at 330-244-3262 or cdwillia@kent.edu.