Category: Academics

In May, the Departments of Biology and Earth Sciences took a faculty-led research trip to Panama. The class was focused on how the rise of the Isthmus of Panama affected biodiversity. During this 10-day trip participants hiked in the rainforest on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Panama; snorkeled in the Pacific, near Panama City and in the Caribbean at Bocas del Toro; toured a sustainable permaculture farm on the island of Bastimentos; and visited historical ruins of old Panama that was invaded by the pirate Henry Morgan.

Thank you to the students who participated and the faculty who took the lead on this trip – Dr. Carla Hurt, Dr. Jeannette Luna, Philip Roberson and Dr. Richard Pirkle.

This trip was supported by funds from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Departments of Biology and Earth Sciences, and International Education Fees.

In May, Tech students and faculty left on a study abroad program to Ghana, West Africa. Led by Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction’s Senior Lecturer Cale Koester and Associate Professor Dr. Queen Ogbomo, the participants were immersed in myriad opportunities for service learning and cultural studies.

The two-week excursion included working with a village school as observers then offered interactive lessons, reading activities, and presentations. Our students also provided the school’s library with reference and story books, assisted with their teaching lab, and band equipment repairs.

They also joined in studies at the Dagbe Cultural Institute & Arts Center, including education in drumming, dance, singing, kente weaving, basket making, local traditions, cuisine, social issues, and more.

“The students showed determination, resilience, and enthusiasm throughout this service-learning experience and we are proud of how they represented Tennessee Tech,” said Koester.

Info: ci@tntech.edu

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Clarice Kiser, a senior pursuing a double major in Biology and Geosciences, is the recipient of the 2022 Kurt Eisen Excellence in Liberal Arts Award. This is the highest student award given by the Tennessee Tech College of Arts and Sciences. Ms. Kiser is recognized for her excellence in three vital functions of a liberally educated person: (1) critical thinking; (2) context-consciousness; and (3) communication.

In his recommendation, Dr. Michael Harrison, Earth Sciences, writes that Clarice is “simply a remarkable person.” That her qualities, “all embrace the core values of the Kurt Eisen Excellence in Liberal Arts Award.”

Not only is her G.P.A. great, Clarice also revived the Tri-Beta Club in Biology, is a student contractor for the United States Geological Survey in Nashville working to build a hydrogeologic database for rock units in the Ozark region of Arkansas, conducts her senior thesis research with Dr. Harrison, is a teaching assistant in Biology labs, tutors for the Honors Program, is fluent in Spanish, performs as first chair cellist in the Tennessee Tech Orchestra, serves as mentor to other cellists, earned her private pilot’s license during her freshman year at Tennessee Tech, and teaches children about space and science at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama during the summer.

Congratulations Clarice! It seems that the sky is the limit for you and we wish you the very best in all of your plans!

Dr. Michael Olsen of the Department of Foreign Languages is the recipient of the 2023 College of Arts & Sciences Award for Research and Scholarly Activity. This award recognizes a significant research publication or creative project appearing during the previous two years and receiving expert critical review. Dr. Olsen is recognized for his paper published in “Foreign Language Annals” that analyzed the effect of instruction on preempting an Animacy-based system for object pronouns for learners of Spanish as a second language.

Thank you for putting students first Dr. Olsen!

Dr. Mustafa Rajabali of the Department of Physics is a recipient of the 2023 College of Arts & Sciences Award for Innovative Teaching. This award recognizes a recent significant innovation in undergraduate teaching. Dr. Rajabali is recognized for his project-based learning techniques that incorporate creative inquiry and group work.

Dr. Rajabali requires students to develop a one-sentence question about a topic in the Physics course and to propose, develop and conduct an experiment using children’s toys to test the hypothesis in their question. He has further refined and expanded this form of creative inquiry to more advanced classes with great success.

These approaches to teaching are designed to assist students in understanding and applying complex theories and to prepare them for advanced courses, working with a team, and future careers.

Congratulations Dr. Rajabali and thank you for all that you do for students!