CAS announces 2021-22 faculty and staff awards

Distinction in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Gabrielle Smith, PhD

Smith is an associate professor with the division of psychology.

The award recognizes exceptional contributions to promoting the ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the College of Arts and Sciences or at Texas Woman’s University more broadly by:

• Multicultural curricular initiatives
• Inclusive teaching or mentoring activities
• Scholarship that contributes to or expands understanding of diversity, equity, or inclusion
• Efforts to support recruitment and retention of diverse faculty, staff and/or students
• Multicultural extracurricular or co-curricular programming
• Outreach activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Other service activities that enhance educational access and opportunity

Excellence in Teaching, full-time faculty

Gretchen Busl, PhD

Busl is associate professor of English and graduate program coordinator.

The award is for tenured, tenure-track, clinical or lecturer faculty members who have:

• Implemented innovative teaching methods or assignments
• Incorporated experiential learning into courses
• Created a classroom culture of belonging
• Promoted justice, equity, diversity and inclusion through teaching
• Designed a new course or updating the curriculum in innovative ways

Excellence in Teaching, adjunct faculty

Susan Harper, PhD

Harper teaches cultural anthropology in the TWU sociology program.

The award is for adjunct faculty members who have:

• Implemented innovative teaching methods or assignments
• Incorporated experiential learning into courses
• Created a classroom culture of belonging
• Promoted justice, equity, diversity and inclusion through teaching
• Designed a new course or updating the curriculum in innovative ways

Excellence in Scholarship

Genevieve West, PhD

West is the chair of the department of Language, Culture & Gender Studies, and is a professor of English.

The award is exhibiting scholarship excellence through:

• International or national recognitions for scholarship
• External grants
• Juried exhibits or concerts
• Patents
• Publications
• Professional presentations
• Other creative activities

Excellence in Service

Catherine Banks, MS

Banks recently retired as a senior lecturer in the division of mathematics.

The award is for extraordinary service and/or leadership within the College, the University, the civic community and/or a professional organization.

CAS Distinguished Staff Service Award

The award is presented to staff members who exhibit dedicated and extraordinary service to their academic unit, the College and/or the University. There were two winners this year:

Misty Clark, MA, MBA

Clark is the production manager and secretary for the division of theatre.

I-Ching Chen, MA

Chen is an adjunct instructor in the division of music, teaching piano, undergraduate music majors in private lessons, keyboard musicianship and functional piano classes. She is also the accompanist for both concert choirs and chamber singers.