Recognizing an Inspiring Instructor

University Center announces the selection of Liz Heeren and Patricia Ahmed as the winners of the 2014 Excellence in Teaching Award. They were both presented with the award at UC's annual Welcome to Fall event on September 16, 2014.

Dr. Ahmed has been an SDSU Instructor for 4 years and credits her most valued experience as working one-on-one with students and helping them to achieve their academic and career goals. Additionally, she has set up a research internship with the SDSU Data Center here at UC allowing mentees to present their research at the SDSU undergraduate research showcase as well. She also enjoys working with newly arrived immigrant students who are new to the academic system and face a variety of challenges. Dr. Ahmed’s interests include comparative/historical sociology, deviance, cross-cultural sociology, and globalization. In conjunction with these interests she has conducted fieldwork in South Asia, Egypt and Mexico. Her publications include articles in Social Forces, the International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy and Connections.

Liz Heeren is an SDSU Visual Art Assistant Professor (since 2002). She earned an MFA in painting at the University of South Dakota in 2007, an MA in art theory at the University of Arizona in 2000 and a BA from Saint Olaf College in 1997. Heeren is Assistant Professor of Art for South Dakota State University and director of Ipso Gallery at Fresh Produce, downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Heeren’s current work incorporates elements of drafting and technical drawing in addition to traditional painting techniques. With a background in biology, Heeren finds inspiration in documenting zones of biological reconfiguration – often times resourcing areas of new construction/development or dwellings that are reabsorbed into the wild.

Jamie Ladonski has been teaching general biology for SDSU at University Center since the fall of 2006. Prior to coming to South Dakota, he worked at the Field Museum in Chicago for nearly six years. His previous teaching experience includes adjunct positions at Lake Michigan College and Ivy Tech Community College. For professional development, he is a member of the following organizations: National Association of Biology Teachers and Association of College and University  Biology Educators. To learn more, check out Jamie Ladonski's Website.

Sara Madsen has been teaching Chemistry at University Center since 2004. From Dr. Cartrette: "Sara’s involvement in teaching at University Center-Sioux Falls has had a strong and significant impact on how chemistry is perceived among students. The subject is one that students more often than not fear, but Sara’s work in and out of the classroom demonstrates that chemistry can be successfully mastered without fear. She has given our Department a “face” at UC, and we have actually recruited a few majors into our undergraduate programs, thanks to Sara. I am proud to say that Dr. Sara Madsen belongs to our faculty. Her contributions to the undergraduate mission of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at SDSU have substantially impacted her students, her colleagues, and the University Center teaching/learning environment as a whole." From Marla Williams: "I value Sara as a colleague in our chemistry department. She has a wonderful personality, gets along well with others, and always puts her students first. She has been great to work with on research projects, as she has a way of looking at things from a different angle than others do. Sara's ability to think outside-the-box is one of the reasons I feel she is a great instructor, as she has the ability to teach the material from several angles and try and find ways to help students understand the concepts."

See Sara Madsen's SDSU Profile

Melody started teaching for SDSU at the UC campus in the spring semester of 2003, took a one semester absence to move to Milwaukee, WI and then returned in spring semester 2004, where she has remained. She returned to SDSU for many reasons, the main one being that she loves teaching and enjoys helping others achieve their goals. One thing she really loves about the UC atmosphere is the diversity and variety of students on campus. The learning environment at UC lends itself to open communication and participation in the classroom where all learn from each other. She has formed meaningful relationships with many of her students and several keep in touch with her after the course has finished. She often gets invitations to attend graduation ceremonies, and write letters of reference for professional programs and employment. She enjoys teaching, mentoring, and seeing student growth and development and finds it very rewarding as an educator.

Her education background:

B.S. Biology – University of Minnesota Twin Cities (1997) – http://www.cbs.umn.edu/ B.A. Chemistry – University of Minnesota Twin Cities (1997) – http://www.chem.umn.edu/ M.S. Paper Science and Engineering – University of Minnesota (1999) – http://www.bbe.umn.edu/ Ph.D. Paper Science and Engineering – University of Minnesota Twin Cities (2002)

See Melody Jewell's SDSU Profile

Steve started teaching Anatomy and Physiology (PHGY 220-220L and PHGY 230-230L) for USD at University Center in 2007. He seeks to create a classroom environment that is inviting and enhances a student's learning process; he also encourages students to bring their life experiences into class to facilitate relationships. Steve creates a place where students feel comfortable participating in class without any fear of being “wrong” or feeling that their input is not meaningful. Steve has, and continues to, bring students a classroom experience that is fair yet rigorous as he knows students need to be challenged and not simply moved passively through his courses and on to following courses. He seeks strong competency from his students while supporting them. His approach to teaching is couched in the understanding that students will move on to professional careers in the medical field and need to represent the mission of their individual programs in their work. To that end, he has a community focus with respect to his courses and his students. See Steve Bambas' UC Teacher in Excellence Award Announcement.

His educational background

BA in Biology: Mount Marty College (1983)

Masters of Secondary Administration: South Dakota State University (1996)