Bridging the gap from rote learning to developing memorable working experience is what distinguishes some teachers as extraordinary. Carolin McManus, a CSM professor of English, Spanish and culture, was recognized as the recipient of the 2006 Northeast Region Faculty Member Award given by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) at their annual leadership congress, October 11 – 14.
“Carolin McManus holds student learning at the forefront of all that she does. Her personal warmth, professional preparation and instructional creativity are the basis for student success in her classes. The ACCT award recognizes the spirit of education that McManus embodies here at CSM, and is a fitting tribute to an extraordinary teacher,” said Timothy Keating, dean of arts and sciences at CSM.
The Northeast Region Faculty Member Award is given to full-time instructors who demonstrate academic excellence, innovation, and have been proven leaders within their institutions and communities.
McManus was nominated by her peers for her ability to incorporate varied technological and media sources into her courses, and her ability to develop meaningful cultural learning experiences for her students. In her Culture of the Americas course, McManus invited guest speakers from Honduras and Columbia to visit the classroom and describe their daily experiences.
In another class, students got to interview scriptwriter Barry Berman (Benny and Joon) via teleconference about his writing process and the adaptation of screenplays to the big screen.
In addition to bringing the world to her classroom, McManus encourages her students to discover the world of learning right outside their door. From developing travel study programs in Puerto Rico and Belize to advising service learning projects and encouraging volunteerism, McManus demonstrates to her students that learning is a lifelong, personal, hands-on pursuit.
As winner of the ACCT Northeast Region Faculty Member Award, McManus was also eligible for the prestigious William H. Meardy Faculty Member Award, which recognizes faculty excellence as the cornerstone of community college success.
This is CSM’s third ACCT Northeast Region Faculty Member Award. Previous recipients were Jean Runyon in 2004 and William L. Morton in 2003. McManus also received a CSM Faculty Excellence Award in 2005 for her dedication to education, community service and development of courses on Latin America.