printable version2008 Cuthbertson, Dinkelspiel, Gores awards honor faculty, staff and students
Recipients will be recognized during Commencement Weekend
Two professors, two doctoral candidates, two undergraduate students, an IHUM fellow, a research coordinator and a staff member will be recognized during Commencement Weekend with the 2008 university awards.
Cuthbertson AwardIn being named this year's recipient of the Kenneth M. Cuthbertson Award for Exceptional Contributions to Stanford University, Nona Chiariello, research coordinator at the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, was cited "for being a conscientious steward of the land and species, an educator to students and visitors of all ages and a respected scientific researcher."
Chiariello also was recognized "for her passionate, intellectually engaged dedication, which has contributed to Jasper Ridge's reputation as a premier scientific field station and to Stanford's reputation for excellence throughout the scientific community." She was honored "for mentoring a multitude of Stanford students, both undergraduate and graduate, who have been profoundly and professionally inspired by her thoughtful support and excellent advice."
The award also cited "her unfailing enthusiasm, good humor and uncanny ability to know just what others need to be successful," and "the uncompromising integrity and grace with which she assesses the merits of proposals and their impact on the preserve."
Dinkelspiel AwardThe Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Award for Distinctive Contributions to Undergraduate Education, named after the president of the Board of Trustees who served from 1953 to 1958, recognizes distinctive contributions to undergraduate education or the quality of student life. Following is a list of this year's award recipients:
Nisa Ari, a senior majoring in art and art history, was honored "for her commitment to the cultural life of Stanford students, working to make the arts accessible and exciting; for the enthusiasm she brought to her role as a leader of the student guides at the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts; for the vision she demonstrated in her exhibition, Make Yourself at Home: Stanford Dorm Rooms 2006, which put a new perspective on the concept of the 'period room,' attracted large numbers of students and was the only sophomore project ever offered gallery space at the Cantor Arts Center; and for her exuberant leadership and countless contributions to the Cantor Center, the Department of Art and Art History, the Stanford Shakespeare Society, the Department of Music and a host of theatrical events—in short, for being a one-woman Arts Initiative."
S. Shirley Feldman, a consulting professor and associate director in the Program in Human Biology and senior research scientist in the Division of Child Psychiatry, was recognized "for her significant role and many contributions in charting the course of the Program in Human Biology for 37 years; for her guidance, commitment to high standards of research and introduction of improvements that have made the Human Biology Honors Program into the rigorous and successful program it is today; for her skills as 'a matchmaker par excellence,' mentoring and guiding honors students through the process of developing research questions and then recruiting faculty to serve as thesis advisers; for her dedication, vigorous 'can do' attitude and deep concern for improving undergraduate education at Stanford; and for inspiring countless students and faculty who consider themselves extraordinarily fortunate to have learned from her."
Jonathan Julio Jourdane, a senior majoring in economics, was honored "for a generosity of spirit, strong social conscience and exceptional ability to connect with people who have fostered community and improved the quality of life at Stanford; for the joy and contagious optimism with which he approaches everything he does—from working tirelessly registering students to vote to recruiting dancers for the Stanford Dance Marathon; for a distinguished academic career focused on issues of equality; for his leadership and dedication to serving others, demonstrated by his involvement in New Student Orientation, Residential Education, Stanford Dance Marathon and Relay for Life; and for the many and profound gifts he has given the Stanford community, including his personal credo, adopted by orientation volunteers last year—'I don't have to, I get to.'"
Jon McConnell, associate director for public service education at the Haas Center for Public Service, was recognized "for his leadership and dedication to the Alternative Spring Break program and his great understanding of its value as an intensive service-learning experience; for thoughtful interactions with students that encourage them to think critically about public service; for laying the foundation for the international service program and the Public Service Leadership Fellows program, expanding the community service work-study program at the Haas Center and developing so many materials about service opportunities that students call him the 'Handout King'; for an enthusiasm for public service that inspires Stanford students to become visionary and effective leaders; and for his deep humility and desire to serve the best interests of our students and the greater community."
Gores AwardThe Walter G. Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching is the university's highest teaching honor. Following is a list of this year's award winners:
Matthew Carter, a doctoral candidate in the Neurosciences Program, was recognized "for conceiving, planning and teaching the popular and highly regarded course, Understanding Techniques in the Neurosciences, conveying difficult material in a succinct and accessible way; for the infectious energy and creativity he brings to the classroom—whether describing his favorite neuropeptides or how whole brain imaging techniques work by comparing the brain to a cheese sandwich; for his commitment to developing excellent learning aids, leadership as head teaching assistant and superb mentoring skills; and for his engaging and exceptional skill as a teacher, which prompted one student to write, 'Honestly, just about the best I've seen, ever.'"
Christopher Edwards, associate professor in mechanical engineering, was honored "for inspiring a passion for learning in everyone who takes his classes or enters his office; for teaching students that 'research is not about developing science, it is about developing yourself … it is not about finding answers, it is about asking questions'; for the flair and humor he brings to demonstrations and labs, guiding students as they think more deeply about the fundamentals of complex concepts; for creating a challenging learning environment, drawing parallels in different fields and problems from a range of applications, so students see that engineering principles are revealing, flexible and useful; and for his singular gifts as a teacher of students and a teacher of teachers."
Jennifer K. Schwartz, a doctoral candidate in chemistry, was honored "for her outstanding service as an outreach teaching assistant and exceptional contributions to the teaching mission of the Chemistry Department; for her leadership in developing innovative active learning and teaching materials and building a spirit of camaraderie and pride among the TAs; for her impressive ability to explain complex material so that every student understands the concepts and is able to solve the problems; for her work as a teaching consultant at the Center for Teaching and Learning, helping her peers become more effective teachers; and for the phenomenal creative energy, skill and charisma she brings to teaching, garnering her a legion of student fans who enthuse: 'Jennifer is great.' 'I actually understand chemistry.' 'She can teach!!!'"
David Walter, a fellow in Introduction to the Humanities, was recognized "for his phenomenal skills as a discussion leader, creating an environment that encourages debate and engages every member of the group; for making a mandatory class so interesting that students arrive on time and are reluctant to leave, prompting one to comment, 'I thought maybe I was losing my mind, but … we were all excited'; for influencing students beyond the seminar room and encouraging them to continue to develop their interests in the humanities, whatever their majors; for the enthusiasm, good humor and caring he brings to every class; and for embodying the best of the term 'compassionate humanist' in his approach to the great texts and to life."