Edmonds College honors exceptional faculty
04/27/2011
On May 6, Building Community Day, Edmonds College will honor the recipients of the 2010-2011 Echelbarger/Sherman Exceptional Faculty Award: Polly Hankin, horticulture; Deann Leoni, math; and Dick Mamolen, psychology.
The award recognizes instructors for their exceptional service to their program or discipline; dedication, knowledge, and expertise; outstanding teaching skills; and superior service in the classroom.
Polly Hankin, hired in 1993. Hankin is noted for her excellent teaching, expertise, and leadership in the Horticulture department. She helps manage the college's greenhouse, assists with landscaping throughout the Horticulture area on campus, and helps the department participate in the Northwest Flower and Garden Show, at which the college has won several awards.
Deann Leoni, hired in 1997. Leoni is noted for being on the cutting edge of mathematics instruction and for her outstanding course preparation. She provides her students with multiple down-to-earth examples in order to help them truly understand the subject. She stays current in her field by participating in many conferences and connecting to the mathematics community. She helped redesign the college's Math 80 and 90 courses, which are now offered in a more flexible format for students.
Dick Mamolen, hired in 1976. Mamolen is noted for superior student advising, mentoring other instructors, and for excellence in instruction including incorporating current events into his classes and and leading class discussion. His teaching strategies increase student engagement and comprehension and each of his classes are highly relevant and current to what is happening in the field of Psychology.
Last year's recipients of the Echelbarger/Sherman Exceptional Faculty Award were Ed Van der Bogert, construction management; Nancy Kennedy, English; and Andy Williams, accounting.