Faculty
Awards Given During Commencement Ceremonies
May 2, 2008
ROCK HILL, S.C. - Two outstanding professors in the
College of Visual and Performing Arts earned faculty awards
that will be presented during the May 10 undergraduate
commencement. The undergraduate ceremony will take place
at 11 a.m. at the Winthrop Coliseum where about 580 seniors
will receive their degrees.
A third professor from the College of Arts and Sciences will
receive an inaugural Graduate Faculty Award as part
of the graduate commencement exercises on May 8.
The graduate ceremony, held at 7 p.m. in Byrnes Auditorium,
will recognize the achievements of nearly 170 students
earning masters and specialist degrees.
On May 10, the Distinguished Professor award will be
given to Lorraine Gorrell, professor of music who is
retiring this semester. The Distinguished Professor award is
the highest honor Winthrop can bestow upon a faculty member
because it indicates exceptional skill in teaching,
significant research or creative effort, high standing among
professional colleagues and general service to the
university.
In her 34 years at Winthrop, Gorrell has developed an
unrivaled national and international reputation as an expert
in the field of German art song and art song composers,
said Don Rogers, chair of the Department of Music.
Considered one of the Department of Music’s most effective
advisors, Gorrell scheduled all voice hearings and recitals
in the department and as chair of the department’s voice
committee, oversaw and heard more than 100 voice juries at
the end of each semester. In addition, Gorrell has authored
numerous books and scholarly articles, including a widely
used textbook on 19th century German lied, or romantic
songs. She holds a bachelor of arts from Hood College and a
master of music in voice and a master of arts in musicology,
both from Yale University.
Outstanding
Junior Professor
The Outstanding Junior Professor Award
recognizes excellence among assistant professors who
demonstrate a reputation for inspired teaching, research or
creative excellence, and dedication to the welfare of
students. This year’s recipient is Gerry Derksen,
assistant professor of design.
Since his arrival in 2001, Derksen has been directly
invested in the development of the design program and its
curriculum. He has taken an active role in shaping,
modifying and updating the curriculum in proposing several
innovative classes, most notably a “student design studio”
that takes on projects for a semester or year. Derksen also
has played a vital role in development of the digital
information design program of study involving collaboration
with colleagues from four other departments.
Derksen is a tireless advocate for his students, who praise
him for his access, his high standards and his supportive,
constructive criticism. As advisor for the student chapter
of American Institute of Graphic Arts, he has brought in
design professionals of national and international note,
plus has taken students to professional functions across the
region.
Derksen holds a bachelor of interior design from the
University of Manitoba and a master of design in visual
communication from the University of Alberta.
Graduate Faculty
Award
In this first year for the new teaching award, the
Graduate Faculty Award will be given to Janice Chism,
professor of biology and director of the biology graduate
program. This award is made to a graduate faculty member who
holds the rank of associate or full professor, has a record
of outstanding teaching at the graduate level, and has made
a significant contribution to the quality of graduate
education at Winthrop.
A member of the graduate faculty for 16 years,
Chism chairs the Gradate Faculty assembly and has chaired
for two terms the Graduate Council.
In addition to her leadership in these two groups, Chism
teaches a variety of upper level courses, including the
theory and method of biology, which serves as the gateway
course into the department's master of science program. Over
the past few years, Chism's help in development of a new
graduate curriculum, which brought back a non-thesis option,
has drastically increased enrollment and improved the
program.
Chism has already been a recipient of the Kinard Teaching
Award. An active scholar, Chism spends her research time
studying animal behavior and conservation. She has had
graduate students conduct research everywhere from Peru to
Puerto Rico to the Riverbanks Zoo to the Winthrop Farm.
A Winthrop faculty member since 1989, Chism holds a Ph.D.
from the University of California – Berkeley.
