Interim Dean Larry Swanson sent a message to the SoMAS community regarding the winner of the 2017 Nuria Protopopescu Memorial Teaching Award:

After consideration of several outstanding nominees, I am pleased to inform you that Sabrina Geraci-Yee has been selected as the recipient of the 2017 Nuria Protopopescu Memorial Teaching Award.  This award is presented annually to a SoMAS graduate student based on demonstrated excellence in teaching, innovation and creativity in instructional plans and materials, and engagement with and dedication to their students.

 

Sabrina has been involved in teaching and mentorship of both high school and undergraduate students throughout her graduate career at SoMAS.  All six of the undergraduate students she has mentored are now pursuing advanced degrees in the sciences.  As a co-TA this year for MAR 301 (Marine Microbiology), Sabrina enhanced and updated the laboratory material and refurbished the culture collection. She gave lectures and filled in on extra lab sessions when the professor and co-TA had to be absent. Students taking the class praised her enthusiasm and described the lab sessions as “the best part of the course” where they “learned important laboratory techniques in a relaxed, nurturing environment”.  It was clear from the recommendations that the labs were also operating as tutorials where lecture material was explained and reinforced.

 

The award will be presented at the May 19th Departmental Convocation and includes a certificate, the awardee’s name on a plaque to be permanently displayed at SoMAS, and a check for $1,000.

 

I want to thank the Award Committee, Bob Aller, Christina Heilbrun, Qingzhi Zhu, and Chair Tom Wilson for their efforts in fundraising and assistance in identifying this year’s award recipient.

 

Please join me in congratulating Sabrina for this recognition and thank her for her service to the school and university!

 

Larry