Adjuncts receive first Part-Time Faculty Teaching Excellence Awards
Johanna Slivinske has been a member of YSU’s part-time faculty teaching force for more than 13 years.
“I take great pride in teaching YSU students and helping them to reach their goals,” she says.
Slivinske, joined by five other colleagues, was recognized for those efforts with the first Part-Time Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, presented at the Faculty Recognition Awards Dinner on April 19.
“Our part-time faculty make valuable contributions to advance the teaching mission of the university,” Provost Martin Abraham said. “It is appropriate that we recognize them for their talent and hard work.”
President Jim Tressel congratulated the awardees. “And thanks to all part-time faculty across every single department of the campus,” he said. “Thanks for bringing your expertise and experience to our classrooms. Thanks for helping give our students real-world insights. And thanks for your contributions to the life of the campus community.”
The first class of Teaching Excellence recipients:
- Anthony Armeni, Art
- Mary Ann Cosentino, Nursing/Human Ecology
- Russell Moser, Chemistry
- Roger Patterson, Mathematics and Statistics
- John J. “Jack” Patrick, History (no photo)
- Johanna Slivinske, Social Work
“Anytime someone recognizes you for your work, it is affirming,” said Patterson, a retired Boardman High School math and computer science teacher who started teaching part-time at YSU in 1981. He has taught a wide variety of courses in his 36 years on campus, including Pre-Calculus and courses from the Calculus sequence.
“I count myself as very fortunate,” he said. “The students at YSU and the faculty with whom I work have made it a very enjoyable experience.”
Slivinske, a mental health therapist at PsyCare in Howland, teaches out of the Social Work department and has been active in many YSU initiatives, including the Culture of Community Council and the Women and Gender Studies program. She has also led efforts to increase part-time representation in university governance.