COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATIONS
2014 Faculty Recognition: TEACHING
2014 FACULTY RECOGNITION FOR TEACHING - COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATIONS HONOREES
Picture: from left to right:
Dean William Briggs, Dr. Diane Witmer, Mr. Waleed Rashidi, Ms. Beth Georges & Dr. Ed Fink
EXCEPTIONAL TEACHING EFFECTIVENESS
Ed Fink
Department of Radio-TV-Film
Professor Fink has amassed some of the highest overall teaching evaluation scores in the Department of Radio-TV-Film from Spring 2011 to Spring 2013. He became head of the Faculty Development Center at the beginning of the Fall 2013 semester so he did not teach during that semester. One student’s comment on the SOQs summed it up; “He is a great teacher, grades fair, tells you like it is.” He also brings the profession to the classroom by the outstanding guest speakers he invites to campus. His classroom performance and his caring attitude are valued by students. They particularly appreciate that he is a great cheerleader for CSUF and encourages students to get involved with many activities on campus.
Beth Georges
Department of Communications
Beth has been a lecture in the Department since 2002 and is being nominated to recognize her exceptional teaching effectiveness. Beth teaches a variety of courses in the journalism sequence including COMM 202/Reporting for the Mass Media. Beth relies on her extensive background in television news to show students the realities of the broadcast business – and the many changes it’s undergoing. She holds students responsible for producing work that is consistent with industry standards. Her knowledge and expertise are valued by students, and students frequently report that her class is “an enjoyable and enriching experience.”
Edith Li
Department of Human Communication Studies
This is Dr. Edith Li’s final semester at Cal State Fullerton. After more than 30 years in the classroom, she is retiring. She has been a superb teacher throughout her career. During the past three years, the period for this award, Edith Li has earned the highest overall student ratings of any faculty member in the Communication Disorders degree program. Her mean rating for all classes was 3.77 on a four-point scale. Moreover, she garnered those ratings while teaching one large section every semester. She typically teaches 150 students per semester. Dr. Li truly shines in 400 level classes and 500 level clinical practicums, where her student ratings are at or very near 4.0. The Communication Disorders program will struggle to find someone to replace her who possesses the same depth of knowledge in neurogenic communication disorders along with her remarkable teaching skills. She is energetic, enthusiastic, and in control in the classroom.
COLLABORATIVE TEACHING
Diane Witmer
Department of Communications
Professor Diane Witmer has taught in the Department since 1997. She exemplifies the model of collaborative teaching that we hold in such high esteem at CSUF. Dr. Witmer has taught almost every course within the public relations concentration. She has written four books, including Public Relations Management: A Team-Based Approach  that we use in our COMM 464B classes. She has earned the recognition of ‘fellow,’ highest honor bestowed by the Public Relations Society of America. She has robust professional relationships with scholarly and professional colleagues both locally and nationally and used these contracts to enhance her exemplary teaching in the classroom.
HIGH IMPACT PRACTICESWaleed Rashidi
Waleed Rashidi is a lecturer in the Entertainment and Tourism concentration. Waleed has been teaching for the Department since 2008 (when he completed his master’s degree in the Department). He took on the responsibility for COMM WEEK in 2013 and is especially worthy of recognition for this high impact practice teaching effort . COMM WEEK (COMM 497T) offers an unparalleled opportunity for students to acquire hands-on event planning experience and deal with all the challenges and frustrations that the “real world” workplace will bring them. Waleed is engaged with and well liked by his students, and COMM WEEK is consistently one of our students’ favorite courses.
Erika Thomas
Department of Human Communication Studies
Dr. Erika Thomas deserves special recognition for her work as the Director of the Forensics Program, a co-curricular activity that features intercollegiate speech and debate competition. Debate is a high impact practice that promotes student involvement and commitment to learning through active competition. The very nature of competitive debate extends learning beyond the traditional classroom, increases socio-political awareness, and leads to greater civic engagement. Dr. Thomas has done a wonderful job of using community outreach to recruit debaters from less privileged high schools. She encourages cultural, ethnic, and gender diversity on the squad. The Forensics Program is also interdisciplinary in terms of majors; nearly half the debaters are non-majors. Dr. Thomas endorses a “walk-on” policy: Any student can try out for the debate team. Debaters compete in novice, junior, and varsity division, based on skill level. The debate training they receive prepares them for careers in law, politics, and other advocacy careers.
