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May 11, 2005

Trinity University Honors Five Outstanding Faculty Members

SAN ANTONIO - Five outstanding members of the Trinity University faculty have been honored for distinction in service, teaching, advising, or research. Trinity president John Brazil and the University's Office of Academic Affairs announced the awards recently.


Paula Hertel	Richard Butler	Sammye Johnson	Thomas Jenkins	Wen Xing

Paula Hertel, professor of psychology, was recognized for outstanding scholarship and research. Richard Butler, professor of economics, received an award for distinguished University and community service. In addition, Sammye Johnson, professor of communication, was lauded for her commitment and dedication to student advising.

Two junior faculty members - assistant professors Thomas Jenkins and Wen Xing - in the departments of classical studies and modern languages and literatures, respectively, were cited for distinguished teaching and research.

In the category of Distinguished Scholarship, Research, or Creative Work, Professor Hertel was cited for being a dedicated, relentlessly curious scholar who is deeply committed to asking and answering questions intended to expand our understanding of our world and ourselves. Her research interests - memory and emotion and depression-related impairments in memory - have been published extensively in some of the most competitive journals in psychology. Thirty-three of the articles and book chapters are first- or solo-author publications, and many include student authors. Professor Hertel, who received her doctorate from the University of New Mexico, has developed an international reputation in cognitive psychology and in depression research as an insightful investigator and lucid author.

At Trinity, Professor Butler has served on virtually every University committee, many of them multiple times. He was a leader in developing the Common Curriculum and served as chair of the economics department. He also is a member of the Faculty Development Committee, the Committee on Academic Standing, and the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee, among many others. In receiving the award for Distinguished University and Community Service, Professor Butler was recognized as the driving force behind the "Better Jobs" initiative of San Antonio and the Alamo Area Academies, an innovative workforce plan that combines the resources of industry, public schools, community colleges, four-year universities, and city government. He received his doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has won major teaching awards at Trinity and Rice University.

In the area of advising, Professor Johnson is known for continuing her mentoring, coaching, and friendship with students over the long term. Students and alumni note that she is detail-oriented, knowledgeable about the curriculum, and willing to mentor former students long into their professional careers. Whether students are preparing to register or work on possible internships in media industries, they appreciate Professor Johnson's exceptional and caring work on their behalf. She holds the Carlos Augustus de Lozano Chair in Journalism and holds a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University. She also is the author of Magazine Publishing and The Magazine From Cover to Cover and is a freelance writer and editor who has published more than 300 articles.

Professor Jenkins holds a doctorate from Harvard University and has taught at Washington and Lee and Rice University. Since arriving at Trinity in 2001, he has amassed an impressive record of teaching and scholarship in addition to contributing to the overall strength of the University. In the classroom, he is known as a rigorous yet creative teacher who shows great skill in using new teaching technologies and encouraging interactive learning. His book manuscript, Intercepted Letters, recently was accepted for a new series on interdisciplinary approaches to Roman Studies. His research focuses on the intersection of myth and writing in the ancient world.

Professor Xing received a doctorate from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and taught at Dartmouth and Mt. Holyoke before coming to Trinity in 2003. He is passionate in the delivery of knowledge and in his ability to communicate with students. With a background in Chinese art history, he is able to bring an expert's eye for art and music to the courses he teaches. Also a poet, he often chants ancient poetry in the classroom rather than simply read it aloud. His research on excavated texts is revolutionizing the field of early China by establishing a new methodology for interpreting and translating these texts.

Each professor received a medal and $2,000 at a ceremony held during a faculty assembly meeting in late April.

Trinity University is a nationally recognized liberal arts and sciences institution noted for its exceptional faculty and commitment to the comprehensive preparation of its talented student body. It is a learning community that has charted its course with a steadfast commitment to excellence since it was founded in 1869.

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