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May 10, 2006
Trinity Professors Honored For Outstanding Scholarship, Service
SAN ANTONIO – Five outstanding members of the Trinity University faculty have been honored for distinction in service, teaching, advising, or research. The awards were announced on the last day of classes in April by Trinity president John R. Brazil and the University’s Office of Academic Affairs.
Steve Gilliam, professor of speech and drama, was recognized for his creativity and distinguished scholarship. William Christ, professor and chair of communication, received an award for distinguished University and community service. In addition, Kim Robertson, associate professor of business administration, was lauded for his commitment and dedication to student advising.
Two junior faculty members – Christine Drennon, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology and urban studies, and Mark Lewis, assistant professor of computer science – were cited for distinguished teaching and research.
In the category of Distinguished Scholarship, Research, or Creative Work, Professor Gilliam is an example of what academics strive to be – dedicated, relentlessly curious, and committed to asking and answering deep questions. Nationally recognized for his creativity, Professor Gilliam and a colleague were nominated in 2001 and 2003-04 for the National Broadway Theatre Award in Best Visual Presentation for design work on Fiddler on the Roof. Among his credits are 12 summer seasons at a St. Louis outdoor theater; senior designer for three years for Six Flags theme parks; and scene designer for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Chicago’s Light Opera Works, Seattle’s Village Theatre, Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars, and more than 80 productions for Trinity’s main stage.
At Trinity, Professor Christ has served on virtually every University body, many of them multiple times, since coming to Trinity in 1982. As a relatively new faculty member in 1985, he became a leader in the development of the Common Curriculum, and more recently has shared his expertise in creating the new curriculum. Along with his University service, he has reached out to the San Antonio community by providing leadership as general manager of KRTU, the campus radio station.
For his dedication to advising, Professor Robertson has been nominated annually since the award was established in 2002. He typically advises more than 35 students, and in nominating him this year, one student praised his “extensive knowledge” of the Trinity curriculum as well as his “compassion and dedication to students.” Another student said he knows the Trinity course catalogue better than most people know their own telephone number. Although Professor Robertson acknowledges that students are responsible for their own academic path, he takes pride in providing direction and feedback.
Both recipients of the Junior Faculty Distinguished Teaching and Research Award have been at Trinity for five years. Both have amassed an extraordinary record of quality teaching and solid research while contributing substantially to the well-being of their respective departments.
Professor Drennon has put students in the community and brought the community to students in imaginative ways. For course assignments, her urban geography students must ride the bus, measure city blocks, compare current usage with historical changes, make arguments for tax increment financing in various city council districts, and collect census data on specific neighborhoods. Her timely research – focused largely on the use of geographic information systems which blend computer technology with map-reading – is applied to the classroom. She is currently working on a geographic history of the River Walk.
In the classroom, Professor Lewis expects a lot from his students and at the same time works hard for them and presents the material exceedingly well. He shows great skill in using new teaching technologies and encouraging interactive learning that allows students to follow their own interests while acquiring central concepts. He is also establishing himself in his research on large-scale numerical simulation of planetary ring systems, a subject that draws on his background in both computer science and astrophysics.
In addition to a medal commemorating the awards, each professor received $2,000 during a faculty assembly in 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.
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© 2006 Trinity University