The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Associate Provost Distinguished Professor of e-Learning Awards were announced at a luncheon held Wednesday, April 8 at Al Fresco Italian Bistro in Biloxi.

The awards, made possible through funds given by the Butch Oustalet family and Dell, recognized faculty members for their dedication and commitment to technology-rich learning and teaching. Southern Miss Gulf Coast Associate Provost Pat Joachim, along with Oustalet and Kathy Thomas of Dell, awarded the four winning faculty members during the luncheon.

Award winners were selected by a panel of judges from various departments within the university.

“This is a time to recognize faculty who have excelled in the area of instructional delivery using technology to support the transfer of knowledge,” said Joachim. “The core mission of Southern Miss is to provide higher education opportunities, and the faculty members honored today have made a significant contribution in this area.”

Receiving the top award of $1,000, the title of 2009 Distinguished Professor of e-Learning, a Dell Laptop Inspiron 13 and a Dell all-in-one printer was Dr. Cyndi Gaudet. As director and associate professor for the Jack and Patti Phillips Workplace Learning and Performance Center, Gaudet has been a pioneer in maximizing learning through teaching with technology, offering online courses beginning as early as the 1990s.

Gaudet has displayed her commitment to e-learning by developing two innovative hybrid graduate programs at Southern Miss Gulf Coast. Additionally, students involved in the graduate programs also use social networking tools to connect to learning and network resources outside of the classroom.

Dr. Holly Hulbert and Dr. Kelley Samblis, both visiting instructors, submitted a shared nomination for their teachings within the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education. They were selected for the Award of Excellence and received $500, a Dell Inspiron Mini 12 Notebook and a Dell all-in-one printer.

Hulbert and Samblis were selected for the Award of Excellence because they have developed an online elementary degree offered to teacher assistants who currently work in public schools. Students within the program are able to take their courses online or in a hybrid format while continuing in their position as a teacher’s assistant during the day.

The Award of Achievement was granted to Dr. MD Sarder, assistant professor in the School of Construction. For his accomplishment, Sarder was awarded $300 and a Dell Inspiron Mini 12 Notebook.  Sarder was selected for the award because of his flexibility with technology in the classroom. After teaching 14 different online courses, Sarder utilizes a wide range of instructional technology for his students.

Dr. Maria Guilott, a visiting professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Research, was honored with the Award of Merit. With the award, Guilott also received $200 and a Dell all-in-one printer.

Using interactive multimedia components in her courses, Guilott has entirely redesigned four courses to make them available online. Through a special social networking Web site created for these online courses, Guilott’s students have the ability to share research and filter their choices for professional development.

For more information about the awards, please visit www.usm.edu/gc/e-learning or call 228.865.4573.

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About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering individuals to transform lives and communities. In a tradition of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world. Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss., with an additional campus and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; further information is found at www.usm.edu/gulfcoast .