2013 Butch Oustalet Gulf Coast Distinguished Faculty Awards Presented

Awards for the 2013 Butch Oustalet Gulf Coast Distinguished Faculty were presented to three recipients in the areas of research, teaching and service during The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast's annual Fall Convocation.

The Research Award was presented to Dr. MD Sarder, associate professor of industrial engineering technology. Sarder, who compiled an exceptional record of research in 2012, published a collective of two book chapters, 10 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings. He was also awarded funding for seven of the 10 research grant proposals he submitted.

Assistant professor of biology Dr. Jennifer Walker was named the recipient of the Teaching Award. Walker, who performed exceptionally well in her teaching duties in 2012, taught eight courses, earning high evaluations in each one and letters of praise from multiple students.

One example that demonstrates Walker's commitment to active learning was when she took her marine biology class on a three-day trip to Port St. Joe, Fla. This allowed students to conduct their experiments in the field rather than a class laboratory environment.

The Service Award was presented to assistant professor of nursing Dr. Sandra Bishop, who has contributed to the university, as well as local and regional communities, in many ways throughout 2012. In addition to her position as associate dean for Southern Miss Gulf Coast College of Nursing, she served on a collective 11 departmental, college and university committees and was co-chair of the Mississippi Department of Health's “At Risk” Task Force.

The Butch Oustalet Gulf Coast Distinguished Faculty Awards, sponsored by the Butch Oustalet family, were created to recognize Southern Miss Gulf Coast faculty who have demonstrated exemplary achievements in one of the three areas of research, teaching and service. Each award winner received a $1,000 honorarium and a plaque recognizing their achievement.

The winners, selected by a committee of the previous year's award recipients, were judged on submitted material supporting the specified area of distinction. Dr. Robert Pauly, associate dean for the College of Arts and Letters at Southern Miss Gulf Coast, served as a non-voting chair of the committee.

For more information on the Butch Oustalet Gulf Coast Distinguished Faculty Awards, call 228.865.4573.