Three faculty members were honored with the university’s highest honors when they were presented with the Louis K. Bell Research Award, the Outstanding Teaching Award, and the Richard S. Wallace Distinguished Service Award at the annual Retirement and Recognition ceremony April 29. Dr. Richard Topolski , associate professor of psychology, was honored with the Bell Research Award. Dr. Saundra Reinke, director of the Master of Public Administration degree program received the Outstanding Teaching Award, and Dr. William Dodd, associate vice president for academic affairs, received the Distingjuished Service Award. The Registrar’s Office was named the Department of the Year by the university’s Staff Council.
The Louis K. Bell Research Award recognizes contributions in research and scholarly publications, and Dr. Richard Topolski is an active researcher, a dedicated mentor to students, and a widely sought-out consultant for his research and statistical experience. Over the past five years he has produced seven publications and one conference proceeding, with two additional publications in press and five currently in preparation. He has presented at 12 regional, national, or international presentations with 29 students and four faculty co-presenters, and he supervised five student-only regional presentations involving 21 students—two that were awarded first and second place for Outstanding Undergraduate Student Research at a regional conference.
Dr. Topolski serves as the Research and Statistical Consultant for the Southeastern Region of the U. S. Army and over the past five years has collaborated on more than 75 research projects, primarily at Eisenhower Medical Center. Since 2006 he has chaired the university’s Oversight Committee for Human and Animal Research. He also has secured three contracts, totaling over $900,000. Psi Chi, psychology’s honor society, has selected him as the Psychology Professor of the Year three times—and today we recognize him with this additional honor—the Louis K. Bell Research Award.
The Outstanding Teaching Award recognizes outstanding teaching as well as service to the university and to the community. The recipient, Dr. Reinke, in addition to directing the Master of Public Administration degree program, is a professor of public administration. Dr. Reinke joined Augusta State in 1999, and among her accomplishments has been the accreditation of the MPA program. But her greatest accomplishment has been the knowledge, experience, and wisdom that she passes on to students. She uses collaborative and service learning as much as possible as evidenced by the number of major community projects undertaken by students—10 major projects benefiting seven different public and nonprofit agencies since 2000.
She teaches students how to do professional presentations, and as a result, students have presented at every PKP Student Research conference since 2001, and many have presented at state, regional, and national conferences. Thirty-two students have had their work published, and it in one student’s words that I find the best description of Dr. Reinke: She inspires me to move forward and believe in myself not only as an intellectual contributing to the academic world, but also as an activist that has a responsibility to utilize that role and create change in my own community.
The Richard S. Wallace Distinguished Service Award—named for a former president—recognizes exceptional service to the university, the students, and the community. This year’s recipient, Dr. Dodd, has served Augusta State with distinction for many years, having joined the faculty in 1979. He has served as associate dean of University College, chair of the Department of Learning Support, and a long-time professor of English. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a commitment to higher education through his service to the university, the University System, and professional associations.
He has served on numerous committees including the CSRA P-16 Council’s Advanced Academy for Future Teachers, University Council, Faculty Policies Committee., COMPASS Implementation Committee, and the Banner Project Steering Committee. He is considered the university’s “Go-To” person, fielding numerous phone calls daily from students, faculty, staff, and administrators seeking immediate assistance. He is said to be our institution’s “living and breathing University Procedures Manual.”
He has proven himself as valuable to the community to the university, working with such organizations as the League of Women Voters, Richmond County Board of Education, Augusta Youth Development Center, MCG, and the United Way. Dr. Dodd has constantly found ways to use his skills as an educator to help others do their jobs better, and by so doing, improve the life of many.
Apr 30, 2010
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