Shorter College Honors Teachers of the Year

Two Shorter College faculty members were recognized for their outstanding work throughout this academic year during Shorter’s 10 a.m. commencement exercises on May 3. Dr. Martha Shaw received the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship. Mrs. Gina McDaniel was awarded the Vulcan Materials Company Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award.
	Dr. Martha Shaw

Dr. Shaw, a resident of Rome, has been a member of Shorter’s music faculty since 1999 and serves as professor of music and director of choral activities. Her 15 years of experience as a public school music specialist contribute significantly to her work at Shorter, where she teaches music education methods classes and conducts the Shorter Chorale.

“Dr. Shaw combines her excellent musicianship with an unmistakable grace that very quickly gains the students’ respect,” said one nominator. “My observation of her teaching leads me to conclude that she is a sterling example of excellence in teaching.”

Dr. Shaw is also the founding director of the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree with an emphasis in voice from Shorter College, a Master of Science in Music Education degree with an emphasis in choral conducting from the University of Tennessee, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree with an emphasis in conducting from the University of South Carolina.

Also a Rome resident, Mrs. McDaniel serves as an assistant professor of business at Shorter, where she has taught courses since 1991. “When I think of the key areas for this award, I cannot possibly think of a more deserving person on campus than Gina McDaniel,” a nominator wrote. “Students fall in love with her as a professor and are fully aware of her willingness to help them in any way possible.”

Mrs. Gina McDaniel

Her subject interests include economics, international business, investments and small business courses. In addition to her teaching responsibilities and involvement with multiple campus committees, she serves as the faculty advisor for Shorter’s traditional student chapter of Sigma Beta Delta, the international honor society for students majoring in business, management and administration. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Bellarmine College and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Transylvania State University.

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