Shorter University faculty honored with teaching awards

May 24, 2012 – Two Shorter University professors, Dr. Jill Borchert and Ms. Kristy Brown, were recently honored for their commitment to teaching and scholarship. Dr. Borchert received the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship, and Ms. Brown received the Vulcan Materials Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award.

Jill Borchert accepts her award from Shorter Provost Dr. Craig Shull.

The President’s Award, which includes a $4,000 cash prize, was presented to Dr. Borchert, who serves as associate professor of psychology. The President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship recognizes the achievement of a tenured associate professor or full professor. Dr. Borchert received her doctoral degree in psychology with a specialization in social-personality psychology from the University of Southern California. Prior to attaining her Ph.D., Dr. Borchert received her master’s degree in counseling psychology from Western Washington University and her undergraduate degree in anthropology from Central Washington University.

Throughout her career, Dr. Borchet has taught at many institutions of higher education including Midway College, the University of South Florida and the University of California. She has also served as author and co-author of many publications.

During the award presentation, Shorter University Provost Dr. Craig Shull applauded Dr. Borchert’s excellent teaching skills and read excerpts from nomination forms received from both faculty and students. One nomination read,” Dr. Borchert has been a favorite teacher of ours from the start … She is a great person and a shinning example of Christ. Her door is always open to students, and if we need additional class help, she is there. It is a blessing to feel that we can go speak to her at any time and she will help.” Another nomination added, “She exemplifies the caring concern for not only her students, but also her colleagues … She provides the kind of stimulating instruction that students need to move from the classroom to the workplace.”

Kristy Brown accepts her award from Shorter President Dr. Don Dowless.

The $1,000 Vulcan Materials Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award was presented to Ms. Brown, assistant professor of education. This award is given to a junior faculty member who displays strong campus leadership, creative course development, pioneering teaching methodology and instructional support along with model classroom teaching. The professor must also be helpful in advising students and illustrate a willingness to spend individual time with students in order to assist them academically.

Ms. Brown, who previously served as assistant women’s basketball coach at Shorter, received both her master’s degree in special education and educational specialist degree in reading from StetsonUniversity. She earned her undergraduate degree from Stetson University as well. Ms. Brown is currently working on her doctoral degree in teaching leadership from Kennesaw State University.

In campus leadership, Ms. Brown is involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes “which is one of her biggest passions … She has helped with various Bible studies on and off campus and has given talks at Shorter’s Baptist Collegiate Ministries,” according to one nomination form. “She is modeling and teaching students how they should teach, and she consistently uses different teaching methods to portray an effective teacher. When Ms. Brown models lessons, students are able to really see the passion she has for teaching.” Another nomination states, “an impeccable quality of Ms. Brown is her inspiring Christian leadership in and out of the classroom. Not only does she make a difference in academic success, she also has a great influence on the spiritual growth of every student she touches with her kind and Christ-like words and actions.”

Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christian university committed to excellence in education. Since 2003, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Shorter among the South’s best baccalaureate colleges, and the Princeton Review annually includes Shorter on its lists of best value and best Southeastern colleges. The university offers traditional bachelor’s degrees in 48 major areas as well as undergraduate degree programs for working adults, the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Education and the Master of Arts in Leadership. General education and calculus courses are offered in an online format, and Shorter recently launched online programs that lead toward the Associate of Science, the Bachelor of Business Administration, and the Master of Accountancy degrees. For more information, visit www.shorter.edu.