UH professors recognized by Board of Regents for excellence in teaching

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Arlene Abiang, (808) 956-5637
Mia Noguchi, (808) 956-9095
External Affairs & University Relations
Posted: Aug 24, 2005

HONOLULU — The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents have selected 12 professors from campuses across the university system as the recipients of the 2005 Regents‘ Medal for Excellence in Teaching. The award recognizes their extraordinary level of subject mastery and scholarship, teaching effectiveness, creativity and personal values beneficial to students.

This year‘s recipients include:
Gerald D. Brown, an assistant professor of English at Kauai CC. During his 27 years, Browne has taught a variety of literary courses including first-year composition, developmental writing, survey courses in British literature and Japanese literature in translation. Until his retirement this past June, he was a long-time member of the written communication and composition directors committees. Browne believes that the teaching/learning process is a joyful enterprise which helps us develop more fully as human beings.

Duane Clark, an instructor of philosophy and religion at Maui CC. Clark takes his teaching beyond textbook material and encourages his students to be resourceful by relating philosophy to their daily lives. His dedication and enthusiasm is apparent to his students who appreciate his ability to make a "boring subject" sound appealing and for showing them a "greater respect for education."

Douglas Crowell, an instructor of anatomy and physiology at Kapiolani CC. As the coordinator of exercise and sport science, Crowell provides his students with the knowledge and skills to succeed as fitness professionals and personal trainers within the health and fitness industry. He coordinated the creation of an associate of science degree in exercise and sport science, which was approved by the Board of Regents in Fall of 2004.

Antoinette Martin, an assistant professor of art at Windward CC. Martin inspires her students to think "outside the box" and to strive past what they thought they were capable of doing. She makes learning fun and relaxed, instilling enthusiasm for art in her students. Martin‘s work is consistently displayed in the Gallery ʻIolani — "a priceless gift to the college, the artists and the community," a colleague wrote.

Paul Onomura, an associate professor of diesel mechanics technology at Honolulu CC. He restructured and revitalized the diesel mechanics program to accommodate flexible intake of students. Despite budget constraints, his experience in the industry has enabled him to design and create work stations for the program. Outside of the classroom, he freely shares his knowledge with colleagues and the community through workshops and meetings.

Rebecca Ostertag, an assistant professor of biology at UH Hilo. Students regard Ostertag‘s high level of involvement and superior teaching ability. She provides them with needed criticism in a way that is positive and supportive. Ostertag combines teaching concepts with field based experiences that utilize the extraordinary landscape diversity of the Big Island.

Pate Pieron, an associate professor of nursing at Hawaii CC. Pieron challenges her students with critical thinking and health scenarios that aid them in understanding the curriculum. Her presentations of difficult terminology and concepts are clear and interesting, making them easy to comprehend by all her students.

Wesley Teraoka, an associate professor of geography at Leeward CC. His skilled questioning methodology makes his classes highly participatory and continuously engages his students. To facilitate student learning, Teraoka actively participates in a number of support activities for students, such as arranging for tutors and working with a program that mentors and trains a student leader to review materials covered in the course with their classmates.

Catherine Fulford, a professor of educational technology at UH Mānoa. Fulford‘s expertise in educational technology is in instructional design. In order to hone her skills in each aspect of design, she worked at all levels of the instructional systems field and uses these same principles in designing and teaching her classes.

Anthony Guerrero, an associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at UH Mānoa. Throughout his academic career, Guerrero has been committed to medical student teaching, working to optimize the effectiveness of patient-based learning and striving to be an effective mentor for medical students at all levels of training.

Terry Hunt, an associate professor of anthropology at UH Mānoa. The foundation of Hunt‘s teaching includes challenging students to gain direct learning experiences and make original contributions through research. He conducts archaeological field schools in Fiji and Rapa Nui, during which he encourages students to consider their influence on a small local community and what implications research into cultural change has for the world.

Eric Yamamoto, a professor of law at UH Mānoa. Yamamoto is an internationally renowned expert in addressing issues of racism and reconciliation with originality and genuine profundity. His visionary style of teaching enabled him to develop an innovative teaching/learning model, "Strategic Research and Action Initiative." This model currently forms the basis for the Equal Justice Society‘s projects which will be established on law school campuses nationwide.

Recipients of the 2005 Regents‘ Medal for Excellence in Teaching will be recognized for their contributions to the university along with other UH award winners at a system-wide ceremony in September.About the University of Hawaiʻi
Established in 1907 and fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the University of Hawaiʻi is the state‘s sole public system of higher education. The UH System provides an array of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees and community programs on 10 campuses and through educational, training, and research centers across the state. UH enrolls more than 50,000 students from Hawaiʻi, the U.S. mainland, and around the world. For more information, visit www.hawaii.edu.