Adjunct of the Year

I was nominated for Adjunct of the Year at SCC. Here is a copy of my nomination:

Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award

Nomination Form

Fall 2009 – spring 2010

Nominee: Mitch Harden

Division: Social Sciences; Psychology

Has this person taught a minimum of four semesters at SCC? Yes, Mitch began teaching in the fall08’. _______________________________________________

Why is this person deserving of this award?  (Reasons for nomination could include, but are not limited to, quality of instruction, innovative teaching, concern for learning and for students, and accessibility to students. This material will be includedon the ballot.

Mitch Harden has been with SCC since the fall of 2008. He taught as a temporary full-time faculty member in the spring 09’. He has taught 19 sections of PSY-101 over the last five semesters. The need we have at SCC is primarily for adjuncts to teach the General Intro to Psychology course. Mitch has met and far exceeded the work of an adjunct instructor. He teaches his classes with hands on views of psychology and makes the class the most interesting and enjoyable experience he can for his students each and every class. He utilizes humor and YouTube clips into just about every concept he depicts. He is research oriented and well versed in his field of neuropsychology. Mitch developed a new Special Topics course last summer, The Mind, Brain, and Behavior. He made a very difficult course understandable and interesting to the novice learner. He also is developing another Special Topics course this summer, Psychology of Film and the Media. This course will likely be a big hit with summer students looking for an interesting psychology elective. They do not yet know they are in for an amazing ride. Mitch also offers to do seminars on campus. He presented at the Scary Movie Marathon and had over 250 students on an evening for a Psychology of Fear talk. The feedback from students was commendable. Mitch has taken on the role of mentor to other adjunct faculty that he has helped to recruit and train from UMSL graduate school programs. He takes the role very seriously, observing their classes, offering feedback, giving suggestions for improvement and sharing with the Program Coordinator. I can’t say enough about what a worthy adjunct faculty member Mitch Harden is and how is so deserving of this honor as Adjunct Faculty member of the Year for Business and Social Sciences.

Name: Beth Finders, Psychology Program Coordinator