By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez
Arts & Features Editor
On Nov. 13 the Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching, Scholarship, and Service (CELTSS) hosted an awards ceremony in the Heineman Ecumenical Center to recognize distinguished faculty.
Maria Alessandra Bollettino, CELTSS director, said she was delighted to celebrate last year’s award recipients that night.
She quickly gave the floor to President Nancy Niemi, who couldn’t stay for the whole ceremony due to a Board of Trustees meeting.
Niemi started off by asking the awardees not to be offended when a small group of people suddenly get up and leave, as she wasn’t the only one heading to the meeting. “It is not you, my friends.”
Moving on to the awards ceremony, Niemi said, “I’ve been thinking a lot throughout this election season and the past week about the commitment that FSU has to education as a tool for social equity and justice.”
She said it’s important for teachers and advisors to ask themselves questions like, “What are our behaviors as we go about honoring that commitment?” and “How do we work with social justice when we talk to our advisees?” and “How does that connect with making the world more equitable?” to list a few.
Niemi talked about a book called “The Children’s Story” by James Clavell. The author wrote it after his 6-year-old daughter returned home from school one day. She had memorized the Pledge of Allegiance, but she didn’t know what any of the words actually meant.
Clavell asked several people about the pledge, and saw that no one had ever explained what it means to any of them, Niemi added.
Using Clavell’s own words, Niemi read, “It pleases me greatly because it keeps asking me questions - questions like, what’s the use of ‘I pledge allegiance’ without understanding?”
She said she keeps “The Children’s Story” on her shelf of books that both comfort her and make her remember why she works at FSU. “I see this commitment to questioning critical analysis - that means greater equity for all our students and all of us - in the work of those who are being honored tonight and I’m honored to be your colleague.”
Provost Kristen Porter-Utley thanked CELTSS for organizing the event and she also thanked everyone involved in the decision-making process. “The decision-making process was very robust and very thoughtful, and I just want to thank everybody who was supporting that process.”
Five distinguished faculty members were present, she added. Porter-Utley wanted to share some “quick words” on each of them.
She described Folashadé Solomon, professor of Education, as an excellent scholar whose research focuses on learning, physics, dance, and identity.
Porter-Utley noted how Solomon “serves as a principal investigator for a multi-site, interdisciplinary National Science Foundation learning project.” It focuses on how the body, not just the brain, contributes to learning.
Solomon’s work in the Education Department focuses on equity in education and early childhood and elementary science methodology, Porter-Utley said.
“This and her other very, very impressive and imperative scholarship, especially right now, makes her so deserving of the 2023-24 Award for Excellence in Scholarship,” she said.
Porter-Utley said she was delighted that Cara Pina, professor of Biology, was the recipient of the Award for Excellence in Service.
“Cara has tirelessly since joining Framingham State worked to advance our institution’s commitment to anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion in her courses, in her department, in her college, and across our institution,” she said.
Pina makes sure that everyone feels heard and respected, Porter-Utley added.
Porter-Utley said if Michael Harrison, professor of Marketing, asks anyone, they’ll say he deserves to be the recipient of the Award for Excellence in Advising.
Speaking to Harrison, she said, “You really, really care about their success, including so many of our student athletes who really look to you for support and guidance.”
She wanted to thank Harrison for his important work with his students both in and out of his area of expertise, she added.
Visiting lecturers Santosha Adhibhatta, Peter Moynihan, Anne Roberti, and Elizabeth Banks were given quick congratulations by Porter-Utley for being the recipients of the Award for Excellence in Teaching. Banks and Moynihan were not present but they were recognized and celebrated regardless.
She said she was proud of Adhibhatta’s success in helping students pursue engineering careers, Roberti’s commitment to English language learners, Moynihan’s devotion to student success, and Banks’ commitment to the success of The Gatepost.
Dawn Vreven is another recipient for the Award for Excellence in Teaching, Porter-Utley said. “It’s an amazing thing to receive at an institution like ours, and I hope Dawn, wherever she is tonight, hopefully, doing something nice on her sabbatical - which is very well deserved - can feel our deep appreciation for all she does to support the success of our students.”
Each of the recipients present gave a quick presentation on their accomplishments.
[ Editor’s Note: Elizabeth Banks is the Assistant Advisor for The Gatepost. ]