PSU students honor outstanding faculty

This year’s Pittsburg State University Outstanding Faculty Award winners share something in common: they love teaching and it shows in everything they do.

Dr. James McAfee of the Department of Chemistry, Dr. Daniel Zurek of the Department of Biology, and Dr. Barbara McClasky of the Department of Nursing were presented with the award at this year’s Apple Day convocation on March 6.

The Outstanding Faculty Award is given to three faculty members each spring as a way to recognize them for their superior service to the university and her students. Faculty members are nominated and selected for the award by students, making it one of the most coveted recognitions on campus.

McAfee, who has taught courses in chemistry at PSU for 11 years, says that of all the grants he has won (currently he holds two research grants worth more than $150,000), he can’t compare that to the feeling of knowing students appreciate his efforts.

“I take teaching very seriously,” McAfee said. “I can recall being their age. When young people come to college, they essentially have four years to make or break their lives. We have a tremendous responsibility being in that path. As a teacher, you can assist them in reaching their dreams or you can stand in the way.”

Winning the Outstanding Faculty Award may also help McAfee gain some additional stature with his own children. McAfee’s wife, PSU chemistry professor Irene Zegar, won the award few years ago, but now, McAfee says, his children can stop wondering if mom is “better than dad.”

“They like to tease me about it,” he said. “Now I’m able to tell them I’ve caught up with her.”

Award winner Zurek, who came to Pitt State 10 years ago from San Diego, says he isn’t certain what he did to win the award for the second time, but that the long hours he’s willing to give to students may have something to do with it.

“I know the concepts are difficult and these ideas are tough, but I’m not going to let anyone down who is willing to try,” said Zurek, who will be escorting a group of students on a work-study trip to Peru this May. “I try to go above and beyond for them. I get evaluated in all kinds of ways, and of all the awards I could get, the one coming from the students means the most to me.”

For McClasky, the decision to leave her position as a hospital nurse 16 years ago in order to teach wasn’t an easy one. But each year as she sees students learn, grow, and graduate, she is continually in awe of how much she loves to teach.

“I loved what I did as a nurse and wasn’t sure I’d love teaching, but I have. These are wonderful students and they love to learn,” she said. “It’s an incredible honor to receive this award. Knowing the number of highly qualified faculty on this campus, it is really humbling to be selected.”

---Pitt State---