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“Each one spends countless hours working on behalf of students. They set high learning standards, offer support and encouragement, and push students to excel.”
These are the words of Dr. Linda Lujan, Vice President of Academic Affairs, as she describes three faculty members who will receive the NISOD Excellence Award – given to educators for their outstanding accomplishments in teaching and learning.
Each will be honored at the National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) conference. The annual conference will be in May in Austin, Tex.
Selected from among SMCC’s “many incredible full and part-time faculty members” are: Dr. Pete Facciola, Laurita Moore, and Shelle Hawn. “They truly exemplify the spirit of this award,” Dr. Lujan says.
The vice president adds, “They focus on outcomes and are role models for students. Their unique and individual contributions to their students, the college, the district, and our community will leave a lasting legacy. We are honored to have them at SMCC.”
This year, the vice president has started a new tradition: recognizing an adjunct faculty member (Shelle Hawn) with the NISOD award. “We rely so heavily on our adjunct faculty members and truly value the experience and knowledge they bring to our classrooms," Dr. Lujan notes.
Learn more about these three outstanding faculty members (below):
Dr. Pete Facciola
For 14 years, Pete Facciola has helped SMCC students to improve how they communicate with others. His classes have included Introduction to Human Communication, Conflict Mediation, Public Speaking, Small Group Communication,
and Research Methods. He has also taught education classes.
His strengths include the ability to develop applications of communication concepts – concepts that students find meaningful and that motivate them to spend time developing themselves as communicators.
Pete is known for organizing the Joan Tobin Peer Mediation Conference, which is co-sponsored by the Arizona Association of Conflict Resolution. The conference – which draws up to 300 high school students and educators -- marked its tenth anniversary at SMCC last fall. Students learn conflict-resolution skills and educators learn how to organize peer-mediation programs.
The mediation conference is one service provided by the SMCC Mediation Program, which Pete leads. A variety of services help schools, public organizations, private businesses and individuals to build conflict-management skills and programs.
Whether teaching or running a conference, this talented educator enjoys “ interacting with students, helping them to develop self-esteem and positive and constructive ways to interact with others in their personal and professional lives.
“I love to work with students who are really hungry to learn, and those who may come into class who don’t start out engaged and interested, but develop a passion for building communication skills and knowledge during the class.”
Shelle Hawn
An accomplished storyteller and dedicated English teacher, Shelle Hawn has been teaching classes at SMCC for the past five years. This year she is filling the dual role of one-year-only faculty while representing SMCC on the board of the Adjunct Faculty Association. In addition, she represents adjunct faculty on the Maricopa Community College District Diversity Advisory Council and the All Common Policy Development Committee.
Shelle spent much of her adult life as a manager in the microelectronics industry, “but when our facility closed five years ago, I decided to do something I wanted to do when I was attending community college years ago – teach,” she says.
With an academic certificate in Storytelling, Shelle is a natural at incorporating stories into the classroom. “I am a true believer in the power of story to enhance education,” she says. “Students enjoy being entertained while they learn.”
Shelle is known for her capacity to learn and share. “Every day is exciting; every day I learn from my students and from my peers. Sharing what I learn is thrilling,” she notes. South Mountain, GateWay, and Phoenix College faculty benefit from Shelle’s ever-expanding knowledge through her workshops on building an e-portfolio.
“My favorite part of teaching is the energy I receive from being in the classroom. It is marvelous to go home each day feeling more enthusiastic about my work than when I arrived. It is a joy to know we have a positive impact on people’s lives” she adds.
“Receiving this NISOD honor has a double meaning for me,” Shelle says. “It is such a wonderful feeling to be recognized for the work I do. At the same time, I view it as a win for the adjuncts. Adjunct faculty members sometimes feel undervalued. Our Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Linda Lujan, has expressed a desire to recognize adjuncts in future. The district relies heavily on adjunct contributions, so it is truly special to have our efforts rewarded.”
Laurita Moore
Whether teaching information technology or Spanish, Laurita Moore is passionate about her students.
Laurita has been teaching at SMCC for the past 15 years and has been part of the Maricopa Community Colleges for 21 years. (She has more than 35 years of experience in information technology and mainly teaches this subject).
“Every semester is like Christmas or my birthday,” she says. “I receive all these presents in my classroom and I get to spend the rest of the semester opening them up and finding out what’s inside. Along with the specific subject being taught, my students and I focus on personal and professional development and it is such a joy to see my students grow and succeed in life.”
Laurita is committed to fostering inclusive and diverse learning environments, and is pleased when “everyone has a seat at the table… I enjoy having my students network and increase their benefits, long term, from the greater organization (Maricopa Community Colleges).” This dedicated teacher adds that she and her students benefit from “the many amazing, gifted, committed, and wonderful colleagues in the organization.”
In all, “ the students are what I love best. I love when my students stay in touch long after the semester is over.” I am deeply committed to an inclusive, diverse learning environment.”