ATSU-CGHS announces 2019-20 faculty awards
Posted: July 9, 2020
Don Altman, DDS, DHSc, EdD, MPH, MBA, MA, dean of A.T. Still University’s College of Graduate Health Studies (ATUS-CGHS), has announced 2019-20 faculty awards virtually. The following list includes the award name, award recipient, and additional information as to why the recipient was selected.
2020 Professor of the Year
Ashley Love, DrPH, MPH, MS, CPH, associate professor
“The Professor of the Year Award is presented to one College of Graduate Health Studies faculty member who is judged to be the most outstanding professor. Characteristics such as excellence in leadership and guidance given to students, the degree and quality of inspiration achieved, and intellectual integrity are used in selecting the recipient. Students nominating the recipient commented that this professor teaches with excellence. Responses to questions are always friendly. This professor offers constant communication and incorporates additional material each week to help students think outside of the box. Our students think about public health in a real world setting because of her. It is my pleasure to announce that the 2020 Professor of the Year Award goes to Dr. Ashley Love,” according to an email from Dr. Altman.
2020 Outstanding Employee Award
Susan Thomas, MSEd
“The CGHS Outstanding Employee Award, any employee in the CGHS community is eligible to win this award. The winner is selected based upon nominations recognizing achievements in the area of customer focus, going beyond, hospitality, or service. This year’s winner was nominated under the category of going beyond, which recognizes not just performing a job with excellence, but striving to go beyond what is expected. This year’s winner is described as professional, helpful, and easy to work with. She is deserving of this recognition because she constantly goes beyond the highest expectations. She brings a perspective and knowledge base to the situation and does it in a way that feels supportive and creative. Working with Susan makes me feel better about the work I do and the people I work with. One nomination stated that ‘working with this nominee makes me feel better about the work I do and the people I work with.’ It is my pleasure to announce the 2020 CGHS Outstanding Employee Susan Thomas,” according to an email from Dr. Altman.
2020 Health Administration Adjunct Faculty of the Year
Dan Leask, MBA, adjunct professor
“Mr. Dan Leask joined the Master of Health Administration program in July 2011 as an adjunct faculty member. At that time the program had a 3-course coaching series and Dan was one of the developers and key instructors for those courses. Later, the MHA program was revised to eliminate the coaching courses and replace them with a 3-course series in human resources management and, once again, Dan was key in developing and teaching the courses. Now the MHA program is changing again to align with the requirements of the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), and the 3-course human resources series is changing to just one course. Dan is key in developing and will teach the course in Fall Block 2 this year, while also helping us teach out the old courses. It almost goes without saying that the MHA program would not be the same without Dan. He is always willing to teach or help develop courses. Without fail, he always attends faculty meetings and meets all requirements of adjunct faculty. Moreover, he always contributes to the betterment of the program. He has a strong background in employee development and coaching, and his understanding of this field helps him serve students in such a way that his student evaluations are always stellar. I have great respect for Dan and appreciate his contributions to the success of our MHA program. Thank you, Dan, for your extraordinary efforts,” according to an email from Dr. Altman.
2020 Health Professions Education Adjunct Faculty of the Year
Olawunmi Obisesan, PhD, DHEd, MPH, adjunct assistant professor
“The Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award for the Doctor of Education program is being awarded to a graduate of our own Doctor of Health Education program who moved seamlessly into the role of leading our EdD students through their doctoral research projects, or DRPs. She is honest, fair, and firm in her student feedback and grading. She makes herself available to students to accommodate their widely varying schedules and time zones. She achieves well the tricky balance between policy and students’ circumstances to help them succeed. According to one student, ‘She is not in it as a job, she is serving as a leader and mentoring the next generation of expert peers.’ She truly goes above and beyond in her professionalism and dedication to her students. This award goes to Dr. Olawunmi Obisesan, known by her students as ‘Dr. O’ and by her colleagues as ‘Ola,’” according to an email from Dr. Altman.
2020 Kinesiology Adjunct Faculty of the Year
Tracy Hultgren, MS, BFA, adjunct professor
“The Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award for the Kinesiology program is being awarded to Mr. Tracy Hultgren. Tracy was a graduate of the very first class of the program (then called Human Movement) and has since taken the lead on our Motor Control course. Tracy is the longest serving adjunct faculty and provides positive contributions to the students and the program. His teaching upholds and elevates the program standards as he is very active in his courses, providing students incredible interaction in the discussions and thorough feedback in his grading. Tracy also presents to the students in person each summer at the Kinesiology summer institute. Tracy Hultgren is a pleasure to work with and an extremely valued member of our faculty team. The Kinesiology program is lucky to have him,” according to an email from Dr. Altman.
2020 Health Sciences Adjunct Faculty of the Year
Thomas DiDonna, DHSc, MSN, RN, adjunct professor
“The Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award for the Doctor of Health Sciences program is being awarded to an alumnus of the program who is an excellent educator, a professional and a scholar. As a devoted educator, this individual has demonstrated service and high-quality teaching to our students and the mission of our program, CGHS, and ATSU. As a professional, this individual demonstrates diligence, energy, and teamwork in all that he does. As a scholar, this individual continuously works to improve and innovate our program with the highest quality and academic rigor. This award goes to Dr. Thomas DiDonna. We are honored to have him as part of our program and College,” according to an email from Dr. Altman.
2020 Public Health Adjunct Faculty of the Year
Michael McCunniff, DDS, adjunct professor
“The Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award for the Public Health department goes to an amazing individual who has been with the department for over 10 years. He is hardworking, and truly dedicated to the mission and vision of the department, college, and university. He serves not only his students with devotion and integrity, but also our country. He has been an active member of the National Disaster Medical System since 1999 and the Missouri Emergency Management Team since 1997. Despite being deployed, including recently during the COVID-19 response, he continued to teach and share his experiences with our public health students. He goes above and beyond in all he does, and his passion for the field shows. The recipient of this year’s outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award for the Public Health department is Dr. Michael McCunniff (professor emeritus). Dr. McCunniff is also a retired professor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Dentistry,” according to an email from Dr. Altman.