College of Education and Health Professions Honors Outstanding Faculty

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The College of Education and Health Professions has selected six faculty members for the 2005 Outstanding Faculty Awards, honoring their contributions to the college’s goal of excellence in teaching, research and service.

The Outstanding Career Award was presented to both Barry Brown, University Professor in kinesiology, and to Douglas Watson, professor in rehabilitation education and research.

Brown has more than 32 years experience as a professor, researcher, speaker and inventor. He is author of more than 70 scholarly articles, several chapters in books and two manuals. Brown’s research focuses on the enhancement of human potential and the interrelationships among physiological, psychological and mental performance. He invented the Exploder, used by many colleges, universities and professional teams to develop explosive power in athletes. He also co-invented the Skyndex Body Fat Calculator, a device for the easy measurement of skin folds to determine body composition.

Watson is director of the UA Rehabilitation Research and Training Center for Persons Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, the only federally funded research and training center in the nation that focuses on this population. His leadership has resulted in more than 26 grants, securing several million dollars for research since 1981.

Watson is author or co-author of 55 papers, 18 research reports and 14 monographs in addition to more than 400 invited presentations throughout the United States. He edits the Journal of Interpretation and is a board member of the American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association. Watson, who has been recognized with numerous awards from professional organizations, is a recipient of the Boyce Williams Award, the highest honor in the field of deafness rehabilitation.

The Outstanding All-Around Faculty Award went to Bobbie Biggs, professor in adult and vocational education and a member of the UA faculty for more than 25 years. Biggs is known for significant contributions to early childhood education and to the professionalization of childcare workers for the state of Arkansas. She has secured millions of dollars in grant funds to help preschool children across the state, and her efforts have earned her and the department national recognition in the field.

She has advised more than 70 graduate students and currently has 16 doctoral advisees. She is author of more than 160 articles, book chapters and papers. Biggs is a member of the board of trustees for the American Technical Education Association and guided Northwest Arkansas Community College in developing a strategic plan.

Christopher J. Lucas, professor in higher education, received the award for outstanding teaching. Lucas, who consistently receives high ratings from his students, is co-author of “New Faculty,” a text presenting strategies for improving teaching and promoting active learning. In a letter of nomination, a student wrote, “Dr. Lucas is not only concerned that students master the material in his courses, but he is aware of the most effective methodologies for fostering learning in the classroom setting.”

Merry Moiseichik, associate professor in recreation, was named the year’s outstanding researcher. She is principal editor of “Management of Park and Recreation Agencies,” published by the National Recreation and Parks Association. The book, which is both an upper-level textbook for colleges and universities and a manual for agencies, is the top seller of any of the association’s publications.

Linda Morrow, associate professor in curriculum and instruction and coordinator of the middle-level education program, received the award for outstanding service. Morrow was instrumental in developing the unit assessment plan for the teacher education program. She is the past president of the Arkansas Association of Teacher Educators and is vice president of Phi Delta Kappa, international education honorary society.

Susan Mayes, instructor and coordinator of undergraduate studies in the department of health science, kinesiology, recreation and dance, was honored for advising. As one student wrote in a letter of support, “What you see is what you get and what you get is a fun, energetic and hard-working woman, who is committed to seeing her advisees walk across the stage.”