Faculty Excellence Award winners & Emeritus Professors for 2025 are recognized

The House/Bruckmann Faculty Excellence Award recipients for 2025 are Dr. Heather Hatchett and Paula Kirch Smith.

The Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award recipients for 2025 are Raymond Ellington and Dr. Nicholas Shaver.

All of the award recipients were honored at a celebration on April 21, 2025.

House/Bruckmann Faculty Excellence Awards 2025:

Heather Hatchett, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology & Department Chair, Social & Behavioral Sciences (Humanities & Sciences)

Heather has been a faculty member since 2010, and she previously was selected for the House/Bruckmann Award in 2015. This year, Heather was nominated for her Collaborative Spirit and Contributions to the College, including:

• Leading the College Credit Plus (CCP) Committee through difficult challenges and completing projects to create more efficient and effective CCP programming. She led the committee in creating guidance documents for CCP coordinators college-wide and worked with administrators and faculty to rewrite the College’s Memorandum of Understanding that guides relationships between Cincinnati State and participating CCP high schools. In addition, she “facilitated communication, policy, guidance, and structure for college faculty working with CCP.”
• Providing “leadership, vision, and tireless effort” as well as research and data analysis to assist the College in securing a Federal Title III grant ($2.1 million) that resulted in the creation of the CState Complete program, which supports student success by preventing students from “stopping out” and helping them achieve degree completion.
• Serving as Faculty Champion for CState Complete, providing leadership to the faculty advisory team and working with the program staff to gather, analyze, and report on qualitative data and provide invaluable insights about student and faculty needs.
• Helping to ensure that scheduling of courses in Psychology is responsive to the needs of other programs and departments, so students have access to required courses that fit their schedules. 
• Providing “unwavering commitment to collaboration with colleagues,” “willingness to share her expertise and experiences as a trusted resource for other faculty,” and “dedication to the success of students and faculty.”

Paula Kirch Smith, M.Ed., MBA, Professor and Program Chair, Hospitality Management & Pre-Business Administration (Business)

Paula has been a full-time faculty member since 2009. She was nominated for her Contributions to the College and Collaborative Spirit, including:

• Serving as a “staunch advocate for reform, improvement, and employee and student advocacy” and demonstrating “commitment to excellence, equity, and understanding” in governance groups that affect many aspects of College operations, such as the Academic Policies and Curriculum Committee (APCC), the Academic Calendar Committee, and the Safety Committee, as well as serving as Vice President of Cincinnati State AAUP. Her nomination notes that Paula’s “constant nudging of Cincinnati State in the right direction has had significant and lasting impact” at the College.
• Through her work with APCC, she has helped guide programs towards specific improvements, and has contributed to “student-centered language and policies” regarding administrative withdrawals, no-shows, posthumous degrees, and other policies.
• In her AAUP role, she has worked diligently to resolve faculty concerns and has been “a driving force in building faculty and student camaraderie” through projects like student stress-relief kits. 
• Her nomination states that “Paula has served as both an official and unofficial faculty mentor to many in and outside of the Business Division” and notes that her “collaborative spirit extends toward the College’s long-term success,” such as a conversation with an adjunct instructor who applied for but was not selected for a full-time position, encouraging them to “continue on their path so they are ready when the next opportunity presents itself.”

Background

The House/Bruckmann Faculty Excellence Award was established in 1985. The award is named for Clifford R. House, the first president of Cincinnati Technical College, and Alice P. Bruckmann, a member of the College’s first Board of Trustees. 

• Tenured faculty members may be nominated by faculty and academic administrators based on demonstrated excellence related to the following criteria:
  • Excellence in Instruction
  • Commitment to Student Success
  • Collaborative Spirit
  • Contributions to the College
  • Contributions to the Community
  • Professional Achievements
  • Other
• Nominations are reviewed by a Screening Subcommittee comprised of past award recipients, and up to five nominees may be recommended for recognition as finalists.

Adjunct Faculty Excellence Awards 2025:

Raymond (Ray) Ellington, A.A.S., Adjunct Instructor of Aviation Maintenance Technology & Electrical Engineering Technology (Engineering & Information Technologies)

Ray has been an Adjunct Instructor since 2009. He is also a Senior Lab Technician for the Engineering and Information Technologies Division, at the Harrison Campus, and a 1985 graduate of the College. Ray was nominated for his Excellence in Instruction, Commitment to Student Success, and Collaborative Spirit. Examples from his nomination include: 

• As an instructor, Ray is a “standout educator” who effectively combines theoretical concepts with real-world applications and fosters “hands-on and interactive” learning environments where students feel comfortable asking questions, experimenting, and developing critical problem-solving skills. He applies varied teaching tools, including simulations and case studies that connect to students’ interests and help them grasp complex topics.
• Ray “ensures that every student is engaged and challenged,” by providing one-on-one support for students struggling with complex concepts and by pushing high achievers to explore more advanced material. He also serves as a mentor, guiding students through their academic journeys and offering valuable career advice. His nomination noted that Ray’s students “leave his courses with a solid understanding of the material but also with a deeper appreciation for the impact of these technologies on the world around them.”
• Ray has helped to improve connections between the EIT lab support available on Clifton Campus and the facilities at the Cincinnati West (Harrison) Campus, leading to “impactful, hands-on opportunities for students.”
• Ray’s nomination said, “His passion for teaching and commitment to student success make Ray a truly remarkable adjunct instructor.”

Nicholas (Nick) Shaver, Ph.D., Adjunct Instructor of Mathematics (Humanities & Sciences)

Nick has been an adjunct instructor in the Math department since Summer 2022. He was nominated for his Excellence in Instruction, Commitment to the College and Professional Achievements. Examples from his nomination include:

• Dr. Shaver developed MAT 141, a course for students seeking degrees in Early Childhood Education, that challenges students to engage with the content in ways that directly relate to their future work scenarios. His individualized approach “makes the material accessible while maintaining rigor,” and allows students to “gain confidence and skills.” He also developed a hybrid (partly online) version of the course to make it possible for employed students to complete the class while maintaining work-life balance.
• In teaching MAT 141 and MAT 105A, Dr. Shaver “takes student engagement to a new level” by incorporating real-world examples of practical applications of math and providing individualized support that allows students to gain confidence and achieve success. He is available to assist students “in and outside of class.”
• While working at Cincinnati State, Dr. Shaver completed his Ph.D. in Education from the University of Cincinnati, and conducted research focused on finding ways to better serve students who have struggled with math in their past and implemented new tools and techniques in his classes. His research conclusions “make it very clear that Nick is an expert in helping students who traditionally struggle with math.”
• Nominators described Dr. Shaver’s teaching as “amazing,” “wonderful,” and “pivotal to student success,” and comments from his students stress that they appreciate and benefit from his “true passion for helping others.”

Background

The Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award was established in 2021. Any part-time employee with responsibilities that involve instruction, cooperative education coordination, clinical or practicum coordination, or academic advising is eligible for nomination. Full-time staff members at the College may be nominated only in recognition of their adjunct responsibilities.

• Nominations can be made by full-time and part-time faculty, academic administrators, staff members, and students, using the same criteria as those for the House/Bruckmann awards.
• Nominations must be endorsed by the applicable program or department chair and the applicable division administrator.
• Nominations are then reviewed by the members of the Faculty Excellence Committee, who select the award recipients. Up to five adjunct faculty members may receive the award each year.

Emeritus Professors 2025:

During the Faculty Excellence Awards celebration, three new recipients of Professor Emeritus status were recognized. 

Professor Emeritus status may be awarded to a retired faculty member who served for at least 15 years in a full-time faculty role.

• A nomination must be prepared by a current faculty member and forwarded to the Faculty Senate.
• The Faculty Senate then seeks support for Professor Emeritus nominations through voting by all current tenured faculty members.
• Recommendations for Professor Emeritus recognition are forwarded from the Faculty Senate to the College President.

The 2025 Professors Emeritus are:

Connie Crossley, Professor and Program Chair for the Information Management program in the Business Division for 25 years

Her nomination noted these achievements:

• Connie provided leadership for a team of four full-time faculty and 24 adjunct instructors, including curriculum development, program recruiting and marketing, and community outreach. She served as a mentor to other faculty in the program.
• She successfully led the transition of the IM program from terms to semesters, and she spearheaded the development of 2-credit courses that allowed students to complete computer literacy coursework in smaller, more manageable components. She also guided the program through its initial program review process, and she facilitated the program’s first adoption of a publisher’s Learning Management System, further advancing online and hybrid course offerings.
• Connie served on numerous College committees, including the implementation of the Wm. Eickenhorst $2.2 million scholarship for Information Management and other Business Division programs, as well as committees focused on distance learning, academic planning for the Middletown Campus, and the development of an online learning orientation course.
• As an educator, Connie excelled at creating learning communities within her courses, fostering an environment where students could connect, collaborate, and support one another. She was a strong advocate for inclusivity, meeting students at their individual skill levels and helping them bridge learning gaps to achieve.

Janice Curry, Professor of Nursing in the Health & Public Safety Division for 35 years 

Her nomination noted these achievements:

• Janice demonstrated unwavering commitment to nursing education, scholarship, and mentorship, leaving an indelible impact on students and colleagues. Her ability to inspire and uplift those around her created a legacy of excellence and compassion within the Nursing faculty.
• She played a pivotal role in innovative curriculum development, inspiring countless students to pursue excellence in clinical practice and academic inquiry. 
• She consistently demonstrated a passion for fostering critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and compassionate patient care.
• Janice contributed significantly to obtaining in-patient and outpatient clinical sites for Mental Health Nursing, ensuring that students had the best possible experiences caring for patients with varying mental health disorders.
• In the community, Janice worked for 36 years at the Veterans Medical Center in Cincinnati, and she continues to serve on the Board at IKRON Corporation and the Recovery Center of Hamilton County. She also spoke to the Hamilton County Commissioners in support of the Mental Health Levy that was approved by voters in 2022. 

Claudia Miller, Professor and Program Chair for Occupational Therapy Assistant Technology in the Health & Public Safety Division for over 20 years 

Her nomination noted these achievements: 

• Claudia provided the cornerstone of the success of the OTA program, shaping it from its beginning into the stellar program it is today, by dedicating her time, passion, and commitment to the curriculum, students, and alumni.
• Her visionary leadership and unwavering dedication played a pivotal role in the program’s consistent demonstrations of excellence.
• Her mentorship of students and fellow faculty members imparted wisdom, instilled confidence, and nurtured countless individuals.
• Her contributions included active participation on many College committees and volunteering her time to support College activities outside of the OTA program.
• Claudia encouraged students to participate in state and national professional organizations, and as a result, numerous Cincinnati State OTA students and alumni have served as officers of these organizations, and have been recognized with awards for their achievements. 
• Claudia’s enduring legacy continues to ensure that each new generation of OTA students is equipped to thrive and excel in their professional pursuits.