Profs. McInnes, Suarez earn exemplary teaching awards

Friday, March 13, 2015
Marnie McInnes

DePauw University professors Marion K. "Marnie" McInnes and Alicia Suarez are the 2014-15 recipients of the Exemplary Teaching Award.

Presented by the General Board of Higher Education of the United Methodist Church through a gift from 1942 DePauw University graduates George and Virginia Crane, the award recognizes faculty members who exemplify excellence in teaching; civility and concern for students and colleagues; commitment to value-centered education; and service to students, the institution and the community."

McInnes is professor of English and women's, gender and sexuality studies, while Suarez serves as associate professor of sociology.

Alicia Suarez

A member of the faculty since 1981, McInnes "has taught a broad range of courses in her years at DePauw, has played a critical role in the development of new programs that are now central to our curriculum, and is admired by colleagues across

campus for her practical and insightful guidance about teaching," DePauw Dean of Faculty Carrie F. Klaus noted.

"In over 30 years of service at DePauw, (she) has helped to shape crucial university programs and has inspired countless students and many of her colleagues," noted one fellow faculty member, while another offered, "Anyone who has sought her advice, worked with her on a committee, or heard her speak in public has had evidence of her wisdom, eloquence, tact and kindness. She does her work efficiently, modestly and unobtrusively, always giving credit to others and deflecting the praise she herself deserves."

Klaus notes that Professor Suarez "is known for her transformative teaching and the strong and sincere interest she takes in students' lives both inside and outside the classroom."

A colleague in the Sociology and Anthropology Department states that students have described classes taught by Suarez as "life-altering," "mind-blowing" and "empowering," and have called her "the best instructor" they ever had.

"This high praise is not merely from a few students; rather, (it comes) from large chunks of her students every year ... During my conversations with majors and non-majors I routinely hear about (her) 'greatness.'"

A student offered that Suarez "has fostered an academic inside of me that I could never have imagined for myself and as a result has cultivated a part of the man I am today ... Professors like (her) are here to give the best of themselves to their students with the hope that the students will come to know the best of their own selves."

Previous DePauw recipients of the Exemplary Teacher Award are:

-- 1992-93: Tom Chiarella

-- 1993-94: Andrea Sununu

-- 1997-98: Valarie Ziegler

-- 1998-99: Craig Paré

-- 1999-2000: John Dittmer

-- 2000-01: Terri Bonebright

-- 2001-02: Carl Singer

-- 2002-03: David Field

-- 2003-04: Jackie Roberts

-- 2004-05: Robert Hershberger and Tamara Beauboeuf

-- 2005-06: Anne Harris and John Schlotterbeck

-- 2006-07: Wayne Glausser

-- 2007-08: Kerry Pannell and Pamela Propsom

-- 2008-09: Matthew Oware and Barbara Steinson

-- 2009-10: Jennifer Adams, Dana Dudle and Gregory Schwipps

-- 2010-11: Catherine Fruhan and Smita Rahman

-- 2011-12: Julia Bruggemann and Angela Castañeda

-- 2012-13: Mona Bhan and Françoise Coulont-Henderson

-- 2013-14: James Mills and Susan Wilson

DePauw was founded in 1837 by the United Methodist Church.

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