Greenville Technical College honors professor of the year and adjunct professor of the year
May 27, 2020
Kathy Maples was selected as Professor of the Year at Greenville Technical College from the approximately 350 faculty members who work across five campuses. Maples teaches and serves as Academic Program Director in the Biological Sciences Department, joining the college in 2001 as an adjunct instructor and becoming a full-time professor in 2014. She has served as a leader in online instruction, a mentor to faculty in course design and online teaching, and as president and vice-president of the Faculty Senate. A member of the team that coordinates the college’s Creative Inquiry initiative, she helps students work one-on-one or in very small groups with faculty members and present their work at a Student Scholar Showcase. She has been instrumental in creating the college’s first Adjunct Summit, which allows adjuncts to network with fellow faculty and attend professional development sessions.
Dr. Suma Bhat was named Adjunct Professor of the Year, selected from a pool of approximately 400 part-time instructors. Bhat has taught in the Department of Biological Sciences for the last four years, leading classes in anatomy and physiology and medical terminology. She has implemented several active learning strategies that have enhanced student engagement and success in her face-to-face and online sections including a tutorial that teaches students how to learn. She is involved in writing grant proposals and in development of a new course on pathophysiology. She has been active with the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development, writing a blog post for the organization’s Striving for Excellence Series and participating in a panel discussion at a 2017 conference.
Maples and Bhat now become NISOD Excellence Award recipients and will be formally recognized at the organization’s next meeting. NISOD is committed to excellence in teaching, learning and leadership at community and technical colleges, and the awards to be presented recognize those who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and contribution to students and colleagues.
