A professor in the NTID Liberal Studies Department, Dr. Vincent Samar is co-director of the NIH-funded RIT Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) – a scientist-in-training program for deaf and hard-of-hearing undergraduates.  Dr. Samar is a tutor for research methods courses required for bachelor degree-bound psychology students and is an instructor for senior-level projects in psychology.  His academic efforts are recognized by numerous students, both past and present.  These students consider him a valued mentor, crediting him with laying the foundation for their success in graduate school and their professional lives.  

A senior lecturer in the NTID Science and Mathematics Department, Ms. Sarah Sarchet is a well-respected instructor and tutor for biology and laboratory science courses.  Ms. Sarchet’s ability to adapt her teaching and tutoring style to meet the needs of all students, regardless of degree level and communication preference, is appreciated by her students and colleagues.  She also is a mentor to many students outside of her classroom and to future teachers in the classroom.  A former student, in her letter of recommendation, stated that Ms. Sarchet is a “highly dedicated professional who knows how to motivate her students to strive for excellence.”

Senior Lecturer Michael “Mike” Kane from the Department of Business Studies is the 2018 Teaching/Tutoring Award winner for Non-Tenure Track Faculty.  Mike has been utilizing emergent technologies in his classroom resulting in varied approaches to content delivery in his classroom.  His teaching style has evolved so that now he turns the ownership of learning over to his students, guiding them to develop their own video recorded lectures and concept map study guides for his courses.  He is committed to his students’ success and is treasured by his department. 

The 2017 Teaching/Tutoring Award for Lecturers goes to Ms. Kathleen Szczepanek from the Department of Business Studies.  Her reflective approach to teaching, her dedication to and support of student success, and the great respect she has garnered from her peers is why she is a valued member of the faculty.   Her students recognize, appreciate, and commend the impact she has made on their education and their career.

Since 2010, Dr. Bonnie Jacob, Assistant Professor in the Department of Science and Mathematics, has advised 11 deaf or hard-of-hearing students in undergraduate mathematics research. She has co-authored refereed journal articles with six students. Dr. Jacob’s area of study is graph theory, which defines relationships between various objects. “She brings to work a strong background in STEM-focused research and has succeeded thus far in working with our students to expose research concepts, thereby helping them to further develop their analytical thinking skills.” Dr. Jacob has been awarded several internal awards that have involved students in research projects leading to their conference presentations as well as publications. Mathematics research with students is her primary passion.

The 2016 Teaching/Tutoring Award winner for Pre-tenure is Dr. Austin Gehret, Assistant Professor in the Department of Science and Mathematics. He is a tremendous asset to both the NTID and RIT communities. Serving as a support faculty for Deaf and hard of hearing students taking a variety of biochemistry courses in the College of Science, Dr. Gehret was able to use that experience to shape his associate-level Laboratory Science Technology biotechnology courses in a way that not only provides hands-on experience that is vital for success in biotechnology related careers, it prepares students for success in their future RIT biochemistry courses. He also serves as a co-advisor for a graduate student. Dr. Gehret’s patience with and respect for students, puts them at ease as he helps them succeed in the classroom and at their Co-op placements. 

Dr. Gerald Berent, Professor in the Department of Liberal Studies, has significantly advanced the field of language acquisition in deaf and hard of hearing individuals through his 36-year outstanding track record of research. His colleagues have noted that his work in this area has informed generations of both faculty and students. His efforts to understand the impact of secondary disabilities and ADHD on DHH students' abilities to learn effectively have been transformative. Dr. Berent’s creation of the Supporting English Acquisition (SEA) website has been a great contribution and tool for English language teachers everywhere. He has also shared his research findings and teaching methodologies through over 50 publications in refereed journals and book chapters, 25 technical reports and publications in newsletters and bulletins. He has also given over 66 presentations at national and international symposia/conferences. Dr. Berent has obtained several grants to further his research, totaling over $800K.

His colleagues have also noted that Dr. Berent's scholarship in English language acquisition in DHH students and his dedication to sharing and applying it in NTID classrooms and classrooms across the world is simply outstanding. His passion for the scholarly process and its role in Deaf education is limitless. In addition to his own research and publication, he dedicates countless hours supporting the scholarly efforts of others. In the role of advisor, mentor, reviewer, editor and NTID IRB committee chair, Dr. Berent tirelessly works to share his expertise and promote the work of other scholars. He demonstrates energy, enthusiasm and creativity, combined with a solid professional base of knowledge to empower his students.

Gary Behm, assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Studies, received the NTID Pre-tenured Teaching and Tutoring Award. “Gary wears many different hats here at the institute, and his teaching/tutoring is highly recognized by his peers and his students. The committee was impressed at the amount of energy that Gary puts into everything he does, and while his workload is split between two areas, he commits well over 100% of his time to both. He is a role model for many students and I would say faculty as well.” 

Dr. Deirdre Schlehofer, assistant professor in the Department of American Sign Language and Interpreter Education, received the AY2014-2015 NTID Pre-tenure Scholarship Award. The selection committee cited the following: “In her work, Dr. Schlehofer involves ASLIE and RIT deaf and hard-of-hearing students and serves as a model for involving students in scholarly activities. Her impact on students is high as a result of engaging students in her projects, serving as a mentor to students through natural interaction in the research environment, and utilizing practical research that students can relate to.”

The committee unanimously agreed that Stacey was the "stand-out" candidate in the pool of candidates. Her letter of support from her Chair Matt Lynn was one of the strongest statements we had seen. Her personal statement was also impressive and showed her commitment to doing whatever it takes to help students succeed. Many people noted that her workweek includes regular Sunday review sessions for students she works with. She is a role model for others in our opinion.