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By Lisa Heller
Arizona Daily Wildcat
October 24, 1996
Five teachers and one college department received awards yesterday honoring their devotion to excellent teaching during UA's 1996 summer session.Students nominated the teachers and a selection committee narrowed down the 38 nominees based on the number and heartfelt meaning of the comments.
Mohammed "Dr. Mo" Bahramzadeh, adjunct political science professor, received one of the two Excellence in Teaching awards. He taught a course on the Arab-Israeli conflict and encouraged his students to debate class issues from various perspectives.
One of his students, James Ray, political science graduate student, said Bahramzadeh encouraged him to stay in school when he was thinking of dropping out.
"In talking with Mo, I had a newfound interest in school," Ray said. "I decided to take the law school admissions exam and I credit that to Mo. He gave me the extra push to get me though my senior year."
Bahramzadeh came to America from Iran in 1978, and said he both contributes to and learns from his students.
"I had one student come to me and say I really shook the foundation of her beliefs and now she can see both sides," he said.
He said the award should be shared by teachers and students.
"If it wasn't for the students, (the teachers) wouldn't be here. A lot of people forget that," he said.
Donna Jurich, graduate associate in teaching and teacher education, also received the Excellence in Teaching Award. She received student comments such as "her dedication is contagious" and "an outstanding teacher."
"I work in a department that is very supportive and they allow me to teach and be very innovative," Jurich said.
"The College of Education has real smart, bright students who are passionate about teaching," she said. "They are the pride of the university."
Matthew Kruse, graduate associate in mathematics, and Triguna Ghosh, graduate associate in civil engineering, both received honorable mention awards.
One student comment said of Kruse, "Hire this man before he gets away," and many commented that he made complex math problems simple.
"It is a lot easier to maintain a high level of energy when students bring it in," Kruse said.
Ghosh received similar comments about his "strength and materials" class. One student said, "It's hard to believe he was new to teaching."
Special recognition awards were also given to Sarah Prineas, graduate associate in English, and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
This is the first year a college has received an Excellence in Teaching award.
Anita McDonald, interim dean of the extended university, said it was about time a college got recognized.
"They're really a college that makes the summer school session happen," she said.
Jan Murphy, executive assistant in Social and Behavioral Sciences, accepted the award for the college.
"It was truly a team effort," she said. "Some people even put off their summer vacations to get their job done."
Prineas received special recognition for her teaching of English 101 and 102. One comment simply said, "Sarah is fantastic, Sarah rules."
Prineas taught The Heart of Darkness in her English classes.
She said, "Everyone hates the book, but I'm glad they like the class."
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