By Carrie Click
They are astronomy, sustainability studies, art, developmental education and humanities professors. One is retiring from teaching at Colorado Mountain College after nearly 20 years, while another has been teaching at CMC nearly as long as the college has been in existence. All have made a positive impact on CMC’s students.
Annually, employees and students at Colorado Mountain College’s seven campuses and its online learning department nominate outstanding faculty members to be considered for Faculty of the Year awards. A committee from each area makes the final determination. Out of those, one collegewide adjunct honoree and one collegewide full-time honoree is named.
This year, 10 educators from the college’s eastern campuses and its online learning department received recognition as top faculty members. (See accompanying story for western campus Faculty of the Year recipients.)
- Steamboat Springs:
- Sustainability studies professor Tina Evans, Ph.D., received not only the CMC Steamboat Springs campus full-time Faculty of the Year award, she also received CMC’s overall 2017 collegewide Faculty of the Year award.
- Larry McCoy, who’s taught comparative religions, environmental ethics and more at the college since 2003, was named CMC Steamboat Springs adjunct Faculty of the Year.
- Breckenridge and Dillon:
- Honored with CMC Summit County’s full-time faculty of the year was Dr. Jen Barchers, who recently earned her doctorate in human science. She teaches humanities.
- Misha Boehm teaches science and is this year’s adjunct honoree for the two-location campus.
- Leadville and Chaffee County:
- Associate professor Kelli McCall received the full-time Faculty of the Year. Both she and CMC Leadville’s adjunct Faculty of the year are developmental education faculty members.
- Andrew Riggs teaches two classes each fall semester, and was recognized for his “great enthusiasm” according to Terresa Herbst, assistant dean of instruction.
- Vail Valley at Edwards
- Developmental education faculty member Evan Weatherbie has taught English, reading and history at CMC Vail Valley for seven years. He received the full-time 2017 Faculty of the Year for that campus.
- Ursula Gilgulin, who received the adjunct Faculty of the Year at CMC Vail Valley, has been teaching art at Colorado Mountain College since 1973. Professor Jenny Wing noted Gilgulin’s in-depth knowledge and supportive attitude as traits that make her a “phenomenal teacher.”
- Online learning:
- After nearly 20 years teaching astronomy, physics and mathematics at CMC, Jimmy Westlake is retiring this year. He’s taught at both CMC Steamboat Springs and online, the department that acknowledged him with the full-time Faculty of the Year award.
- Marge Vorndam, an environmental science instructor from Rye, received the adjunct Faculty of the Year award. She’s taught for CMC’s online department since 2012.