Login--

-- Welcome     News Article    
Howard wins Piper nomination 
By Britney Samperi

University of Houston Clear-Lake students and faculty nominated Cynthia Howard, associate professor of biology and environmental science, to be the university’s representative for the 2008 Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Program.
The Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation awards 15 professors from colleges and universities around the state of Texas $5,000 for their superior teaching on a college level. The purpose is to support charitable, scientific or educational responsibility by providing for financially limited but worthy students to complete their education and obtain their degrees. Every year only one professor is eligible to be nominated from each university regardless of the size of the institution.
For the past 12 years, Howard has encouraged her students to join her on trips to the Amazon rainforest so they can experience what they are learning in the classroom. She also spends the majority of her time helping students on special projects, encouraging them to make new discoveries outside the classroom and helping them understand the overall picture of their field.
“I encourage students to get involved in research and to get in the lab and carry out their projects from start to finish,” Howard said.
Nick de Vries, professor of fine arts, has joined Howard on two trips to the Amazon and will soon visit a third time.
“Visiting the Amazon was one of my life-changing experiences,” de Vries said. “Cindy has such a way of communicating with life on the Amazon.” Howard said she was surprised and honored that she was nominated for the Piper Award. She did not realize that students and faculty voted for her to represent UHCL.
“She does a wonderful job of integrating student research in the class experience by requiring students to gather samples and compose their data to that from last semester,” a nominator said. “In this way, she is not only allowing them to have field experience but she is teaching at a higher level of learning.”
Another nominator stated, “Professor Howard has an outstanding reputation as a teacher and scholar. Evidence reflects that she is making a meaningful difference in the classroom and has an exceptional teaching philosophy.” Students and faculty nominate a professor every fall. Nomination forms and ballot boxes are located at the entrances of each building. The UHCL Piper Award Committee selects the finalist according to a ratio that compares the number of nominations and class load. The committee then calculates the top five professors who have been nominated to represent the university. From there, the top five nominees must put together a large notebook that consists of teaching skills, dimensions of leadership, and service on- or off-campus. Finally, the committee chooses one candidate to represent the university.
David Rachita, assistant dean of student life, stated that the process for choosing the best nominee is very difficult.
“Each of the top five are exceptional teachers and are all outstanding individuals,” Rachita said.
The top five nominees for this year were Krishani Abeyeskera, lecturer/systems administrator in the School of Science and Computer Engineering; Hisham Al-Mubaid, associate professor of computer science; Kimberly Case, assistant professor of psychology and women’s studies; Cynthia Howard, associate professor of biology and environmental science; and Ashley Packard, associate professor of communication and digital media studies.
Howard will represent UHCL for 2008 because of her time, energy and dedication toward the Amazon trips and her students, Rachita said.
“My goal is to get everyone who wants to go to the Amazon a chance to go and make it affordable for them,” Howard said.

Photo by Courtesy of Cynthia Howard    

Cynthia Howard, associate professor of biology and environmental science, in the Amazon holding a wild anaconda that was pulled out of a tree.    

Other News Articles    

The Signal News Blog on My Space   Comm Program videos now on You Tube
Bayousphere - A Literary Arts Magazine

The Signal Content Owner and Faculty Adviser: Taleen Washington
© 2007 The Signal - Student Publication of UHCL
Portal Architect: HSH Web Developer: Regi Stewart