Professors earn praise for teaching

ASU professors Nancy Rodriguez, William Simmons and Jordan Lowe have been announced as 2006-2007 West campus Faculty/Academic Professional Achievement Award winners.

“Their scholarly achievements and their dedication to our students make them particularly noteworthy,” says Marjorie Zatz, interim vice president and executive vice provost at the West campus. “They have received national, international and local recognition for their high-quality research, advocacy and teaching. Through their actions and their commitment to our students and communities, they exemplify the vision of the New American University.”

Rodriguez is an associate professor in the College of Human Services' School of Criminology and Criminal Justice who was recognized in the teaching category. Among the courses she teaches to undergraduate and graduate students are the justice system, juvenile justice, research methods, courts and sentencing, and program evaluation for criminal justice. Her research interests include sentencing policies, juvenile court processes, and substance abuse.

Rodriguez received her doctorate in political science from the University of Washington in 1998.

“She has provided expert research support to a significant number of students,” says Scott Decker, director of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. “Professor Rodriguez works assiduously to prepare her students for their research projects, and has co-written several articles with them. She has mentored not only undergraduates, but also master's and doctoral students. She is greatly appreciated by her students.”

Simmons is an assistant professor of political science in the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences who was honored in the service category. He received his doctorate in political science from Louisiana State University in 1996, and has since written or co-written articles on contemporary political thought, human rights laws and conspiracy theories among African-Americans.

Since coming to ASU in 2004, Simmons has played a lead role in the popular Border Justice series and has participated in faculty governance, including serving as president of the West campus' Academic Senate.

“Dr. Simmons' activities strive for and achieve an impressive integration of global, national and community issues,” wrote one reviewer on Simmons' nomination form. “He has worked hard to insinuate human rights issues into the fabric of life on the West campus.”

Lowe is a professor in the accountancy department in the School of Global Management and Leadership who earned recognition in the research category. He received his doctorate from ASU's School of Accountancy in 1992. His research interests include hindsight and outcome effects, legal liability issues, and auditor independence issues.

“Dr. Lowe has published 25 refereed papers since 2000 and has four substantive, empirically based pieces of research appearing in 2007 alone,” wrote a reviewer. “He publishes in highly respected journals in his field and has been cited more than 200 times in his relatively brief career. Campus colleagues have a great deal of respect for his work and his mentorship of students.”

The West campus Faculty/Academic Professional Achievement Awards are presented annually and recognize outstanding members of the academic community who exemplify the commitment of the campus to excellence and to the integration of teaching, scholarship and service. The three recipients will receive a certificate recognizing their achievements, as well as a $1,000 award.