UA Honors Outstanding Teachers, Researchers at Annual Founders Day Luncheon

Akron, Ohio, May 11, 2005 — Four distinguished University of Akron faculty received Outstanding Teacher and Researcher Awards at the university's annual Founders Day luncheon held May 6.

Recognized for their classroom and research excellence were 2005 Outstanding Teacher awardees Dr. Thomas Price, professor of applied mathematics, and Dr. Maria Zanetta, associate professor of modern languages; and 2005 Outstanding Researcher awardees Dr. Sonia Alemagno, associate professor of public administration and urban studies and director of the Institute for Health and Social Policy, and Dr. Rex Ramsier, professor of physics and chemistry.

Dr. Thomas Price of Stow joined the university in 1976. He was recognized for “his sustained effort and unique ability to adapt new instructional solutions to the ever-changing needs of the students at The University of Akron.” He also was commended for integrating research with teaching to motivate his students to pursue advanced studies in mathematics.

Throughout his career at the university, Price has taught more than 30 courses, ranging from beginning-level service courses to graduate-level courses. He also developed a student-centered course “Topics in Topology” in which students play active roles in leading class discussions.

Dr. Maria Zanetta of Akron joined the UA faculty in 1995, and has established herself as an outstanding Spanish teacher and scholar who is credited with an “exceptional ability” to make the complex comprehensible and to inspire students with her enthusiasm and love of her subject.

As a recently certified Oral Proficiency Interview tester, she has significantly affected the development of the Spanish program at the university. In 2002, she received the UA Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences Early Career Research Award, and in 1999 the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences Chair's Award for Early Career Outstanding Achievement.

Dr. Sonia Alemagno of Russell joined The University of Akron in 1998. She conducts research in the areas of public health care policy, with an emphasis on drug abuse and HIV prevention. She also currently conducts several evaluation projects of new drug abuse treatment models. She has coordinated numerous projects for the National Institute of Justice and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, as well as for agencies and foundations in Ohio.

Alemagno received a doctorate in sociology from Case Western Reserve University in 1991. She is a member of the National Commission on Correctional Health Care and the American Public Health Association

Dr. Rex Ramsier received his bachelor of science and master of science degrees in physics from The University of Akron and a doctoral degree in physics from the University of Pittsburgh. He joined the UA faculty in 1996, coming from an industrial position at Westinghouse Electric Corp.

Most of his research involves the studies of the chemical reactivity of solid surfaces, with applications ranging from energy conversion and hydrogen storage to corrosion prevention in nuclear reactors and biocompatibility of prosthetic materials. He has built a strong research group at UA and collaborates actively with colleagues in many departments across several colleges, including education, engineering, arts and sciences, and polymer science. He has secured multiple large grants, both independently and as part of team projects. He maintains active collaborations with industrial and government laboratory colleagues.

Additional awards presented at the Founders Day Luncheon included:

Shared Leadership Awards — Diane Maffei of Medina, institutional research associate, Department of Institutional Research, in the contract professional category; and Roberta Fox of Akron, accounting clerk senior in the Controller's Office, in the staff category.

Ideas that Work Award — Janice Troutman of Cuyahoga Falls, associate professor of art, and John Morrison II of Akron, assistant professor of art, for their “design x nine” project, a flourishing student design studio within the UA Myers School of Art.

UA Founders Day traces its history to 1882, and has become the academic year-end event at which the most distinguished members of its community are recognized. The luncheon also honors the 2005 faculty and staff retirees.

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