NISOD honorees from left to right: Corina Weidinger, Steve Bale, Yuliana Chavez, Andrew Daniels and Candace Garlock.
In community and technical colleges across the U.S., staff members recognized for their instructional and service accomplishments are nominated to the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD)—with Truckee Meadows Community College taking a pioneering approach, in that honorees are nominated by previous NISOD Excellence Award recipients.
The following individuals at TMCC are the 2018 NISOD Excellence Award honorees and will be attending the annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence on May 26–29 at the Hilton Austin in Austin, Texas:
- Candace Garlock
- Steven Bale, PhD, JD
- Yuliana Chavez
- Andrew Daniels
- Corina Weidinger, PhD
“These individuals are being recognized for efforts in enhancing student learning, student success, and excellence in service to the college, including the development of innovative approaches,” said Cathy Brewster, Manager of Professional Development.
Awardees participating in the conference will be leading workshops, including TMCC President Karin Hilgersom, PhD.
Cathy Brewster and Vice President of Academic Affairs Marie Murgolo-Poore, PhD, will also attend the International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence.
Awardees Represent Many College Departments
Candace Garlock is the Visual Arts Program Coordinator, academic advisor for fine arts majors, and a faculty senator. She has been teaching at TMCC since 2005.
“She is known for her collaborative and cooperative efforts in working with faculty, particularly with assessment efforts,” said Ron Marston, Department Chair of Visual and Performing Arts and Graphic Communications Professor.
Garlock was the co-chair for an April convention that brought to Nevada fine art print makers from across the globe. The Southern Graphics Conference International (SGCI) Conference 2018, was held in Las Vegas, Nevada. She will also chair the Rocky Mountain Print Alliance event in 2021.
Steve Bale joined the TMCC staff in 2000, and has served the College in multiple facets, including as Faculty Senate Chair.
Professor Bale has offered numerous professional development workshops for fellow staff members, including the topics of sabbatical preparation, legal issues related to higher education, and Robert’s Rules of Order.
“He has modified all Microsoft classes to use cloud-based labs that offer 24/7 access to students, and he holds 40 industry certifications including in Microsoft and Cisco applications,” said Graphic Communications Professor Dan Bouweraerts. “He has requested and coordinated computer equipment donations, so students can be trained on equipment they will see in the ‘real world.’”
Yuliana Chavez began at TMCC as a GEAR UP Ambassador in 2012, and she is now the Program Director of Access, Outreach and Recruitment. Chavez is well-known in the Student Services and Diversity Division for establishing and strengthening connections with the American Council of College Trustees, the National Community College Hispanic Council, as well as the Hispanic Association of College and Universities conference.
“She has worked to create the Men of Color Program to motivate underrepresented high school students to attend college,” wrote Executive Director of Financial Aid and Student Success Sharon Wurm. “She strongly supports the professional development of her team.”
Advanced Manufacturing Instructor Andrew Daniels has represented the Applied Technology Center, leading tours for groups of industry leaders, government officials, high school students, and visiting staff members from other colleges and career and technical programs. He has also appeared on behalf of the College’s technical science programs for media publications, including Community College Daily, a site published by the American Association of Community Colleges.
Daniels was on the faculty team that developed and implemented new curricula for the Advanced Manufacturing Program, and an innovative “open entry” model that allows students to progress through for-credit study modules at their own pace.
Visual Arts Professor Corina Weidinger, PhD, is a faculty senator, volunteers as the faculty advisor for the Student Government Association (SGA) Art Club, and is a committee member for the learning community, Faculty for Radical Education and Enlightenment (FREE). She serves on the board of the Sparks Heritage Museum and writes grants that benefit the organization.
Professor Weidinger is leading a set of updates for TMCC’s Art History emphasis, meeting with representatives of the University of Nevada, Reno, Art Department.
“Dr. Weidinger has been at the forefront of utilizing innovative teaching techniques such as digital clicker quizzes, full implementation of the Canvas platform’s hybrid classroom tools, multimedia techniques, and Open Educational Resources,” Marston said.
About the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development
TMCC is a member of NISOD, an organization dedicated to providing leading-edge professional development for community and technical colleges. Its annual conference is sponsored by the College of Education, University of Texas at Austin. The first award ceremony to celebrate Excellence Award honorees was held in 1989, following a nationwide study of teaching excellence by UT Austin.
For more information about NISOD or the Professional Development Office at TMCC, please call Cathy Brewster at 775-674-7965.