UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 31, Page 5
May 13, 1993
Honors Day recognizes excellence of students, faculty

     Colleges cited the achievements of student scholars and the University
recognized some of its finest teachers during Honors Day ceremonies held
May 7 on the campus.
     University President and Mrs. David P. Roselle started the day's
events by hosting a reception for honored students and their families and
sponsors early Friday morning in the Bob Carpenter Center. At 11:15 a.m.,
nine colleges held individual ceremonies for students throughout campus.
     Continuing a long-standing Honors Day tradition, the University
recognized four faculty members for excellence in teaching. The $2,500
awards, which are funded by the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback
Foundation and the University Alumni Association, were presented to Jan
Blits, associate professor of educational studies; M. Sandra Carberry,
associate professor of computer and information sciences; James J. Magee,
associate professor of  political science and international relations; and
Elaine B. Safer, professor of English.
     Faculty recipients of the excellence-in-teaching award are honored for
their mastery of their subject matters, sensitivity to interests, needs and
concerns of students and the ability to broaden the students' perspectives.
The selection was based primarily on evaluations written by students who
annually nominate faculty for the prestigious award.
     Blits joined the political science department in 1976. From 1981-1985
he served in a dual role as an assistant professor of political science and
of educational studies. In 1985, he was promoted to associate professor in
the two departments.
     The author of three books, he has been published in numerous
educational and political science journals. He also serves as a manuscript
consultant for major publishing companies.
     Among his courses are the "Psychology of Freedom," "Rhetoric and
Reality," "Foundations of the Western World," "Lincoln and the Limits of
Democracy" and "American Social and Political Thought."
     Concerning teaching, Blits said, "Although my teaching has ranged
widely across various disciplines- ranging in content from mathematics to
poetry, from psychology to political theory-it has been guided by the goal
of recovering the intellectual presuppositions underlying modern thought,
by means of a  close study of seminal philosophical and literary texts.
Students, like the rest of us, often take for granted, as the starting
points for thought, the outcomes of a process of thinking by their
predecessors.
     "Questions are asked; answers are given; these answers in turn provoke
new questions, with their own answers. The new questions are built from the
answers that were given to the old questions, but the old questions now are
no longer asked. Intellectual progress thus often leads to a kind of
forgetfulness, as foundations of thought get covered over by what is built
upon them. Thus, in an effort to make them more thoughtful human beings, my
courses aim to engage students in a rigorous and reflective examination of
the thought that is present but out of sight in much of our thinking."
     Artificial intelligence, computational linguistics, intelligent
interfaces, planning and plan recognition, user modeling and machine
learning are the research interests of Carberry.
     She began her teaching career at the University in 1970, as an
instructor in the Department of Statistics and Computer Science. In 1977,
she joined the faculty in the Department of Computer and Information
Science. She became a lecturer in 1979. In 1985, she earned a joint
appointment as assistant professor in both computer and information science
and linguistics. In 1990, she was promoted to associate professor in both
departments.
     The author of three books, including Plan Recognition in Natural
Language, Carberry has written articles for a large number of professional
journals, and her work has been included as chapters of other books related
to her areas of expertise.
     She serves on the editorial board of Computational Linguistics
Journal, International Journal of Man-Machine Studies and International
Journal on User Modeling and User-Adapted Interaction. Carberry is a
reviewer for several professional journals and publishers.
     "I have often been told that I would be happiest if I could forever be
a student," Carberry said, "but that is wrong, because there is one thing
better than learning and that is sharing the learning experience with
another person. And that is how I regard teaching.
     "Teaching is sparking interest in a whole new area of study, sharing
knowledge with someone, helping someone to discover new ways of solving
problems, and, most of all, getting someone to develop dormant talents and
realize his or her full potential.
     "Whether it be in the classroom or in discussions and impromptu
meetings outside of class, I try to impart core concepts and skills that
have been shown over the years to be essential for further study in the
area, introduce unproven ideas that are the basis for new research and
technology, encourage students to critically evaluate the merit and
limitations of these new approaches, and motivate students to develop and
support their own ideas.
     "I hope not only to give students the knowledge and skills that they
will use in later life but also to increase their confidence and
intellectual curiosity so that they continue learning throughout their
lives."
     In 1976, Magee came to the University as an assistant professor of
political science. He was promoted to associate professor in 1980.
     He received his first excellence-in-teaching award in 1980,  and he
was recognized for assisting students when he was named a recipient of the
University's excellence-in-advisement award in 1989.
     Magee teaches courses in constitutional law, the American political
systems, civil rights and liberties, judicial process, systems of justice
and comparative legal systems.
     Fluent in conversational Italian, Magee was a visiting professor at
the University of Trento and has been honored by the Italian-American Press
Association and Italian Honor Society.
     The author of numerous articles for professional journals, Magee has
served as a manuscript reviewer for major publishers, including
Prentice-Hall Inc., Little, Brown & Co., Harper & Row and Harcourt Brace &
Janovich.
     About his profession, Magee said, "Teaching is certainly more than
performance in a classroom. Every teacher should be well-prepared,
organized and stimulating in class, able to challenge all students, whether
they are of limited ability or extremely bright. Good teachers induce
students to think conceptually and analytically, and they encourage
critical thought.
     "Great teachers must be prepared to go beyond, to reach students who
have never known how to learn, who have never bothered to learn, who  have
never been asked to learn, or who have cut every corner pretending to
learn. To reach them a great teacher must set high standards, but must
devote time outside of class to help students identify and then clear away
the obstacles that impede the learning process. When these obstacles are
personal, as they often are, a great teacher becomes a listener, counselor,
and even a friend. This effort does not always succeed, but when it does, a
teacher makes a major difference in the life of a young man or woman.
     "Great teaching takes time, and faculty who aspire to it, ironically,
may pay a price in missed or delayed promotions or even denial of tenure,
but that is a risk that teachers must bear in pursuit of the principal
mission of education."
     Safer has been at the University since 1967. The author of two books,
her areas of specialization include the contemporary novel, the novel and
Milton and the 17th century.
     In 1973, she was promoted to associate professor. She became a full
professor in 1988. She is the author of essays and articles that have
appeared in numerous journals in this country and abroad.
     Safer currently is in France conducting research.
     Business and economics graduate student George Sharpley was honored
for excellence-in-teaching with a $1,000 award.
     Two seniors were named recipients of the 1993 Alumni Association
awards for outstanding man and woman. They are Kathleen P. Makowski, an
English literature major from Wilmington, and Travis R. Longcore, a
geography major from Orono, Maine.
     Makowski received the Emalea Pusey Warner Award. Presented since 1950,
the Warner award recognizes leadership abilities and outstanding
scholarship in honor of the woman who worked diligently to establish the
Women's College, which eventually became a part of the University of
Delaware.
     Makowski is publicity officer of the Pre-Law Student Association, a
volunteer with Special Olympics, a member of Golden Key Honor Society and
an Alumni Merit Scholar.
     Longcore received the Alexander J. Taylor Sr. Award, established in
1968 in recognition of the Delaware College graduate of the class of 1898
who served on the University's Board of Trustees and who was a long-time
supporter of his alma mater.
     A Eugene  du Pont Memorial Distinguished Scholar, Longcore also was a
Rhodes Scholarship finalist and is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi (French),
Golden Key and Pi Delta Phi honor societies. He is founder and first
president of the Delaware Association of Undergraduate Geographers,
president of the French House, a jazz band section leader and campus tour
guide.
     Each of the alumni award recipients received a $500 U.S. Savings Bond.
As is tradition, they will lead the procession of University graduates at
the beginning of the Commencement ceremonies May 29 in Delaware Stadium.
                                        -Ed Okonowicz