June 7, 1999 Volume 21, No. 16

Three Faculty Members Receive Awards of Excellence Three longtime faculty members were recently honored for their accomplishments. At the annual recognition and awards luncheon held on May 11, Zillah Eisenstein, professor of politics, was presented with the Excellence in Scholarship Award; Linda McBride, associate professor of psychology, was given the Excellence in Service Award; and art history professor Nancy Ramage received the Excellence in Teaching Award. The service and scholarship awards, sponsored by Ithaca College, and the teaching award, sponsored by the Independent College Fund of New York and the New York State Electric and Gas Corporation, recognize outstanding accomplishment by the College’s faculty. Some 20 faculty members were nominated for the three awards. The criteria for excellence in scholarship call for evidence of an exemplary contribution to knowledge. In her nomination letter professor of cinema and photography Patricia Zimmermann called Eisenstein’s exploration of politics and culture a major advance in feminist theory. "Professor Eisenstein is a courageous, passionate, and risk-taking intellectual who inspires others to think beyond their limits," Zimmermann wrote. "Her work has been distinguished by a critical edge, a remarkably profound understanding of the intellectual debates she has been engaged in." Eisenstein has published eight books and numerous articles on such topics as political theory, sexual equality, and gender. She joined the Ithaca College faculty in 1973. The criteria for excellence in service require exceptional contributions through leadership and enduring support of students, colleagues, and the larger campus community. McBride, active in campus governance activities for 20 years, has served on personnel, curriculum, and steering committees in both the Department of Psychology and the School of Humanities and Sciences. She recently completed her second year as chair of the Faculty Council and sits on that body’s Executive Committee, which works with the administration on such areas as budget and salaries. In supporting McBride’s nomination, associate professor and chair of the psychology department George Schuler wrote, "Although the number of things Dr. McBride does is impressive, the quality of her contribution is even more impressive. She shows a great deal of initiative in fulfilling her responsibilities." McBride joined the College faculty in 1972. In addition to articles published in the Journal of Social Psychology and the Journal of College Student Personnel, she has made several major presentations to the Eastern and American Psychological Associations. The criteria for excellence in teaching include subject mastery, presentation, and the ability to interact with students. In supporting Ramage for this award, Mary Ann Spisak ’99 wrote of Ramage’s ability to make courses in art history come alive. "Dr. Ramage has an infectious enthusiasm for her discipline. An immense sense of excitement sweeps over me when she speaks the words ‘lights, please’ to the projectionist. Her presentation makes every class a wondrous trip to an ancient world." Ramage has been teaching at Ithaca College since 1972. She has written a book on Roman art and three others on archaeological explorations in Asia Minor.