Back to:
Current year's news releases
All news releases
News and information home

Oberly Wins Faculty Award for Teaching Adult Returning Students

RELEASED: April 29, 2005

Photo by Barbara Blackdeer-Mackenzie

EAU CLAIRE — A faculty member of the history department and American Indian Studies program is the 2005 recipient of the OWL award, recognizing an outstanding University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire faculty member who best exemplifies the art and science of teaching adult returning students.

Dr. James Oberly received the OWL Award for helping "older, wiser learners" reach their academic potential at the Student Development and Diversity Awards Reception April 27.

"The purpose of the OWL award is to recognize faculty who genuinely value 'older, wiser learners' in their classrooms, understand that nontraditional students lead full lives, and employ a classroom strategy that is appropriately varied and flexible," said Bonnie Isaacson, nontraditional student adviser.

One student nominator credits Oberly for "his considerate attitude and his professionalism as a university professor." Another student said, "Dr. Oberly is respectful, helpful and caring to all his students. He has an excellent understanding of the special concerns and characteristics of the nontraditional student and has been helpful many times when family issues conflict with school issues. I look to him as a role model for my own teaching career."

Oberly began teaching at UW-Eau Claire in 1983. He holds a doctorate in history from the University of Rochester. He recently published his most recent research interest, a book titled "A Nation of Statesman: The Political Culture of the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans."

Oberly was among thirteen faculty members nominated by nontraditional students for the award. Other nominees included Charlene Burns and Jerry Richards, philosophy and religious studies; Linda Carpenter, communication sciences and disorders; Gale Crouse and Matthew Waters, foreign languages; Kenneth De Meuse, management and marketing; Scott Hartsel and Thao Yang, chemistry; Kenneth Schmidt, curriculum and instruction; Lois Taft, nursing; Simei Tong, mathematics; and Nobuyoshi Yasuda, music and theatre arts.

The Nontraditional Student Advisory Committee reviewed the nominations and selected the award winner. Oberly received a plaque at the awards reception. The other nominees received certificates of appreciation.

-30-

BI/NW

Back to:
Current year's news releases
All news releases
News and information home