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Outstanding Teachers Honored

Fri., May 18

Two Southern professors were honored at the undergraduate commencement exercises on Friday, May 18. Jessica Suckle-Nelson and Leonard Santarsiero were awarded the 2012 J. Philip Smith Award for Outstanding Teaching.

Jessica Suckle-Nelson
Associate Professor of Psychology

jessica suckle-nelsonDr. Jessica Suckle-Nelson (right) exhibits a passion for teaching that is contagious to her students. She draws on a positive, well-articulated teaching philosophy that by challenging students in a nurturing classroom environment one enables them to reach their full potential. Her course evaluations show over 90 percent of her students reporting on the high quality of her instruction and her courses overall.

Dr. Suckle-Nelson teaches a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate courses for the Psychology Department, including Research Internship; Experimental Design; Design and Analysis in Psychology; Psychology of Women; and Problems in Psychology.  One member of the J. Philip Smith Outstanding Teaching Award Committee noted that Dr. Suckle-Nelson "excels in teaching Experimental Methods, traditionally seen as one of the more difficult courses in her discipline. She seems to achieve the perfect balance of challenging and encouraging students, continually engaging them in the learning process. She employs a wide variety of learning activities to appeal to different learning types, and her students definitely take notice of the efforts she puts into her teaching."

Dr. Suckle-Nelson also believes that including students in research projects is an important aspect of the educational process, and she works on behalf of her students, regularly including them in her own research projects. In his nomination letter, W. Jerome Hauselt, professor of psychology, stated, "Dr. Suckle-Nelson has an uncanny ability to present the research and statistical concepts in a way the students find both meaningful and memorable."

Members of the award committee were particularly struck by the high quality and excellent organization of her course materials and learning exercises. In addition to her work in the Psychology Department, Dr. Suckle-Nelson has made a strong contribution to teaching across the university, including the first-year INQ courses and courses within the interdisciplinary Women's Studies Program. In nominating Dr. Suckle-Nelson for this award, William M. Sherman, professor of psychology wrote, "We commend Jessica for her enthusiasm and dedication shown in jumping right into the new and experimental FYE/INQ course, a program that involves teaching novice students many of whom may not yet possess the study skills and acculturation required for college success."

The committee noted that, in addition to her teaching and advising commitments, Dr. Suckle-Nelson has maintained her attention to scholarly activity and professional development. She has authored and co-authored numerous research articles and conference papers for national and regional professional associations and was awarded an SCSU 2010 Curriculum-Related Activity grant to "create an online digitized library and interactive idea exchange for Experimental Research Methods in Psychology." 

Dr. Suckle-Nelson joined the Psychology Department as a visiting professor in 2006 and was appointed an assistant professor in 2008 and associate professor in 2011. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Syracuse University, a Master of Science degree in general psychology from West Chester University, and a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of Rhode Island.

 

Leonard Santarsiero
Adjunct Professor of Psychology

leonard santarsieroLeonard Santarsiero (left) brings to his classes a unique combination of professional training and experience as a clinical psychologist and pedagogical experience as a long-time faculty member. His scholarly activity in the study of narratives is put to good use. Students regularly comment on the large impact that his "real life" stories have on the course content.  He uses his experiences within the clinical discipline to provide students with meaningful contexts for learning course material and ways to apply psychology to the real world.

Santarsiero uses a teaching style that makes his classroom a breeding ground for unparalleled interest in the subject matter. Students are consistently actively engaged in class discussions and are drawn in by his enthusiasm for the topics. In her nomination letter, Cheryl Durwin, professor of psychology, wrote, "One indicator of his effectiveness as an instructor is that whether he is teaching freshmen in an Introduction to Psychology course or seniors in a Topics in Development course, he has the knowledge, skills, flexibility, and rapport to relate to the students at that particular level. He is aware of students' level of background knowledge, and uses the appropriate teaching methods to scaffold their learning to take them to a new level of understanding."

Members of the J. Philip Smith Outstanding Teaching Award Committee were impressed by Santarsiero's students' praise for both his teaching and his caring attitude, exhibited by the tremendous number of unsolicited student nomination papers he received for this award. One student nominator wrote, "He made me want to come to class every day." Another student commented on how his class with Santarsiero impelled him to study further the field of mental health. A third student said that in the classroom environment Santarsiero creates, "I cannot wait to learn more, the subject is taught so clearly, and in a different light."

His colleagues regard Santarsiero as an expert within the classroom and within the clinical discipline. They believe he is such an effective instructor because he successfully uses his clinical expertise to enrich the experiences of students in his classes; views teaching and learning as a reciprocal, dynamic relationship that transforms both the learner and the teacher; and truly cares for the success of students at Southern. In her nomination letter, Deborah Carroll, associate professor of psychology, wrote, "The true test of a faculty member's teaching success in my opinion can best be measured by the direct effects on the students. I have taught and advised many students who have taken classes with Dr. Santarsiero. The students are transformed after one of Dr. Santarsiero's classes. They are more engaged in their own education and take responsibility for their learning. Students emerge with clearer goals and an understanding of what they need to do to obtain these goals. Truly, these effects are the result of interacting with an outstanding teacher."

Santarsiero joined the Psychology Department at Southern in 1994 as an adjunct professor of psychology. In addition, he maintains a private practice specializing in pediatric, adolescent and adult psychotherapy in Glastonbury.  He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and political science from Central Connecticut State University, a Master of Science in clinical psychology from Southern Connecticut State University, and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University.