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The College of Fine & Applied Arts each year recognizes faculty members with three awards presented during the spring commencement exercises.
This year’s award winners are Dr. David Nieman, Department of Health, Leisure & Exercise Science; Jeff Tiller, Department of Technology; and Dr. Janice Pope, Department of Communication. Each received $500 and a medallion.
Dr. Nieman received the College of Fine and Applied Arts Outstanding Scholarship/Creative Activity Award presented annually to the outstanding scholar or individual engaged in outstanding creative activity in the College of Fine and Applied Arts.
Criteria for eligibility and selection include one year’s full-time employment at Appalachian State University and may include sustained contribution to relevant discipline and/or specialty, ability to communicate or present scholarship (published, visual or oral form), professional involvement in relevant organizations outside Appalachian State University, contribution to the work of other scholars at Appalachian State University and record of promoting discipline or specialty.
The nominator of this year’s recipient said that this year’s recipient has gone about his scholarship in a “humble, diligent, ethical, collegial, and exemplary fashion.” Dr. Nieman has received almost two million dollars in research grants from a wide variety of agencies that award grants. The grants have been used to complete research in the area of this scholar’s interest.
In addition to the grant funding this researcher has secured, he has averaged one scholarly publication per month since his arrival at Appalachian 16 years ago (in 1990), mostly in journals that are recognized as important journals of his field. His nominator also contends that probably 75 percent of this researcher’s published articles include student co-authors, allowing the bright young folks with whom he works a chance to begin their promising careers in their chosen field.  In addition, he has authored nine books, serves as section editor for a Sports Medicine Yearbook and associate editor for the American College of Sports Medicine Health and Fitness Journal.
The recipient of this award has also been an invited lecturer throughout the world - China, Japan, New Zealand Australia, Brazil, India, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Denmark.just begins the list of the countries where he has lectured. At Appalachian State, where internationalization of the campus is an important goal, this is a record of which to be proud.
One of the nation’s premier researchers in the area of Exercise Immunology, Dr. Nieman has brought recognition to Appalachian State through his service to many Exercise, Fitnes, and Sports Medicine organizations. In fact, in the not too distant past China’s National Research Institute of Sports Medicine and the State Sport General Administration sought the expertise of this professor as they began to train for their participation in the 2008 Olympics.
As the recipient said, “Our research on the effects of nutrition and the immune response to exercise is what has attracted their attention.” The Chinese group visited only two other universities while in the United States: the University of Florida and University of Texas-Austin. In addition, he has participated on advisory boards for fitness organizations, served as president of Sports Medicine organizations, presently serves as a trustee for the national American College of Sports Medicine, and even serves as a consultant for the railroad industry on litigation regarding manual labor and arthritis.
Dr. Nieman has been a recipient of many awards so far, including the Appalachian “100 Scholars Faculty Research Award” in 1997 and the Montoyne Scholar Award from the Southeastern American College of Sports Medicine this year.
The Outstanding Service Award for the College of Fine and Applied Arts recognizes the importance of service as an element of the role faculty play at Appalachian State University. This year’s winner is Jeff Tiller.
Mr. Tiller has served his department, the university, as well as the greater community in some very important projects - ones that may affect many. As his nominator says it, “he has consistently and continuously demonstrated a tremendous intellect, outstanding problem-solving abilities, true leadership, and an unusual ability to get along with people - he is a great representative of Appalachian State University.”
As one of the nation’s foremost proponents and scholars on energy efficient construction practices, this recipients often leads workshops and conferences that are aimed at teaching the broader community of the importance of using energy resources wisely and efficiently. Serving as the co-founder of Southface Energy Institute, working with the North Carolina State Energy Plan and serving as a consultant for many different states’ plans to become more energy efficient are just a few of the projects in which he has been involved.
Just recently it was announced that this person coordinated a grant in the amount of $458,000 to help in designing a series of affordable Passive-Solar Homes and to develop a Zero-Energy Home. In addition, this grant will help the NC State Energy Office do things to increase building energy efficiency, especially in state-owned buildings.
It comes as no surprise that as the world must become more and more concerned with energy efficiency, that those with a passion for this issue step to the forefront to serve their communities in many ways - in their towns, their places of employment, in the classroom, their offices, their homes and with their friends and colleagues. This year’s recipient demonstrates that passion in all forms of leadership he has accepted and at which he has excelled.
In addition, the recipient has provided leadership for the Construction Management program in his home department, teaching students the things they need to know in order to become better business people in the field of Construction, better stewards of the earth’s natural resources and hopefully successful proponents of a better society once they leave Appalachian.
Mr. Tiller has served on numerous departmental committees, including the Search Committee for the Department of Technology chair, on a committee designed to improve the process of tenure and promotion and has co-chaired a Strategic Planning Committee for his department.
As his nominator said, “he always contributes great ideas.is able to broach difficult situations very tactfully and in a constructive manner..and is truly an outstanding individual - one deserving of this service award.”
Dr. Janice Pope was named the recipient of the College of Fine and Applied Arts Outstanding Teaching Award. She is automatically inducted into the Academy of Outstanding Teachers.
Faculty members are eligible after two years full-time teaching at Appalachian State University. Additional qualifications to be considered are apparent ability to impart knowledge, inquisitiveness, and desire for continued learning; competence and command of subject matter; concern for students’ intellectual growth; enthusiasm for teaching; concern for students’ personal development; and miscellaneous pertinent items that may arise.
Dr. Pope is well known within her department as well as across campus. Her nominator says, “she is always so encouraging and informative with all of her students. She is honest, professional, and a pillar to her professional community. She motivates me to work in my chosen field and to be an effective communicator.”
According to her nominator, “As a teacher, she explains things very well, is always available to answer questions or address concerns.” One of the most telling things is when students admit that a class that most of the students dislike and fear, Research Methods, is the class in which the students “learned the most about becoming a professional specialist.than any other required class.”
Another supporter says of the same dreaded class “it was the most practical and applicable class I have had.we were encouraged to think abstractly and were drilled in effective writing skills.I am still proud of the B+ I earned in Research Methods.” When reading through her evaluations written every semester by the students, the committee found the same thing time after time after time - she’s simply great.
This year’s recipient also excels in another area where professors are expected to excel, and usually receive very little recognition of a job well-done - that of student advising. As the nominator said, “As an advisor, she is very encouraging of my academic and future professional career and of me.”
When looking to her administrative evaluations, the recipient’s department chair says, “her dedication to undergraduate student education is unmatched and her student evaluations tell the story. She consistently receives some of the highest student evaluations in the department. Her commitment to education is noted by her students and they appreciate it. Students know that they are learning up to date information.”
In addition, the recipient is recognized for pursuing out-of-class experiences for her students. From participation in Media Workshops sponsored by the American Furniture Manufacturer’s Association, visiting business firms that may be places where her students find jobs when they complete their degrees, to an annual competition sponsored by the national professional organization that represents her discipline, the experiences this professor provides for her students allow them to learn so much more than they could ever learn just going to traditional classes.
One supporter of this recipient’s nomination packet summed it up by saying, “ultimately, this professor is one of the most intelligent, personable, warm and energetic professors I have had at Appalachian. Upon coming 600 miles to attend this university, she was the first person who made me feel like I was actually a part of the Appalachian Family. When I graduate in May, the relationships I have made with professors are ones I will cherish for the rest of my life and use as sources for the rest of my career. This professor is a model professor of this university…”
