Quick Takes - February 2019

During their February 2019 regular meeting, the Board of Regents recognized the following faculty members:

Dr. Judi Phillips, Department Chair and Professor of Kinesiology, was selected as Del Mar College’s 2018 recipient of the prestigious Dr. Aileen Creighton Award for Teaching Excellence. Professor Phillips is the 17th faculty member to receive the highly coveted award representing the late educator Dr. Aileen Creighton’s legacy as a “master teacher.” The award serves as the benchmark faculty must emulate to receive the honor. Dr. Phillips’ portfolio includes over 31 years of dedication to teaching at the College. Along with her service to the Texas Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (TAHPERD), she is a former recipient of the TAHPERD Honor Award recognizing her accomplishments in her profession and the field of kinesiology. Among other accomplishments, Dr. Phillips began teaching online and served as a part-time instructional designer for Del Mar’s Distance Learning Department. Dr. Phillips expanded her technology skills and designed the department’s webpage, and she currently serves as its web content manager.

During the annual Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (TAHPERD) convention in December, Kristy Urbick, Intramural Director and Kinesiology Instructor, and Gene Power, Professor of Kinesiology, won first place in the professional division of the Research Section. The Department of Kinesiology faculty members’ poster presentation covered their research titled “Movement Screening and Mobility Training in Community College Personal Fitness versus Yoga Courses.” Competition included presenters from Texas A&M University in College Station, The University of Texas, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, Texas Women’s University, both Texas A&M Universities in Corpus Christi and Kingsville, Howard Payne University and Sam Houston State University. Urbick joined the College’s faculty in January 2016 while Professor Power is a tenured faculty member with over 23 years of service at Del Mar College.

Dr. Tammy Donaldson, Assistant Professor of Reading, was elected as Vice President for the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers (ALER). Her term as Vice President runs for 2018-2019, and subsequently, she will move to the roles of President­Elect and then President. Dr. Donaldson’s term officially began after the Fall 2018 ALER Conference held in Louisville, Ky., in November. Prior to the event and in preparation for her appointment, Dr. Donaldson attended the Fall Executive Committee and Board of Directors meetings. She joined the faculty in the College’s Department of Communications, Languages and Reading in 2012 and is a tenured Assistant Professor. She also provides leadership as Del Mar’s Faculty Coordinator of Developmental Education.