Dr. Margaret Slavin from Nutrition and Food Studies, Ms. Susan Howard from Global and Community Health, and Dr. Grant Huang from Rehabilitation Science were recognized in Mason’s 2017 Teaching Excellence Awards presented April 17.
Slavin was a finalist for a University Teaching Excellence Award and named a Teacher of Distinction. Slavin mentors undergraduate and graduate students in her research activities and was recognized for her exceptional teaching and commitment to teaching-related activities. Slavin is an assistant professor formally trained in both food science and clinical nutrition. While her expertise spans a wide range of methodologies used in evaluating food and diet composition, Slavin’s research interests are primarily focused where food science and nutrition overlap.
Howard was a finalist for the Adjunct Teaching Excellence Award and received an Adjunct Teachers Distinction. This award recognizes candidates for their growth and development as an educator; student and learner engagement; assessment of student learning and achievement; and teaching effectiveness and impact. Howard has global field experience in HIV, TB, and malaria; maternal, neonatal, and child health; and reproductive health, nutrition, and environmental health. She combines theoretical models and evidence-based research with her practical field experience in more than 20 countries to help students understand systemic solutions to complex health and environmental problems.
Huang was also a finalist for the Adjunct Teaching Excellence Award and received an Adjunct Teachers Distinction. Huang’s work is in the area of multi-site clinical trials and epidemiological studies aimed at informing and guiding clinical practice. He has a multidisciplinary background with particular emphases in biostatistics, epidemiology, behavioral medicine, and medical psychology. He currently oversees a national network of clinical research centers conducting approximately 30 active protocols addressing various diseases and health conditions.
For more information and the complete list of 2017 award winners, visit the Mason Center for Teaching and Faculty Excellence.