Student News
TALENTED TEACHERS Doctoral students Julia Woolley (left) and T.C. Corrigan (right), with faculty member Jeanne Hall, were honored as recipients of the annual Djung Yune Tchoi Graduate Teaching Award from the College of Communications. Woolley taught an advertising/public relations methods course and Corrigan taught the popular sports, media and society course. (Photo by John Beale)
Ph.D. Candidate Lizardi Earns University Teaching Award A College of Communications doctoral student received an award from the university for excellence in teaching. Ryan Lizardi, who is pursuing his Ph.D. in mass communications, received the Harold F. Martin Graduate Assistant Outstanding Teaching Award. Lizardi and nine other students from different graduate programs at Penn State were honored in a special ceremony for their achievements. The award, which is named in honor of former Pennsylvania Director of Education and Penn State alumnus Harold F. Martin, is given to graduate students who have distinguished themselves as teachers. In order to be eligible for the award, students must have served as a graduate assistant for two semesters in the past two years. Lizardi’s Ph.D. adviser, Matt Jordan, nominated Lizardi for the award. “Lizardi quickly distinguished
himself by his flexibility,” Jordan said. “He taught COMM 250, the second installment in the film curriculum, and classes in production and screenwriting—a combination of courses very few can teach effectively.” In a letter of recommendation written for the award, Jordan applauded Lizardi’s effort to go beyond a course’s format to bring students a richer experience. While Lizardi was teaching COMM 242: Basic Filmmaking, he took students outside on listening walks so they could learn how to better describe what they were hearing. Lizardi then had students transfer what they gained from the exercise to help them become better film editors and producers. “To be recognized for something I really love doing is truly an honor,” Lizardi said. “I consider it a privilege to be able to teach my students, so this award is a great bonus and validation to my developing process.”
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Lizardi places emphasis on discussion-based learning in his classes, which sets them apart from other sections. “Getting students to work through difficult material out loud makes the learning a bit more concrete,” Lizardi said. “I also like to think that we have a lot of fun along the way through film clips, exercises, and relating the material to contemporary media the students love.” Lizardi has a passion for the classroom and said his ultimate goal is to become a professor and continue teaching. Jordan thinks Lizardi will become a dynamic college educator someday. “Ryan has already shown he can publish academic work, which is remarkable as a graduate student,” Jordan said. “With his pedagogical skills, he will make a great colleague for whatever school is lucky enough to get him.” — M i c h a e l Y o u n g ( ’ 1 1 A d v/ P R )