2023 Faculty Awards

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At the start of each academic year, Geneva celebrates new freshmen and outstanding teachers at Academic Convocation. Four awards, which are determined by nominations from students and faculty, are presented to various professors. The celebration included several speakers from our faculty and leadership, including Calvin Troup, PhD, President, Melinda Stephens, Provost, PhD, Professor of Chemistry, Jamie Swank, JD, MA, VP & Dean of Student Engagement, and Mark Tronzo, PhD, Professor of Engineering and Mathematics.

The Excellence in Scholarship Award is presented to one with a breadth and depth of knowledge in their discipline which significantly enhances the intellectual climate of the College; contribution to the advancement of their field with recognition beyond the Geneva campus; and stimulation and direction of scholarly activity among students. This year it was awarded to Scott Shidemantle, PhD, who has been teaching in the Biblical Studies Department since 1997. Shidemantle received this award for his many achievements in academics impacting his field, Geneva College, and his community. His accomplishments include:

He has served as a book review contributor for the Journal of Evangelical Theological Society, with over 25 of his book reviews published in the journal.
One of his essays, “Ancient Letter Form and Its Linguistics Features” will be published later this year in the Baker Encyclopedia of Biblical Greek and Linguistics (Stan Porter, Senior Editor)
He engages students in scholarship through the organization of several study trips to Israel. Since 2004, he has organized and lead these trips approximately every other year for students, alumni and friends of the College.
He was invited to serve as a visiting faculty member at Jerusalem University College in Spring 2022
He brings his scholarship into the classroom as he instructs the advanced Old Testament and advanced New Testament survey courses and a variety of upper-level Biblical Studies classes.
He applies his scholarship to the Church as an ordained ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church of American.

The Outstanding Service Award is awarded to one who has displayed accomplishment of identifiable service activities for the campus or broader community and the positive impact of the service events either internally or externally. James Matta, PhD, Professor of Graduate Counseling, was this year’s award recipient. Some of his accomplishments demonstrating his service to his community and academic discipline include:

2021 Pennsylvania Counseling Association Lifetime Achievement Award
He serves on the Beaver County Behavioral Health Gambling Coalition.
He serves as a community liaison board member for the National Institute of Health national research investigation known as the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study; the largest study ever conducted involving adolescents and young adults.
For several years, he has served as the track coordinator for Clinical Mental Health and is now providing support for our School Counseling students.
He served the College as the Interim Director of Graduate Counseling, filling a critical need for the College, and is now established as the Director of the Counseling Program, providing leadership and guidance for our current CACREP re-accreditation process.

The Excellence in Part-Time Teaching Award is gifted to one who has classroom teaching ability, educational leadership, creativity in teaching and methodology, course and program development, and enhancement of the educational climate and opportunities at Geneva College. Professor Ken Wilson is the 2023 Excellence in Part-Time Teaching award recipient. He has been teaching part-time in the Engineering Department since 2019, and many students have pointed him out as one who is a hard-working, incredible, and godly teacher who truly cares about the students and makes sure they understand the content he teaches. Wilson has consistently nominated for this award by students and faculty colleagues for the last four years. The impact of his teaching can be seen through just a small sampling of student quotes.

This professor is a “great prof that cares what he does and how it affects students. [This professor] is willing to put forth the extra effort to make sure that we understand the topic.”
This professor “is a treasure. He is an excellent teacher and mentor. I am very thankful that I was able to meet this incredible and Godly man who has changed my life for the better in one short semester.”
“Honestly, probably the best teacher I have ever had. Truly, truly cares about the students and making sure that we understand the content. Communicates the material extremely well and doesn’t let his knowledge in the field get in the way of explaining the material.”

The Excellence in Teaching is also presented to a faculty member demonstrating the criteria above, but for our full-time faculty members. The 2023 awardee is Keith Martel, PhD, Professor of Higher Education, Sociology, and Humanities. Martel has been teaching full-time at Geneva since 2012. He has a BA from Geneva in Philosophy and Political Science, a master’s from Geneva in Higher Education, and a PhD in Philosophy from Duquesne University. He served for many years as the Director of the Masters of Higher Education program and has willingly taught wherever needed, primarily covering courses in Higher Education, Political Science, Sociology, and Humanities. Students say he is an excellent professor who challenges and encourages his students to think more critically, and someone who prioritizes his students’ well-being. He truly has excellent classroom teaching ability, educational leadership, creativity in teaching and methodology, course and program development, and enhancement of the educational climate and opportunities at Geneva. Again, we can see the impact and excellence of Martel’s teaching through the impression left on his students.

This faculty member “is an excellent professor and mentor who focuses on deeply challenging his students and encouraging us to think more critically and fully.”
“He adjusts his lessons as needed to teach us better…and really prioritizes our wellbeing, both in and out of the classroom.”
This professor “encourages learning for his students in ways that are both challenging and thought-provoking."
This professor “is the only reason I enjoyed this semester. ….”He broke everything down to the basics which really helped me understand.”
“Thank you for challenging us and making class so fun!”

We are honored to have a breadth of talented, innovative, passionate, and Christ-centered faculty members who invest in our students, campus community, and the world around them. These faculty members, among our other faculty, are examples to our students of what it means to live out a life of faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor through their vocation.

-Anna Eshelman, '24

Sep 15, 2023

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