ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, May 7, 1996 TAG: 9605070040
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
Three Radford University faculty members have been honored with awards at the end of the academic year, while another received a state award.
During Saturday's commencement activities, the university also conferred only the second honorary doctorate of business arts it has awarded during its 86-year history .
Presentation of the Donald N. Dedmon Professorial Award for Teaching Excellence to Gwen Brown, associate professor and director of graduate studies in the university's department of speech communication, drew cheers from students attending the graduation ceremony. University President Douglas Covington said she has been described as "both sincere and passionate about teaching students the communication skills necessary for success."
The Radford University Foundation Award for Creative Scholarship went to Hilary M. Lips, a professor in the department of psychology. She is also director of the Center for Gender Studies, and has published a large number of books and articles.
R. Wayne Saubert, associate professor in the department of accounting, received the year's Radford University Foundation Award for University Service. This year he provided leadership for his department's core curriculum revision project to conform to new professional accrediting association standards. He also helped show the economic impact of extending the Work Force Transition Act to university faculty, which led to a Board of Visitors vote to approve participation in the plan.
The university also recognized Franklin M. Jones, the fourth Radford University faculty member ever to get a State Council of Higher Education Faculty Award. Jones, professor of physical science and director of the V-QUEST program at Radford, has been with the university for 30 years and has obtained more than 30 grants over the years, totaling nearly $1.5 million. He was last year's Dedmon Award winner.
Radford conferred its second-ever honorary business arts doctorate to Elbert H. Waldron, a leader in the real estate field named to a National Association of Home Builders trade mission to Libya, Lebanon and Greece in 1967. Starting in 1993, he and his wife, Evelyn, a former member of the Board of Visitors, made a substantial financial commitment to the university's College of Nursing and Health Services because of concern about a shortage of young people choosing nurse or health careers.
Waldron's own health prevented him from getting the honorary degree in person Saturday. It was received by his daughter, Karen Waldron, currently rector of the Board of Visitors.
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshots) Brown, Lips, Saubert, Waldon.by CNB