Faculty Archives - �۶�ֱ�� University

Forces in Motion

�۶�ֱ�� University — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Dr. Wilson Hawkins: Celebrating a Village of Mentors and Colleagues

Dr. Wilson Hawkins’ energy and enthusiasm in the classroom is contagious. The assistant professor of physics and director of the �۶�ֱ�� University Honors Program connects with students, whether they are passionate investigators or new explorers of the science of matter, motion, and energy.

Hawkins arrived at the University in 2021. His storytelling teaching style, which relates physics concepts to everyday experiences, made him a favorite with students. He also welcomes collaboration with faculty and staff to deliver innovative programs. He continued to conduct atomic physics experimental research while mentoring students and inspiring them to present their work at academic conferences. For those reasons and more, Gardner- Webb University President Dr. William M. Downs presented Hawkins with the President’s Early Career Award for 2024.

“Dr. Hawkins is off to a fast and impressive start as a member of the �۶�ֱ�� faculty,” Downs praised. “He exemplifies what we look for in our assistant professors—a clear commitment to instructional innovation and student success, a continuing dedication to advancing new knowledge in a disciplinary field, and a consistent record of collegiality as a member of the GWU community.”

Hawkins is the seventh recipient of the Early Career Award, presented to full-time assistant professors who demonstrate outstanding performance in professional development and excellence in service. The annual award includes an additional cash prize designated for professional development opportunities for Hawkins.

He was nominated by College of Arts and Sciences Dean Dr. Robert G. Prickett, Dr. David Campbell, associate professor and natural sciences chair, and Dr. James Morgan, professor of psychology. All three commended his dedication to students. Prickett noted that Hawkins had re-designed five of his courses around online open resource materials. He also mentored three biology seminar students and 20 students’ poster presentations for regional and national honors conferences. Two of those students one national awards for their work.

Hawkins expressed his gratitude to everyone at �۶�ֱ�� for their encouragement. “It is an honor to be nominated by my peers for this award,” he shared. “I can’t take sole credit for my work, as I have a wealth of ongoing support from students, colleagues, administrative assistants, and department chairs. These folks have treated me like family from the first day I stepped on campus. Thank you to everyone who chose to lift me up with this recognition. I am truly blessed and grateful to be a part of �۶�ֱ�� University.”

When talking about his achievements, Hawkins points to others. “I’ve just had one excellent mentor, after excellent mentor,” he reflected. “I can’t take credit for any of my success, because I’m just a product of a village of people who put me here.”

His “village” begins with family and extends to teachers, professors and colleagues. Hawkins is from a small town located near Asheboro, N.C. His maternal grandfather attended Gardner- Webb before serving as a minister in the Asheboro/Greensboro area for over 50 years. His paternal grandfather graduated with an accounting degree from East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, N.C.

While his parents didn’t attend college, they saw their son’s potential and pushed him to excel academically. His mom homeschooled him until the eighth grade, providing the foundation for his success.

At age 14, he entered public high school, and his father put him to work in the family construction business as motivation. “I worked with him every summer and winter break,” Hawkins related. “You know, I’m complaining. I don’t want to carry shingles up the ladder anymore. He would always like to grin and respond, ‘Well, do your homework, stay in school. It makes you want to go to college, doesn’t it?’”

His high school teachers further encouraged him, and he discovered an interest in math. When he decided to pursue higher education at ECU, he leaned towards a degree in the science field. “During my first calculus class, Dr. (Orville) Day explained to me the relationship between physics and math and gave me the answer to the question that all the kids in high school have in their math class: ‘When will we ever use this?’” Hawkins shared. “And the answer to the question is physics. So, the moment he showed that to me, I realized this physics thing is something that I have to be around. I told him I wanted to change my major.”

Soon, Hawkins was volunteering in the ECU tutoring center. The director, Dr. Elizabeth Coghill, recognized his talents, gave him more responsibilities, and he became the lead physics tutor. He helped Dr. Jefferson Shinpaugh in the ECU Accelerator Lab. He earned a bachelor’s in physics, master’s in applied physics and a Ph.D. in biomedical physics. The research was fascinating, but Hawkins had discovered his love for teaching, which led him to apply for the position at Gardner- Webb to teach introductory physics.

“These survey courses contain the exact material that I spent thousands of hours tutoring, teaching, and falling in love with as a student,” Hawkins related. “My first impressions of the �۶�ֱ�� faculty and administration were overwhelmingly positive. This realized sense of community makes me proud to be a part of Bulldog Nation.”

Hawkins supervises the GWU Williams Observatory and teaches General Physics, University Physics, and Astronomy courses with accompanying laboratory components. “The majority of my students are applying to graduate and professional programs that require physics for admission as well as their entrance exams,” he explained. “I get to work with some of the best science
students at the University every single day.”

He’s also accepted additional responsibilities. In 2022, Hawkins was named director of the Honors Program. He had participated in various Honors’ activities and wanted to continue engaging students in undergraduate research. In 2023, Hawkins partnered with the Division of Student Success to work with the first Living and Learning Community (LLC), where first-year students participate in a shared academic endeavor and live in the same residence hall. After a successful year, more LLCs are planned.

Hawkins looks for opportunities to support his �۶�ֱ�� colleagues. “Because, ever since I got here, all anybody’s ever done—administrative assistants, faculty, staff, whoever—is help me,” he asserted. “So, if anybody asks for my help, then I’m paying it forward. This machine was already a family before I showed up, so I’m just trying to play my part.”

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Playing it Forward

�۶�ֱ�� University — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 13:30:00 +0000

Head Women’s Tennis Coach Jim Corn Dedicated to Developing Life Leaders

For over two decades, Corn, known for his beaming smile, has dedicated himself to developing well-rounded athletes on and off the court.

BY AVERY COPELAND

“You can take those life lessons. I don’t need to take it with me. I need to leave it with somebody. I want to give it back. Pay it forward.” Jim Corn, �۶�ֱ�� University women’s tennis coach, lives by this philosophy.

For over two decades, Corn, known for his beaming smile and wide brimmed hat, has dedicated himself to developing well-rounded athletes on and off the court. He emphasizes the importance of individualized coaching and adapting his teaching style to each player’s unique talents while fostering a team-centered attitude.

His commitment extends beyond and across the net, ensuring that the values and life lessons he imparts have a lasting impact on his players. By passing on the wisdom he’s gained from his own coaches and mentors, Corn embodies the idea of “playing it forward.”

Born and raised in Shelby, N.C., Corn grew up in a rich tennis culture, influenced by the Shelby Tennis Association’s establishment in 1961. At the time, Shelby had more players ranked in the state of North Carolina than any other city or town in the nation. He began playing tennis on the Association’s red clay courts at 11 years old. “When we played, everybody knew we came from Shelby because of the color of our socks,” Corn laughed.

Corn also explored team-oriented sports, including basketball, baseball and football, but ultimately found that tennis was his passion. His time pursuing other sports taught him the value of teamwork. “There’s a tremendous amount of things you can learn by playing the team sports,” he noted. These early lessons became a cornerstone of his coaching principles.

Turning his attention to tennis, Corn was ranked seventh in doubles and eighth in singles nationally by the time he was 14. He was also first in North Carolina Men’s singles at age 14, 16 and 18. Corn won 14 state titles and a Southern sectional title. His achievements gained attention from the recruiters for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC).

Corn became the first student-athlete to ever receive a full tennis scholarship to UNC, where he played under North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame coach Don Skakle, who further emphasized team-oriented thinking in tennis. Corn thrived at UNC and is considered one of the Tar Heels most accomplished tennis players. He garnered All-ACC honors four times, set a school record for wins during his career, and won two ACC doubles championship titles. He remains the only player in ACC history to win four individual singles championships at his position. To recognize his successful collegiate career, a court was named for him at the UNC Cone/Kenfield Tennis Center. In 2009, Corn was inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Foundation Hall of Fame.

After graduating from UNC, Corn joined the satellite tennis circuit in Florida, gaining professional experience until an arm injury cut his competitive playing career short. Transitioning into coaching, he became an assistant pro at the Raleigh (N.C.) Racquet Club, where he discovered his passion for teaching tennis. “I became a pro myself, a teaching pro,” he joked. Corn later became the director of tennis at a country club in Virginia and even started his own tennis clothing company.

Returning to Shelby, Corn worked for his father’s concrete business, whose products were used in the foundations of many of the �۶�ֱ�� buildings, including the Dover Campus Center, and the Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center. Growing up, his father even took him to the University’s basketball games. “I have roots here,” he said.

In 2001, he joined �۶�ֱ��’s development office, but months later, he was asked to serve as Bulldog Club Director because of his background in athletics. While serving as director, Corn was drawn back to the courts to volunteer his time and offer coaching assistance to the �۶�ֱ�� tennis teams. When the tennis program transitioned to Division I, the men’s and women’s teams needed separate head coaches, and Corn was offered the position as �۶�ֱ��’s women’s head tennis coach. “It’s the way I could give back to the sport,” he said.

Corn instructs his players to view their opponents as competitors rather than enemies, fostering a mindset that extends beyond matches to how they interact in their personal lives. “We’re all people,” Corn stated. “Relationships matter … in many ways we’re all the same.”

He learns from his student-athletes and tailors his teaching to enhance their skills, customizing his coaching to each player’s individual strengths and abilities. “There’s no reason to try to make the girl who can’t hit a big hard serve to try to get a big hard serve … She’s fast. She’s got quickness … That’s what makes it fun,” he emphasized.

Corn’s 2023 women’s tennis team averaged a 3.86 GPA, reflecting his commitment to their academic and athletic success. Even when his athletes play their last collegiate match, Corn’s impact continues past graduation. He maintains and fosters long-lasting relationships with his players, including those from his first team at Gardner- Webb. The players also keep in touch with each other. “There’s something you can’t buy,” Corn noted. When one of his early players, Laura Kriett, got married, seven out of nine girls on the team attended her wedding a decade later.

His journey with �۶�ֱ�� reflects his deep ties and enduring dedication to the University and its students. “It is amazing what we have become in the last 20 to 25 years because I knew �۶�ֱ�� when it was a junior college (during my youth),” Corn reflected. “And I’ve seen it grow … but I think the best is still yet to come.”

Avery Copeland, of Atlanta, Ga., is a senior majoring in English.

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Embracing the Community of the Unexpected

�۶�ֱ�� University — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 20:44:00 +0000

Teaching Excellence Winner, Dr. Elizabeth Amato, Centers Learning Around Relationships

Dr. Elizabeth Amato has been named the director of Undergraduate Research. As an associate professor in political science, Amato has served the �۶�ֱ�� community since 2014. She also received the Excellence in Teaching Award for 2021-22. The award recognizes academic rigor, effective course design and dedication to students. Amato’s approach to teaching centers on fostering a strong relationship between students and the text they are reading.

“My goal is to help students carefully read some of the best thinkers on the persistent questions of how we live as individuals and in political communities,” Amato said. “I want them to encounter the written words of a person from the past. These people are some of the best teachers available.”

Amato also believes that humility and a spirit of discovery are important in the process of education. In addition, she feels humor and a coaching mentality are essential when teaching young minds. “Comedy helps hold people’s interests and makes them wonder what is next,” Amato stated.

She credits her parents for inspiring her love of teaching. She grew up in Baldwin, Ga., in a family of teachers, with her father being a math teacher and her mother, a piano teacher. While she never took after her parents’ skills of mathematics and music, she learned a lot from her professor, Peter Augustine Lawler, at Berry College in Rome, Ga., where she earned her bachelor’s degree.

“He introduced me to a very different way of thinking about political science and literature,” remarked Amato. “He took ideas seriously and did things in an unexpected way. He taught me to look for the unexpected within the text.”

Through Lawler, Amato saw the value of political science and started to think through the question, “How do I want to live?” For Amato, political science is the “art of the possible” and a great way to bring ideas into the world using the materials available to humanity. “Politics are an important aspect in the struggle to live as free beings,” she observed. “It is vital in understanding how to live with others.”

Thinking back to her time as a first-year college student, Amato said if she could go back and give herself advice, it would be to value friendship and community. This desire to build community and foster relationships can be seen in her style of teaching, such as her popular coffee and tea tasting class, in which students drink coffee and tea from all over the world. “The class brings back the wonder and excitement of learning,” she described.

The tasting class further promotes community and offers important aspects for professional development, where the student is enabled to navigate social situations and understand networking. Another purpose for the activity is to introduce the students to a wide number of coffees and teas to help them seem more cultured in social situations. They also learn about the economics and politics behind these drinks.

Amato recalls the first time she toured �۶�ֱ�� and seeing herself belonging on the campus.

I wanted to teach at a small liberal arts college,” she shared. “That was my ambition and dream—to know the name of my students and be able to mentor them.
Dr. Elizabeth Amato

She appreciates the faculty mentors who helped her get accustomed to �۶�ֱ��. She specifically cites Professor of History Dr. Timothy Vanderburg, former GWU professor Dr. Joseph Moore, and Associate Professor of Sociology Dr. Dianne Sykes, who have each helped her in different ways.

Before coming to �۶�ֱ��, she taught at James Madison College at Michigan State University in East Lansing. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in political science at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Amato wrote her dissertation on the role politics and literature play in understanding the pursuit of happiness. In 2018 she published this research into a book titled, “The Pursuit of Happiness and the American Regime: Political Theory in Literature.” In addition, Amato has authored multiple articles and chapters and served as a resource on elections for regional media and public events.

She is working on her next project, writing a book about moral education presented within the television series, “Cobra Kai.” Amato noted, “My hope with the book is to show how the ‘Cobra Kai’ navigates the thorny questions and trials of young adults who both want to be good and to do good. I love looking at how writers, novelists, and directors depict the world. What are they trying to show and teach us?”

She is positive about her new position as director of Undergraduate Research. “I am excited for the opportunity
to guide students towards high-impact and high-quality projects and undertakings,” she affirmed. “I believe it is through something like undergraduate research where students transition from students in the proper sense to experts.”

Brandon Richmond graduates in May 2024 with degrees in English and philosophy and theology.

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The Mentor

Office of University Communications — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 08:11:21 +0000

Dr. Joseph Oyugi Helps Students Pursue Their Passions

After Dr. Joseph Oyugi earned his Master of Science in ecology from Moi University in Kenya, he immersed himself in research. For seven years, the �۶�ֱ�� University professor of biology didn’t interact much with people as he focused on his work in the field and the lab, then wrote and published his findings.
He was employed by the National Museums of Kenya, and his supervisor helped him develop his research skills. In 2000, Oyugi decided to pursue his doctorate at the University of Illinois in Chicago. One condition of his scholarship was working as a graduate assistant, which shaped the rest of
his career.

“I had no idea I would become a teacher,” Oyugi shared. “Because I was guiding students in the lab and teaching them what to do, I realized when you show somebody something, they get excited about it and actually they get to succeed more. I realized that interaction with the student is more important than just coming to a lab or going to teach them a lecture. You need to be hands-on—more interactive.”
Oyugi taught eight years at Wilbur Wright College in Chicago before joining the �۶�ֱ�� faculty in 2013. “I wanted to move to a less-busy area,”
he related. “My kids were becoming teenagers, and I wanted a quiet, calm environment. I came here for an interview and I really enjoyed the people in the department. I got offered three positions, but �۶�ֱ�� was my top place.”

Through lectures, multi-media, videos and other tools, Oyugi engages his students in the classroom and inspires them to complete their own research studies. “I identify a student who is interested in a particular subject, and I try to mentor them to do something they have never done before,” Oyugi explained.

With Oyugi’s guidance, students have participated in the �۶�ֱ�� Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, obtained international internships and received acceptance into prestigious graduate schools. A study by one of his students, 2017 alumnus Christopher Lile, was published in a national academic journal for undergraduate research.

“My goal is to give students knowledge and ideas so when they leave, they can do whatever they want,” Oyugi affirmed. “Mentoring is not holding your hand and showing you how to do everything, but it is teaching you to do it yourself. I’m guiding you, not doing it for you.”

Dr. Joseph Oyugi (right) and student researcher Christopher Lile (left) working on undergraduate project

Oyugi’s enthusiasm for ecology prompted Michael Byron, a 2014 GWU alumnus and basketball player, to pursue a master’s degree and career in wildlife conservation. In graduate school, Byron researched cheetahs at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.

“The classes and the faculty at �۶�ֱ�� helped to inspire and lead me down the path I’m on today,” Byron stated. “I loved seeing the similarities and differences between different species, and seeing how these differences allowed each species to be the most suited for its environment. Dr. Oyugi was very passionate about the content, and I was intrigued by the interactions between organisms and their environment.”

Oyugi encourages students to choose research topics that interest them. Some have studied mushrooms, insects, small mammals, salamanders and lizards. For areas outside of his expertise, he asks his colleagues to provide assistance.

“I appreciate this institution, where you can interact with colleagues and collaboratively mentor and bring up a student,” Oyugi asserted. “Mentorship is group work, everybody helping the student succeed.”

Oyugi, was on sabbatical in the fall of 2019 where he spent time at Moi University in Kenya helping conduct research on birds and their environment. While there, he looked into opportunities for his students. “I’m hoping to identify a project for �۶�ֱ�� students to do in Kenya in the future,” he said.

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