Contact: Mary Jane Dunlap, University Relations, (785) 864-8853.
LAWRENCE - When a surprise patrol led by University of Kansas Chancellor Robert Hemenway walked into classrooms during the first few days of the new semester at KU, two of the surprised professors joked, "Does this mean I've been fired?"
The professors knew that on the first day of classes at KU for the past four years the chancellor has walked about the campus making an unannounced visit to 20 professors who are selected to receive W.T. Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence, worth $5,000 each.
What they didn't know was that they would be one of the award winners. Kemper Fellows' names are secret until they receive the award.
None of the 20 Kemper Fellows knew they had been selected until they saw the chancellor, representatives of the Kemper Foundation-Commerce Bank, Trustee, the KU Endowment Association and an assortment of reporters and photographers coming into their classroom. Awards were made on the first day of classes, Aug. 24, and on Aug. 25, 28 and 29.
In addition, the William T. Kemper Foundation-Commerce Bank, Trustee, and KU Endowment announced that the fellowship program would continue for five more years. A total of $100,000 is awarded each year.
This fall was the fifth year of the original five-year award program. The William T. Kemper Foundation-Commerce Bank, Trustee, established a $250,000 fund for the program. The KU Endowment Association provided $250,000 in matching funds. The Kemper gift is being renewed along with matching funds from KU Endowment.
The W.T. Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence recognize outstanding teachers and advisers at KU. A seven-member committee of students, faculty and KU alumni select each year's Kemper Fellows.
The William T. Kemper Foundation-Commerce Bank, Trustee, was established in 1989 after Kemper's death. The foundation is dedicated to continuing his lifelong interest in improving the human condition and quality of life. The foundation supports Midwest communities and concentrates on initiatives in education, health and human services, civic improvements and the arts.
Today's award winners were (a full list of the 20 Kemper award winners follows today's winners):
MICHAEL J. BURKE, M.D.
Michael Burke, associate professor, is director of medical student
education at the KU School of Medicine in Wichita, as well as
director of psychiatry education at the Via Christi Regional Medical
Center. Colleagues note his diverse and comprehensive knowledge of
psychopharmacology and different psychotherapeutic interventions, and
consider his forte to be his ability to help students learn to view
patients from a holistic stance that integrates all perspectives.
"My goal is to guide students of medicine away from 'boring or
exciting cases' toward the perspective of the patient as a rich and
complex person for whom they have the challenge and privilege of
providing care. The message for students is that as they shift from
treating 'cases' to treating people, the quality of care improves and
the personal fulfillment becomes endless."
LAWRENCE L. PELLETIER JR., M.D.
(pronounced PELL-let-tear)
Lawrence Pelletier is a professor of internal medicine at the KU
School of Medicine in Wichita. He is described by colleagues as a
genuine academician - a contributor to medical literature and a
well-informed practitioner of general internal medicine and of his
specialty in infectious diseases. Among his principal
responsibilities is directing patient care and teaching at the
Wichita Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He is an extensive user of
the Internet and computer resources in keeping patient care up to
date.
"When working with Dr. Pelletier, there is a true team approach to
patient care. He still leads by example, setting the tone for
holistic patient care ¹ He never demeans students or residents - he
never makes jokes at the expense of the less experienced. He
encourages everyone to participate in the identification of all
issues surrounding a patient's illness and recovery, and pushes his
teams to address all the pertinent problems, not just the most
pressing symptoms."
ROBERT L. SHELTON
Robert Shelton, associate professor of religious studies, is also the
university ombudsman, a position he has had since 1985. As ombudsman,
Shelton serves as adviser, mediator and all-around problem solver to
students, faculty and staff on the Lawrence campus. A visit with the
ombudsman often prevents the escalation of disagreements. In this
role Shelton has long been known as an advocate for fairness and
common sense. His field of doctoral study at Boston University,
social ethics, has been incorporated into all of the many duties he
performs at KU.
"His class presentations are rich with scholarly material from
diverse fields. He engages the students in real dialogue about the
most central questions facing humanity. His open, easygoing manner
invites participation by a variety of class members, yet his
questions and leadership challenge each to reconsider, question and
be refreshed by what they are learning."
2000 KEMPER FELLOWS
- Charles M. Berg, professor of theatre and film
- Diane K. Boyle, associate professor of nursing
- Michael J. Burke, M.D., director of medical student education, KU
School of Medicine-Wichita; director of psychiatry education, Via
Christi Regional Medical Center, Wichita
- Walter A. Clark, associate professor of fine arts
- Diane R. Fourny, associate professor of French and Italian, and of
humanities and Western civilization, and director of the Center for
European Studies
- Estela A. Gavosto, associate professor of mathematics
- Deborah J. Gerner, associate professor of political science and
department director for undergraduate studies and the international
studies co-major
- Edwin W. Hecker Jr., professor of law
- Mary Lee Hummert, associate professor of communication studies
- Thomas S. Krieshok professor and chair of psychology and research
in education
- V. Parker Lessig, Frank S. Pinet teaching professor of business and
director of undergraduate programs in business
- Richard S. Musser, Clyde M. Reed teaching professor of journalism
and mass communications
- Garth A. Myers, assistant professor of geography and of African and
African-American studies
- Lawrence L. Pelletier Jr., M.D., professor of internal medicine at
the KU School of Medicine-Wichita
- Anton Rosenthal, associate professor of history
- Robert L. Shelton, associate professor of religious studies and
university ombudsman
- Val H. Smith, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology
- Carl J. Strikwerda, professor of history and associate dean of the
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Thomas W. Volek, William Allen White Foundation teaching professor
in journalism and mass communications
- Mary K. Zimmerman, associate professor of health policy and management