Outstanding Professor and Teacher Awards 2008–2009

Outstanding Professor: Carol Huston

Carol Huston

Carol Huston, Nursing, has been chosen as the Outstanding Professor, 2008–2009. Huston has been at CSU, Chico since 1982. Recognized in 2001 as the Outstanding Teacher, Huston has continued to publish and make professional presentations. She is currently serving as president of Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), the worldwide nursing honor society.

Huston is the author of a best-selling textbook in its sixth edition, Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing: Theory and Application and Professional Issues in Nursing, in its second edition. She has more than 80 publications in scholarly journals, including “Building a Personal Power Base as a Student and New Nurse” in Imprint: Journal of the National Student Nurse’s Association (2008) and “Preparing Nurse Leaders for 2020” in UK Journal of Nursing Management (2008).

Huston’s years of service to STTI and her current presidency have garnered her international recognition and speaking engagements throughout the world (28 in 2008, alone) said Sherry Fox, director of the School of Nursing.

Huston was an invited participant to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Conference in 2007—a think tank for selected nursing leaders to address major issues in nursing education. She serves on the American Academy of Nursing Global Development Task Force and is a member of the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science Steering Committee and the National Nursing Research Roundtable.

In addition to her publications, she is also an editor for several journals. She is the co-developer of the “Marquis-Huston Model for Teaching Critical Thinking,” which has been recognized internationally by nurse scholars, said Janelle Gardner, professor in the School of Nursing.

“I have been at many conferences with Dr. Huston over the years, and it gives me great joy to see the tremendous admiration and respect that she receives in the international nursing world,” said Gardner.

Outstanding Teacher: Robert Tinkler

Robert Tinkler

Robert Tinkler, Department of History, was taken aback by the appearance of President Zingg in his classroom on the last day of classes in December, and even more so as friend after friend followed Zingg into his classroom to help celebrate the announcement of Tinkler’s choice as Outstanding Teacher of the Year, 2008–2009.

Tinkler, who received his PhD in U.S. history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, came to CSU, Chico in the fall of 2001. His dissertation was titled “Ashes of Greatness: Politics and Reputation in the Antebellum World of James Hamilton.”

Tinkler became interested in history and the possibility of teaching history through his own excellent teachers. A high school teacher in an advanced placement class opened his eyes, not just to history, but also to historiography, the study of how knowledge of the past is obtained and transmitted. He remembers his first research project and how much he enjoyed it.

In graduate school, when he had a course in methods in teaching history, he was introduced to the idea of learning modes and the varying ways in which students learn. It is something that has influenced his style of teaching since then and is evidenced in comments from his students.

One former student wrote in her letter of recommendation for this award, “Professor Tinkler involves all students by using a variety of instructional methods… He gets students to engage in the course material through the use of PowerPoint presentations, graphs, charts and other visuals, as well as class discussions, film, music, and simulations.

“ …I have never experienced the kind of intellectual energy that came to life each and every week of the semester. He has a unique ability to inspire students and to bring out the best of them.”

Tinkler has presented workshops to high school teachers in the North State History-Social Science Project for the past four years. Dale Steiner, director of the project, said in his letter of nomination of Tinkler, “I’ve seen the lavish praise that high school teachers have heaped on Tinkler in their evaluations. …I’ve seen Robert Tinkler teach, and I am in awe.”

In addition to his in-class teaching, Tinkler has been involved with students as the faculty advisor to Chico STAND (Students Taking Action Now: Darfur). He is an honorary member of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society (nominated by academically gifted students for his high-quality teaching).

Tinkler is the author of James Hamilton of South Carolina (Louisiana State University Press, 2004), and has contributed entries to The Political Lincoln (Congressional Quarterly Press, 2008) and other historical encyclopedias. His book reviews have appeared in Civil War Book Review, The Journal of the Early Republic, and The Historian, among others.

—Kathleen McPartland, Public Affairs and Publications