Outstanding Faculty Awards 2008–2009

Outstanding Faculty Service Award: Thia Wolf

Thia Wolf

English professor Thia Wolf, director of the First-Year Experience (FYE) program, has been chosen as the recipient of the 2008–2009 Outstanding Faculty Service Award. The award considers service to the nominee’s department, college, and University, to the profession, and to the community.

In her two and one-half years as head of FYE, Wolf “has worked harder than any human being I know with single-minded determination to support the youngest members of our scholarly community in their transition to college life,” said Bill Loker, dean of Undergraduate Education. “Her goal is to create an environment where any and all students can blossom, realize their potential, and contribute. She has been absolutely unstinting in her efforts, and she has been successful beyond my wildest expectations.”

Although relatively new to the position of director of FYE, Wolf has been working on behalf of first-year students for the 20 years she has been at CSU, Chico. Wolf was previously the director of the University Writing Center. “Thia created a writing center that treated all students as intellectuals who use writing to solve complex problems,” said Jill Swiencicki, Wolf’s colleague in the English department and co-creator of the FYE curriculum that connects literacy work, social justice, and research writing, and culminates in a Town Hall Meeting.

Wolf found grant support for FYE through Loker and Deanna Berg, former civic engagement director. “Thia’s ability to cut through ‘business as usual’ educational structures that close off innovation, collaboration, and curricular change, see something new, and then implement it with her colleagues is as close to miracle working as I’ve ever seen,” said Swiencicki.

Students who work as student employees in para-professional positions in the FYE wrote a joint letter to the nominating committee. “Many of us became engaged in this work after having Thia for an instructor. Because of her thoughtful, student-focused approach to teaching and program reform, students like us now have inspiring ways to plug into the campus and community, and make real impacts in both arenas.”

In addition to her program coordinating responsibilities, Wolf continues to publish and present at professional conferences. In 2008, she, Swiencicki, and Chris Fosen, English, presented “First-Year Students in the Public Sphere: the CSU, Chico Town Hall Meeting” at the Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience in San Francisco. She presented “Civic Engagement in Academic Writing at Chico State” and “Writing for the Public Sphere: Combining the Required Composition Course with the Town Hall Meeting” at the American Democracy Project in Philadelphia, 2007.

Wolf received a PhD in composition theory and pedagogy from the Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, and did a postdoctoral internship at CSU, Northridge in clinical psychology.

Outstanding Advisor: Esther Larocco

Esther Larocco

Esther Larocco is the 2008–2009 Outstanding Academic Advisor. She is the coordinator of four programs and still manages to give the personalized attention and time that distinguishes her to students and colleagues.

Larocco, a member of the faculty of the Department of Professional Studies in Education since 1990, is the coordinator of the Bilingual Professional Preparation Program, Multiple Subject; the Liberal Studies Program; and the MA in Education, Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Learner’s Option; and is director of the Teacher Recruitment Program. She serves as the English Language Development coordinator for the Inland Northern California Science Project.

Dean Phyllis Fernlund, College of Communication and Education, wrote in her letter of recommendation: “Esther embodies the core values of academic advising. In Liberal Studies she works with students in multiple pathways to their degree through the online Liberal Studies Program as well as the Redding and campus-based programs. … She has improved the dissemination of information to students through convocations, group advising, and the Web site and individual meetings with students. She has initiated a new peer advising program to use student-to-student communication and assist beginning students with basic questions about their programs.”

Students speak about her availability to them and the flexibility with which she will respond to their schedules and their academic goals and challenges.

“Dr. Larocco is an amazing advisor because she goes above and beyond the requirements of an advisor…if I had a question about anything, I knew I could turn to her. She has so many responsibilities on campus, but she somehow finds time to respond to e-mails the same day, make a special appointment, or drop everything to help you figure something out.”

Pamela Morrell, Liberal Studies advisor, noted in her letter of recommendation that Larocco has responded to the challenge of providing a sense of community in the Liberal Studies Program and Advising Office. “Dr. Larroco created a welcoming environment and programs such as the annual student convocation and the Liberal Studies Advisory Board, on which four students sit, which connect students to the program.”

Morrell also mentioned the advising pathways to other institutions, especially community colleges, that Larocco has created. “She regularly meets with local community college advisors to keep them updated on CSU programs and readily invites prospective community college students to visit Liberal Studies.”

Jim Richmond, retired chair of PSE, said of Larocco, “I have worked directly and continuously with Dr. Larocco, beginning with her first semester on campus. She has always been the ‘go to’ individual in the bilingual teacher preparation for students with questions. … She has a clear sense of what is needed to maintain high-quality programs and always keeps the students as top priority.”

Colleague Michelle Cepello, coordinator, Education Specialist Intern Program, endorsed the choice of Larocco for Outstanding Advisor with these words: “I have come to know Esther as a true educator, both as an intellect and humanitarian. Her interest in working with students is exceptional. She gives unselfishly of her time and brings keen insights that have been an asset to us all.”

—Kathleen McPartland, Public Affairs and Publications