Four Juniata College faculty members were honored with distinguished teaching and service awards at the annual Spring Awards Convocation.
Honored for their work were Brad Andrew, professor of economics and international studies; Elizabeth “Liz” Mansberger, assistant professor of biology; Kim Roth, professor of statistics and mathematics; and Li Shen, assistant professor of marketing.
Andrew was named the 56th recipient of the Beachley Award for Distinguished Teaching and Roth was honored with the 34th annual Beachley Award for Distinguished Academic Service. Shen received the Henry ’57 and Joan Gibbel Award for Distinguished Teaching (for faculty members with fewer than six years of service). Mansberger was awarded the second annual Eagle Advising Award.
These annual awards recognize and appreciate the collective work of faculty and honor how they advance the mission of the liberal arts. Faculty members are integral in providing an engaging, personalized educational experience, empowering students to develop the skills, knowledge, and values that lead to a fulfilling life of service and ethical leadership in the global community.
Award nominations are received from students, faculty, administrators, alumni, and trustees. The selection committee includes the college president, the college provost or senior academic officer, the student government president, and typically the three most recent recipients of the award make the final selections.
Andrew came to Juniata in 2001 from Babson College in Massachusetts, where he was a lecturer in economics. He earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. in economics at the University of Connecticut and his bachelor’s degree from Framingham State University in 1989. At Juniata, Andrew teaches a range of courses in economics and investing and is the faculty overseer for the Eagle Fund, a student-administered investment fund.
Known as a “master of pedagogy” and “facilitator of student-directed learning,” Andrew’s peers noted his strategic use of small groups and social-informed practices in class. His students described his enthusiasm for economics and investment as palpable and lauded his ability to make complicated subjects accessible. Andrew was recognized for his dedication to student success and daily demonstration of his commitment to experiential education. His impact continues beyond the classroom or time at Juniata, as attested by alumni who voiced their appreciation for his dedication to his students beyond graduation.
Mansberger joined the biology department at Juniata in 2013, previously serving as an assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and an instructor of biochemistry, microbiology, and molecular biology at Penn State University. She completed a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at the University of Maine and a Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology at Penn State University.
Her faculty colleagues in biology cited the leadership, rooted in a deep knowledge of scheduling and curriculum, Mansberger provides to fellow advisers, as well as her commitment to ensuring her advisees have a successful curricular path to meet their post-graduation goals. As a member of the Health Professions Committee, she often works with her students to plan coursework for multiple semesters at a time and partners with students experiencing unexpected challenges and setbacks.
Roth came to Juniata in 2006 from Wheeling Jesuit University, where she was an assistant professor of mathematics. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a minor in computer science from Oberlin College in 1996. The following year, she studied at the Budapest Semesters in Mathematics, a math program in Budapest, Hungary. Roth completed a Ph.D. in mathematics in 2002 and a master’s in applied statistics in 2016, both from Penn State University.
Her colleagues describe her as a stalwart faculty member who is exceptionally generous with her time and talents. Roth is recognized as a fantastic mentor in many capacities, offering constructive advice on teaching, professional development, or life challenges. She serves on numerous campus committees, which includes her “present, available, and unflappable” leadership of Juniata’s Center for Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (SoTL) during the spring of 2020.
Shen joined the Juniata faculty in 2017 from Penn State University DuBois Campus, where she was an assistant teaching professor for marketing. She earned her master’s degree and Ph.D. in international business/marketing from Southern New Hampshire University.
Her students describe her as a fun, creative, and innovative instructor whose skillful reliance on case studies to emphasize problem solving and storytelling is highly effective. Shen is committed to experiential and international education, working to secure internships, organize field trips, and engage with the local community. She teaches beyond the classroom, offering students advice and mentoring student organizations, including the Chinese Club.