April 2018 – Office of Faculty Engagement

Congratulations to the recipient of the 2017-2018 Sabbatical Awards:

Jesus Alfonzo, Associate Professor of Music: Artistic Studies and Special Exercises for Viola: Preparing for Walton, Bartok and Hindemith Viola Concertos

Jon Carrick, Associate Professor of Management, Associate Chair of Management: Global Private Equity Investment Database

Chris Colwell, Associate Professor and Chair of Education: Understanding the Role of Charisma in K-12 Leadership

Manuel de Murga, Associate Professor of Music; Composition; Director of Composition: Compositions for Soloists and Ensembles

Michelle DeMoss, Dennis C. McNamara Sr. Professor of Marketing: Investigating Sustainable Marketing in the U.S. Food Industry: A Case Method Approach

Ana Eire, Professor of Spanish: Contemporary Spanish Poetry and Poetics: Eloy Sánchez Rosillo and Carlos Marzal

Richard Medlin, Professor of Psychology: Performance Training in an Avant-Garde Style

Julia Schmitt, Professor of Theatre Arts and Chair of the Creative Arts Department: Performance Training in an Avant-Garde Style

Terry Farrell, Professor of Biology: Snake Fungal Disease in Florida Snake Populations

Leander Seah, Associate Professor of History: Conceptualizing Chinese Identity: Chine, the Nanyang, and Trans-Regionalism

Congratulations to the recipient of the 2018 William Hugh McEniry Award for Excellence in Teaching

Stetson University congratulates Megan O’Neill as a recipient of the William Hugh McEniry Award for Excellence in Teaching, Stetson University’s highest honor celebrating exceptional dedication to teaching, mentorship, and student success.

The McEniry Award honors educators whose influence extends far beyond the classroom, recognizing faculty members who inspire intellectual growth while fostering meaningful connections with students and the broader university community.

In her McEniry Convocation remarks, Professor O’Neill reflected on the transformative power of listening and curiosity in education. She challenged students to view learning not as the passive absorption of information but as an active process of asking questions, engaging with differing perspectives, and remaining open to changing one’s own assumptions. By embracing conversations that are difficult yet meaningful, she argued, students develop not only academically but also as thoughtful and compassionate members of society.

She also shared a personal classroom experience in which genuine dialogue with a struggling student transformed frustration into understanding, illustrating her belief that effective teaching begins with empathy and a willingness to learn alongside one’s students. This commitment to listening and mutual growth exemplifies the spirit of the McEniry Award and the enduring impact of outstanding educators.

Please join the faculty, staff, and students at Stetson University in congratulating Professor Megan O’Neill on this well-deserved recognition and thanks her for her continued dedication to teaching, mentorship, and the pursuit of lifelong learning.

Dr. Megan O’Neill, Associate Professor of English