Faculty Excellence

Education Course Dispels Disability Stigma Through Inclusion

Individuals with disabilities are often stigmatized and marginalized. One Trinity course strives to change these mindsets by preparing future teachers to focus on inclusion.

Taught by education professor Heather Haynes Smith ’97, M’98, “Understanding Learners with Exceptionalities in School and Society” is not like the typical “introduction to special education” course. The first indication is in the title: Smith prefers the term “exceptionality” to “disability” to account for all students who may struggle with learning.

“Society uses labels that can be very stigmatizing,” says Madison Carolin ’20, a psychology major who is now pursuing the Master of Arts in Teaching at Trinity with a supplemental certificate in special education. “The course is an introduction to the complexity that is often just boiled down to two words—special education—which is another label that can be limiting to students and their abilities.”

“Most introductory courses in special education use a textbook and cover a different disability every week,” says Smith, who has taught the course in some form for the past 10 years. “I began refining the view of disability categories in a way that focused on strengths, characteristics, and instructional accommodations and modifications, which helps students in the course recognize equity issues and frame their learning and goals around social justice.”

For the service-learning component of the course, students partner with a local organization to expand their worldview outside the classroom.

“This course reflects the reality that people with disabilities are marginalized in all spaces, not just schools,” she says. “It is my hope that the learning in this course stays with my students in whatever their future careers are.”

FACULTY EXCELLENCE

DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AND RESEARCH

Trinity faculty are passionate teachers, active researchers, and caring mentors. Their commitment and diligence are strengths for the University, helping students develop the skills required to enter the market and succeed in post-graduate plans.

The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations awarded Trinity a $275,000 grant to help department chairs address University needs and develop their leadership skills. Extending through May 2022, the funds will support 10 department chairs who will each direct a project to create institutional change of their own design.

Kimberley Phillips,psychology professor and director for the neuroscience program, has been awarded a five-year, $1.4 million grant by the National Institute on Aging, a division of the National Institutes of Health.

Jennifer P. Mathews, sociology and anthropology professor, was selected as a 2020 Piper Professor. Only 10 college professors in Texas are chosen annually for this honor, which recognizes superior teaching.

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Sarah Beth Kaufman | Sociology and Anthropology Distinguished Teaching and Research by an Early Career Faculty Member

Andrew Kraebel | English Distinguished Teaching and Research by an Early Career Faculty Member

Tim O’Sullivan | Classical Studies Distinguished Advising

Rubén Dupertuis | Religion Distinguished University, Community, and Professional Service Peter O’Brien | Political Science Distinguished Research, Scholarship, or Creative Work or Activity

“BEST OF THE BEST” AWARDS Recognizes exceptional contributions to teaching, scholarship or creative work, and service Angela Breidenstein ’91, M’92 | Education Jane Childers | Psychology David Crockett | Political Science Patrick Keating | Communication Mark Lewis ’96 | Computer Science Nicole Marafioti | History Maria Pia Paganelli | Economics Amy Stone | Sociology and Anthropology Rita E. Urquijo-Ruiz | Modern Languages and Literatures Liz Ward | Art and Art History

Z.T. SCOTT AWARD Recognizes the top educator at Trinity Benjamin Surpless | Geosciences

MURCHISON PROFESSORS Recognizes exceptional achievement in teaching, research, and service Farzan Aminian | Engineering Science Amer Kaissi | Health Care Administration

TRINITY TOMORROW AWARDS Recognizes significant contributions to Trinity’s educational mission Dania Abreu-Torres | Modern Languages and Literatures James Ivy ’78, M’82 | First-Year Experience Luis Martinez ’91 | Entrepreneurship Lauren Turek | History Wilson Terrell Jr. | Engineering Science

PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN STUDENT ADVOCACY Recognizes significant support of student success Christina Pikla ’04 | Financial Aid Jacob Tingle ’95 | Experiential Learning

Jacob Tingle Serves as U.S. Delegate for Sport Diplomacy Trip to Africa

Jacob Tingle ’95, director for Experiential Learning and sport management professor, returned from Tunisia in northern Africa with a fresh perspective on the power of sport and a deep appreciation for the country’s culture and hospitality.

Tingle, Jillian Cready ’20, and seven other American professors, coaches, and sport entrepreneurs served as the returning delegation for a U.S. Department of State-sponsored cultural exchange with Tunisia in November. The exchange, which was the effort of World Learning, The Basketball Embassy, and the Sports Diplomacy division of the State Department, centered on developing and expanding “sport for all” programs in both countries.

The delegation interacted with politicians and Tunisian coaches and entrepreneurs to promote health, community, and economic development in sport in Tunisia.

“When you get young kids engaged in sports, they will learn how to be part of a community, work with people that are different than them, improve their long-term health, and have an enhanced sense of self that allows them to further their development in all areas of life,” Tingle says.