Distinguished Faculty Award 2020: Dr. David Barner

David Barner

With his rich baritone gracing the Westminster airwaves and the College’s main switchboard message, it’s no wonder that this year’s Distinguished Faculty Award recipient is often referred to as “The Voice of Westminster.”

Dr. David Barner, the recipient of the 2020 award, has been a Westminster fixture for nearly four decades. Known as “Dr. B” on Titan Radio, Barner joined the Westminster communication faculty in 1981. He has worked in commercial and educational broadcasting as a disc jockey, news anchor, football/basketball play-byplay announcer, account executive, program director, sales manager and general manager.

On campus, he is known as a professor who links theory to practice and has helped guide decades of students to successful careers in broadcasting and communication. Barner’s graduates have gone on to professions in on-air talent for radio and television, studio and field directors, producers, media sales and camera and audio operators.

During Barner’s tenure, he has witnessed Titan Radio transition from 45 RPM records to the latest digital technology. He has seen the radio station grow from 100 watts to the current 4,000-watt coverage throughout Lawrence County. The Westminster Cable Network— which was once housed in a small studio in the basement of Orr Auditorium—now has a state-of-the-art facility and a fully-equipped remote truck and serves three cable systems and viewers around the country by a video stream.

In 2019, the Presidents’ Athletic Conference presented Barner with the Dow Carnahan Media Award for his role as a distinguished member of the media for his commendable service while covering and promoting the conference’s student-athletes, coaches and programs.

The Distinguished Faculty Award is Westminster’s highest teaching award. It is presented to a tenured faculty member who has, over a sustained period of time, demonstrated characteristics of the most outstanding faculty—intellectual vitality, effective communication skills, the ability to motivate or inspire compassion and concern for student success, collegiality and leadership.

Eight granted emeritus status

Eight retiring members of the Westminster faculty were granted emeritus status by the Board of Trustees in May.

Dr. David Barner, professor of communication. Barner, who chaired the School of Communication, taught broadcast and media production and was active with Titan Radio as an announcer, reporter and producer. The 2020 Distinguished Faculty Award winner, he joined the faculty in 1981.

Dr. Amy Camardese, professor of education. Her research areas of interest included intercultural means of exploring curriculum and using technology with students with disabilities. The 2019 Distinguished Faculty Award winner, Camardese joined the faculty in 2001.

Dr. Ed Cohen, professor of political science. Cohen’s area of focus was public policy, constitutional law and political philosophy. His research interests centered around international political economy, with a focus on the intersection between globalization, international law, finance and trade. He joined the faculty in 1996.

Dr. Carolyn Cuff, professor of mathematics and faculty development officer. Her teaching areas included statistics, data science, discrete mathematics and operations research. The 2017 Distinguished Faculty Award winner, Cuff joined Westminster in 1989.

Dr. Timothy Cuff, professor of history. Cuff taught U.S. history courses and world geography and his research interests focused on 19th century United States and the outcomes of economic development. He joined the faculty in 2000.

Dr. Nancy DeSalvo, associate professor of music. A Steinway Artist, DeSalvo taught courses in applied piano, vocal and instrumental accompanying/coaching, piano techniques and music history. She joined the faculty in 2000.

Dr. Mandy Medvin, professor of psychology and longtime director of the College’s former Preschool Lab. Her recent research interests focused on crosscultural attitudes towards cyberbullying in adolescents. Medvin joined the faculty in 1992.

Dr. Ann Murphy, associate professor of French and Spanish. Her area of focus was the French language, literature and culture and she was particularly interested in French and Francophone narrative writing of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, especially the works of Louis-Ferdinand Céline and Nobel Prize laureate Patrick Modiano. She joined the faculty in 1995.

Promotions and tenure awarded

Several faculty members earned promotions and tenure during the spring semester.

Dr. Michael Aleprete Jr., political science, was promoted from associate professor to the rank of full professor. Aleprete has been a member of the faculty since 2007.

Dr. Daniel Perttu, music, was promoted from associate professor to the rank of full professor. The current chair of the School of Music, Perttu joined the faculty in 2008.

Dr. Deanne Buffalari, psychology, was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor and was granted tenure. Buffalari, who serves as coordinator of the Neuroscience Program, joined the faculty in 2014.

Dr. Diana Ortiz, biology, was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor and was granted tenure. Ortiz joined the faculty in 2014.

Dr. Timothy Winfield, music, was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor of music and was granted tenure. Winfield, who also serves as director of the Westminster College Jazz Ensemble, joined the faculty in 2014.

BEHIND-THE-CAMERA CHALLENGE

Students produce a music video for musician alumnus J.D. Eicher ’09 as part of a 48-hour Titan Music Video Challenge. Each competing team was assigned one of Eicher’s songs and worked with alumni mentors, 4K cameras and $0 budgets to film complete videos during a two-day stretch. The winning video for Eicher’s “Maybe You Should Know” was coached by Troy Jackson ’18.