University of the Pacific alumni honor professors who inspire
The Pacific Alumni Association announced today that it is bestowing its Faculty Mentor Award on three University of the Pacific professors who have made lasting impacts on students' lives.
Recipients of the 2016 Faculty Mentor Award are Amy Scott Brown, associate professor of education; Maurice McCullen, professor emeritus of English; and Willard Price, professor emeritus of business.
"The Pacific Alumni Association is proud to honor these faculty members for their commitment to strengthening the connection between alumni, faculty and students," said Janice Magdich '79 '96, Pacific Alumni Association President. "They have proven to be invaluable assets to the university community in their roles as mentors, advisers, and spokespersons for the university's mission of preparing individuals for lasting achievement and responsible leadership."
Amy Scott Brown is an associate professor of educational and school psychology in the Gladys L. Benerd School of Education. She earned her master's degree and doctorate in educational psychology at Arizona State University and a bachelor's degree in psychology and religious studies at UC Berkeley. One of her former students, Amy Burns '14, nominated her for the award, noting that Brown is "always going out of her way" to support students and help them find fieldwork and internship placements that match their interests.
Maurice McCullen, a scholar of Dickens and Thackeray, was a member of the College of the Pacific English department faculty from 1970 to 2002. In nominating McCullen for the award, former student Kim Austin '90, now a marketing manager at Cisco Systems, praised his efforts to connect students with on-campus jobs and internships as well as jobs in the local community. "He gave students the courage to change career paths," she wrote. "He recognized the potential in students."
Willard Price taught operations management and engineering management courses and served as a member of the Eberhardt School of Business faculty for 34 years, retiring in 2015. Former student Byron Meth '15, a Tiger golf star who earned a bachelor's degree in business administration with a minor in economics, recalled Price as a demanding professor who made coursework relevant and fun. Another former student, Willa (Kathy) King-Harris '88, now deputy director of human resources for San Joaquin County, remembered Price as a great influence and inspiration. "He has made a lifelong commitment to students," she wrote in her nominating letter.
University of the Pacific, founded in 1851, boasts 55,000 living alumni. Since 2008, the Pacific Alumni Association has bestowed its Faculty Mentor Award to professors who excel at the mentoring that characterizes a University of the Pacific education.
This year's awards will be presented Nov. 13 at an awards brunch on the university's Stockton campus. For more information, contact the Pacific Alumni Association at 209.946.2391.
Nominations for the 2017 awards can be made online at pacificalumni.org/FMAnominate.
