Without its highly talented and devoted faculty members, Birmingham-Southern College would not be the esteemed college that it is today.

In honor of their dedication and hard work, each academic year begins with the announcement of two faculty awards – the Bob Whetstone Faculty Development Award and the David and Katy Smith Senior Faculty Award – at the Opening of School Faculty and Staff Assembly. The assembly will be held at 8:15 a.m. Thursday, August 22, in Munger Auditorium.

In anticipation of this year’s announcement, 2018 recipients Dr. Desireé Melonas and Dr. Laura Stultz shared how they used their awards as momentum for the future.

The Bob Whetstone Faculty Development Award: Dr. Desireé Melonas

The annual Bob Whetstone Faculty Development Award is given to a non-tenured faculty member recognizing their excellence in teaching.

Since arriving at BSC three years ago, Melonas, assistant professor of political science, has focused on the development of a black studies distinction and the addition of a political theory focus in the political science department. She has established both, but wants to continue improving future course offerings to students.

Melonas hopes to exemplify excellence in teaching through her focus on a positive classroom dynamic.

“I aim to cultivate an environment where students feel connected, appreciated, and enabled,” says Melonas. “With this foundation, we are then able to learn and teach other people things.”

Beyond working to create new classroom opportunities, Melonas is involved with the Black Women’s Union, the Mortar Board, Students Demand Action, and the Diversity Committee. She also helps with recruiting efforts for the BSC softball and football teams.

This award, which hangs proudly over her desk, is named for Dr. Whetstone, professor emeritus, college alumnus, and former longtime chair of the education division at BSC. Whetstone created the award to enrich teaching through professional development opportunities.

Melonas utilized the cash component of the award to attend the National Conference of Black Political Scientists, and to purchase new material for future courses.

“Attending this conference was vital for me this year in the ongoing cycle of developing new courses,” says Melonas.

The David and Katy Smith Senior Faculty Award: Dr. Laura Stultz

As the inaugural recipient of the David and Katy Smith Senior Faculty Award, Stultz, professor of chemistry, clearly possesses the teaching qualities of creativity and effectiveness that this award was meant to recognize.

After 22 years of teaching at BSC, Stultz appreciates the amount of faculty and student interaction possible at a college of this size. Most of her time spent outside the classroom involves participating in ongoing research shared with her students.

Stultz works with students on undergraduate research that focuses on metal containing anti-cancer drugs.

“Potentially students here in their first semester can begin synthesizing these drugs. It provides a lens to see chemistry that is more nuanced than a textbook, it shows the impact it can make on lives,” says Stultz.

By integrating teaching and research, Stultz is also able to help students throughout their career.

“They end up not only as students but also as research colleagues by the time they graduate,” says Stultz. “Being able to see the whole process of their education is important to me.”

The purpose of the award is to recognize the importance of senior faculty as they mentor and lead faculty governance, while upholding important BSC traditions. Receiving the award was especially meaningful to Stultz, as she was colleagues with Dr. David Smith during his time at BSC and always looked up to him for his work on campus.

Stultz was honored to be nominated by her peers, and was able to utilize the monetary component to further her summer research into anti-cancer drugs with RISE3, a project sponsored by the Krulak Institute.