Birmingham-Southern College awarded faculty members for their excellence in teaching at the opening of school faculty and staff assembly on Aug. 22, 2019.

The Bob Whetstone Faculty Award and the David and Katy Smith Senior Faculty Award are given annually to faculty members chosen by the Provost’s Office, after nominations by their peers. Names of the winning faculty members are displayed on a plaque outside the Office of the Provost.

The Bob Whetstone Faculty Award: Dr. Kevin Drace

Pictured: Dr. Brad Caskey, Rev. Katy Smith, Dr. Kevin Drace, Dr. David Smith, President Daniel B. Coleman

Dr. Kevin Drace, assistant professor of biology, has received the Bob Whetstone Faculty Award.  This award, named for Dr. Whetstone, professor emeritus of education, is given to a non-tenured faculty member in support of professional development and travel.

Drace has been at BSC since 2016, after earning a bachelor’s degree from Athens State University and a Ph. D. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. While in graduate school, he was an adjunct professor of biology at BSC.

His research focus is on the long-term effects of mercury pollution, as well as the health and environmental impacts of gold mining in developing countries.

“My aim in teaching is to work with students to provide the necessary resources and opportunities to pursue their academic goals in the most authentic way possible,” says Drace. “We do more than learn the fundamentals, we put the fundamentals into practice through real-world applications.”

Drace plans to use the cash component of the award to attend an academic conference in 2020.

The David and Katy Smith Senior Faculty Award: Dr. Barbara Domcekova

Pictured: Dr. Brad Caskey, Dr. Barbara Domcekova, President Daniel B. Coleman

The David and Katy Smith Senior Faculty Award was given to Dr. Barbara Domcekova, associate professor of Spanish. This award is named for Dr. David Smith, professor emeritus of music, and his wife, Rev. Katy Smith, who wanted to show support for faculty members who have served at BSC for 10 years or more.

Domcekova earned her bachelor’s degree from Comenius University in Slovakia and her Ph. D. from the University of Florida. This will be her 21st year teaching at BSC.

“It is a great honor to receive this recognition, particularly because I work with colleagues who I admire and respect, who are all excellent teachers and dedicated faculty members,” says Domcekova. “To be recognized within this group means a lot to me.”

Domcekova’s areas of specialization include Cuban post-revolutionary culture, 20th century Brazilian literature, and the Cuban contemporary narrative. In her classroom, she hopes to transmit her excitement and passion for Spanish to her students, opening the door for them to new experiences.

With the cash component of the award, Domcekova is planning her next travel adventure, most likely to Latin America.