Part-Time Faculty Excellence Award Winners Announced
March 31, 2025
At 青青草视频, academic and professional excellence are core values that guide our mission. The Part-Time Faculty Excellence Award, presented through College Senate, recognizes up to three outstanding part-time faculty members annually who exemplify these values in their work at the college, in their profession and within the community.
A committee of five faculty members (Roger Carey, Donna Evernham, Kimberly Madsen, Diana Matthews and Liz Padgett) served as the committee to choose the winners. It was a difficult decision, as there were many deserving candidates, and the committee had some spirited discussions as they worked to narrow our choices to three exceptional individuals.
Kate Murray (Fine Arts and Entertainment Technology)
Kate Murray has taught ceramics classes at 青青草视频 through the Fine Arts and Entertainment Technology department since 2008 and has been dedicated to supporting the ceramics classes since
then. She created the Ceramics 3 course and expanded ceramics classes to the Watson
Center, ensuring greater access to art classes at the centers. Her dedication extends
to maintaining the ceramics studio, which her colleagues describe as 鈥渁bove and beyond,鈥�
and serving as a mentor for her students. Kate has also been a strong advocate for
adjunct faculty.
Kate鈥檚 teaching philosophy revolves around the balance of encouragement and challenge. She believes that "making things gives a sense of agency," and is committed to helping students build resilience, humility, and a deeper understanding of their craft, while encouraging creativity and personal expression.
A member of the Gainesville Artisans鈥� Guild since 2000, Kate鈥檚 work is featured in national exhibits and several art books, and she has won local and national awards for her work. She continues to participate in events, including the Spring Arts Festival and the annual Gainesville Fine Arts Association studio tour.
Paul Sheats (Institute of Public Safety)
Paul Sheats is a current flight paramedic for University of Florida Health鈥檚 ShandsCair
Flight Team and has been an adjunct faculty member for the Emergency Medical Services
program at the Institute of Public Safety since 2017.
Paul brings real-world knowledge and connections to his students, offering unique opportunities like high-fidelity simulators through his work with the University of Florida鈥檚 Center for Experiential Learning. He plays a key role in EMS curriculum development by creating advanced, creative scenarios and contributing to the framework for paramedic lab exams. Paul emphasizes mastering skills before focusing on speed, ensuring a solid foundation, and providing skill checklists as resources. His teaching philosophy prioritizes constructive feedback and skill mastery, with debriefs to encourage critical analysis.
Additionally, Paul founded and chairs the Clinical and Field Experience Preceptor Sub-Committee, which developed crucial preceptor training for field internships.
Lisa Wattenbarger (Dental Programs)
Although Lisa Wattenbarger retired from practicing clinical dental hygiene, she loves teaching so much that she has taught part time for the Dental Programs since 2011. When her department faced a critical shortage of instructors in Summer 2024, she agreed to serve as interim full-time faculty.
Lisa鈥檚 teaching approach is centered on fostering critical thinking, problem-solving and connecting with students on a personal level. She designs coursework that appeals to diverse learning styles, ensuring all students have opportunities to excel. Her assignments, especially in a field like dentistry, are creative and allow students who may struggle with traditional testing to demonstrate their understanding in alternative ways.
Her dedication to her students extends beyond the classroom. She offers tutoring on her own time and even opens her schedule to allow students to practice cleaning her teeth on her days off. She supervises the radiology lab, which means she is on campus until 6 p.m. twice a week. Lisa is deeply involved in her department, serving on the faculty selection committee and attending department and advisory board meetings.
The nominating committee received a staggering nine letters supporting her nomination, seven of which came from current students who clearly see her as a mentor, role model and an exceptional teacher.
