Release Date: May 6, 2008
Arts College at Kennesaw State announces faculty, staff awards
Contact: Cheryl Anderson Brown, Assistant Director of Public Relations, 770-499-3417 or cbrown@kennesaw.edu
KENNESAW, Ga.—The College of the Arts at Kennesaw State University recently announced the recipients of its distinguished faculty awards in the areas of teaching and scholarship. The college also presented its fifth annual staff member of the year award.
Associate Professor of Art Jeanne Sperry, who lives in Woodstock, received the Distinguished Scholarship Award. Associate Professor of Theatre and Performance Studies Karen Robinson, who lives in Atlanta, received the Distinguished Teaching Award. The Outstanding Staff Member of the Year Award was presented to Assistant Director of Public Relations Cheryl Anderson Brown, who lives in Kennesaw.
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(From left) Distinguished Scholarship Award recepient Jeanne Sperry and Dean Joseph Meeks Photo by Cheryl Anderson Brown. |
Sperry joined the KSU faculty in 1996. She primarily teaches graphic communications. She was selected for the scholarship award because of her scholarly/creative activity as an active designer outside of the classroom. For example, in Fall 2007, she received two platinum awards and an honorable mention from the International Hermes Creative Awards for her design work with the Shaw Industries Learning Academy. She actively encourages her students to seek out competitive design projects and regularly finds nonprofit clients for her students to work with on real-world projects. “Jeanne Sperry embodies the characteristics of strategic planning, effective research and a high level of technical skill that inform her work in and out of the classroom,” said Joseph Meeks, dean of the College of the Arts. Sperry holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University and a Master of Arts degree from Syracuse University.
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(From left) Distinguished Teaching Award recepient Karen Robinson and Dean Joseph Meeks Photo by Cheryl Anderson Brown. |
Robinson joined the KSU faculty in 2000. She primarily teaches acting and directing classes. She also acts as the coordinator of general education in her department and as the coordinator of the college’s global learning initiatives. As an active director, she regularly works with some of Atlanta’s most prestigious companies, including the Georgia Shakespeare Festival, where she is an associate artist. Robinson actively seeks learning opportunities for her students. In the last year, these have included KSU’s participation in the 365 Days/365 Plays National Theatre Festival and a campus residency by Shangilia, a youth choir from Kenya. “Karen Robinson brings rigor, enthusiasm and compassion to all of her work with students,” wrote one of her nominees. Robinson holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado and a Master of Fine Arts from New York University.
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(From left) Outstanding Staff Member of the Year Award recepient Cheryl Anderson Brown and Dean Joseph Meeks Photo by Joshua Stone. |
Brown initially joined the KSU staff in 1996 and has held several positions on campus, assuming her current role in 2002. An award-winning editor and writer, she supervises the college’s PR team to produce more than 100 publications a year, including a full-color magazine, and the college’s website. She also manages the college’s media relations and is involved with the college’s alumni and donor events. Her publications and event work have been recognized by the Council for Advancement in Support of Education. In 2007, she wrote the successful proposal to have CASE select the college’s annual benefit gala as one of the top university fundraisers in the Southeastern United States. “Despite a demanding workload, Cheryl Anderson Brown always delivers quality and her professionalism is of the highest caliber,” Dean Meeks said. Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan College and a Master of Arts degree from Kennesaw State.
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A member of the 35-unit University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State University is a comprehensive, residential institution with a growing student population of more than 20,000 from 132 countries. The third-largest university in Georgia, Kennesaw State offers more than 60 graduate and undergraduate degrees, including new doctorates in education and business.
The KSU College of the Arts is one of only four Georgia institutions to have achieved full national accreditation for all of its arts programs.