---
title: RLC Professor Carpenter in running for statewide award
description: INA, Ill. (May 19, 2016) The Illinois Community College Trustees Association announced Thursday the 28 nominees for its 2016 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty
---

[Rend Lake College News ](https://rlc.edu/news)

# [RLC Professor Carpenter in running for statewide award](https://rlc.edu/news/rlc-professor-carpenter-in-running-for-statewide-award)

 Written by [Nathan Wheeler](https://rlc.edu/news/author/nathan-wheeler) | May 19, 2016 5:00:00 AM

INA, Ill. (May 19, 2016)  
The Illinois Community College Trustees Association announced Thursday the 28 nominees for its 2016 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member Award. Among them  
 Rend Lake College Professor Shari Carpenter. 

"Great teaching comes from the heart, and the nominees for ICCTA’s 2016 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member Award embody all the attributes of great teachers. Congratulations to our nominees!" the ICCTA release stated.

RLC's Dean of Applied Science and Technology Chris Nielsen presented Carpenter with the 2016 RLC Faculty Excellence Award earlier this month. 

"She sets a good example, worthy of emulating," said Nielsen. "She can do online instruction ... credit hour compliance ... assessment. She can go from one department to the other and talk to everybody. And I think that is well worthy of emulating."

<https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png> Shari Carpenter, Title III Institutional Designer and Computer Science Professor, poses with her Faculty Excellence Award on May 2 in the RLC Theatre. Click on the image for a larger view. (ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

Carpenter, a resident of Sesser, splits her time at RLC as the Title III Instructional Designer and Computer Science Professor. She marked her 21st year with the college on March 6. She’s served in many different positions throughout her two decades at Rend Lake. After being hired as an administrative assistant for the Non-Traditional Student Support Services Grant  
a position that no longer exists  
 she moved to Title III as an administrative assistant.

One day, she said, there was a shortage of instructors to teach one-day computer workshops in Mt. Vernon. Ever the volunteer, Carpenter embarked on a teaching career that has spanned the better part of two decades. She was hired the next year to teach part-time and was hired full-time in 2000.

“The most rewarding part of my job is seeing that light bulb in my students’ faces. I like to see students learn. That’s what my job is and I want to help them with their goals in life,” she said. “If they’re learning, then I’ve done the job right.”

Currently, Carpenter teaches a number of computer classes, such as Intro to Computers and the Microsoft Office classes covering Excel, Access, and many others. She also splits her time teaching Instructional Methods and Strategies, and providing training for RLC faculty.

“My student is whoever is in my class  
traditional student or faculty member. I love helping people learn, no matter the topic or level,” said Carpenter. “When I found out I won, I was so surprised and totally set back. I had no idea. It’s quite an honor to be nominated by your peers and it means a lot to me.”

##### ICCTA’s 2016 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member Award Nominees

**Nikki Borrenpohl**  
 English and literature  
*John A. Logan College*

**Mark Bosworth**  
 Precision machining technology  
*Southwestern Illinois College*

**Dr. Christina Brophy**  
 History and humanities  
*Triton College*

**Sheryl Bundy**  
 Communications and literature  
*Moraine Valley Community College*

**Shari Carpenter**  
 Computer science  
*Rend Lake College*

**Joseph Chianakas**  
 Arts and communication  
*Illinois Central College*

**Penny Cozart**  
 Associate degree nursing  
*Spoon River College*

**Kari Donoho**  
 Mathematics  
*Heartland Community College*

**Benjamin Drury**  
 Sociology  
*Morton College*

**Justin Ebert**  
 Agriculture  
*Highland Community College*

**Gene Forster**  
 Chemistry  
*Southeastern Illinois College*

**Diana Fortier**  
 Economics  
*Waubonsee Community College*

**Dr. Jessica Greminger**  
 Chemistry, physical science, and computer programming  
*Kankakee Community College*

**Paul Gulezian**  
 Biology / environmental science  
*Oakton Community College*

**Anne Humphrey**  
 English  
*McHenry County College*

**Dr. Amy Jakobsen**  
 Psychology  
*Sauk Valley Community College*

**Phillip Langley**  
 Developmental education  
*Danville Area Community College*

**Dr. Jenny Lee**  
 English and humanities  
*College of Lake County*

**Timothy Lockman**  
 Information literacy  
*Kishwaukee College*

**Sherrie Malone**  
 Computer science  
*Shawnee Community College*

**DeAnna Massie**  
 Developmental reading and English  
*Lewis and Clark Community College*

**Dr. Patricia Pence**  
 Nursing and health professions  
*Illinois Valley Community College*

**Kylie Price**  
 English  
*Carl Sandburg College*

**Dr. Michael Ramm**  
 Chemistry  
*Lincoln Land Community College*

**David Seiler**  
 History  
*Lake Land College*

**Peggy Shaw**  
 Photography and video  
*Parkland College*

**Kimberly Tarver**  
 Physical therapy  
*Elgin Community College*

**Kisha Wells**  
 English  
*Prairie State College*

The recipient of the 2016 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member Award will be recognized at ICCTA's 50th anniversary banquet on June 3 in Springfield. For more information, contact ICCTA at 1-800-454-2282 or [iccta@communitycolleges.org](mailto:iccta@communitycolleges.org). Rend Lake College Public Information can be reached at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1223.

[View full post](https://rlc.edu/news/rlc-professor-carpenter-in-running-for-statewide-award)

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