RLC Professor Carpenter in running for statewide award

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."

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 50^th anniversary banquet on June 3 in Springfield. For more information, contact ICCTA at 1-800-454-2282 or iccta@communitycolleges.org. Rend Lake College Public Information can be reached at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1223.