TOP FACULTY, STAFF, ADMINISTRATOR, ADVISOR HONORED AT ABAC

The top faculty member, staff member, administrator, and academic advisor for the 2002-03 academic year were recognized during Wednesday=s Honors Day ceremony in Gressette Gym at Abraham Baldwin College.

Catherine E. Rogers, an associate professor of reading in ABAC’s Division of Humanities, received the W. Bruce and Rosalyn Ray Donaldson Award for Teaching Excellence. Fran P. Kinchen, secretary to the president, received the Roy R. Jackson, Sr. Award for Staff Excellence. Bernice Hughes, Director of Student Life and Housing at ABAC, received the E. Lanier Carson Leadership Award for College Administrators. Pattie Clark, associate professor in the Division of Nursing, received the Excellence in Advising Award.

Rogers first came to ABAC in September 1979 as a temporary part-time instructor in Special Studies English and later was appointed as a full-time instructor of reading in September 1990. She holds a Master’s of Education degree from Auburn University and a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Rogers participates in several programs on campus, giving up many Saturdays and late evenings to help students with community service projects or to tutor them in their academic work. She works with Literacy Volunteers of America and teaches English to speakers of other languages. Rogers organized a campus Circle K last year, and this year she was the Georgia Region advisor of the year for that organization. She also organized students to collect books for elementary schools and teddy bears for the sheriff’s department. In recognition of the teaching excellence award, Rogers received a plaque and a check for $2,500 from the ABAC Foundation.

Kinchen came to ABAC as the Administrative Secretary for Academic Dean Frank Thomas in October 1985. She worked in the Dean’s Office until July 2002 when she was selected as the secretary to ABAC President Mike Vollmer.

Kinchen has touched the lives of students, faculty, staff, and administrators through her work in a wide range of areas, including the scholarship program, the mentor/advising program, Upward Bound, and the ABAC Beauty Revue. She is a past recipient of the Pacesetter Award. She was also the first co-president of the Staff Forum and served two terms as the Staff Forum President. Kinchen has been extremely active in professional organizations involving her job on the local, state, and national levels. In recognition of this award, Kinchen received a plaque and a check for $1,250 from the ABAC Foundation.

Hughes is well known across campus and in the community. A developer, coordinator, supervisor, and adjunct faculty member, her association with ABAC began in 1998 in the area of Student Affairs. Her office handles all housing operations involving the college. She supervises 11 resident directors, 82 resident assistants, and one family student housing resident director. Hughes also oversees and maintains operating and programming budgets. During basketball season, she worked 90 percent of the games in the concession stand to help students raise money. In recognition of this award, Hughes received a plaque and a check for $1,250 from the ABAC Foundation.

Clark has served as an academic advisor for 23 years. One of her advisees said the following about her: “My advisor has always made herself available to advise her students on academic issues as well as career development and student life issues. She accomplishes her advisory role in a very personal, supportive, and caring manner and with a great sense of humor. She is more than a teacher and an advisor; she is a student’s friend and a shining example of the spirit of ABAC.” Clark will attend the annual meeting of the National Academic Advising Association in Dallas, Texas, in October.

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