Staff to be honored at graduation

Four Portland State faculty members will be awarded university awards recognizing faculty excellence at the spring commencement June 16.

David Horowitz

David Horowitz, history professor and accomplished writer, will receive the Branford Price Millar Award for faculty excellence.

Horowitz has been a history professor at PSU since 1968, and has gained popularity among students and colleagues alike.

Horowitz said he was touched that his colleagues had nominated him for the award.

“People know that I enjoy teaching and have a great relationship with my students and enjoy myself doing it,” he said.

Horowitz found out that he would receive the award the day that his most recent book, The People’s Voice: A Populist Cultural History of Modern America, was published.

“It was a good day at the office,” he said.

Each year, one PSU tenure-track or tenured appointment faculty member is awarded the Millar Award for demonstrating excellence in scholarship, instruction, university and public services, and exceptional research skills.

The Millar Award is given annually to a faculty member in a tenure-track or tenured appointment who has demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, instruction, university service and public service, and whose performance in the area of scholarship and research is judged to be exceptional.

Horowitz has authored several history books, including America’s Political Class Under Fire: The 20th Century’s Great Culture War in 2003, Inside the Klavern: The Secret History of a 1920s Ku Klux Klan in 1999 and Beyond Left and Right: Insurgency and the Establishment in 1997.

Adriene Lim

Adriene Lim, systems librarian and assistant professor, will receive the Butler Award for library faculty service.

Lim has been employed with PSU for two years and works closely with the Office of Information Technology to improve library operation.

“Bringing together research contents and technology is something I strongly believe in as far as helping students succeed,” she said.

Lim said she is honored to be receiving the award and said that the work she has done would not be possible without the individuals she works with.

The Butler Award is given in recognition of excellent library service to library patrons, students and faculty. The annual award is made possible through an endowment from PSU Professor Emeritus Kenneth W. Butler and his wife, Elsie Butler. The Office of Academic Affairs solicits nominations during spring term of each year.

In the future, Lim hopes to further improve the library’s technologies and in turn aid students to succeed even more.

“We have a ways to go still. We’re trying to be innovators and improve as we go along,” she said.

Scott Burns

Scott Burns, professor of geology, will receive the George C. Hoffman Award for faculty excellence.

Burns received his doctorate in geology in 1980 from the University of Colorado. Prior to that, he received a bachelor’s in chemistry and a master’s in physical science from Stanford University.

Burns said he feels humble and excited to be receiving the award. He is honored that his colleagues nominated him, he said.

“It’s nice for other faculty members to say, ‘Hey, you’ve done a good job,'” he said.

The George C. Hoffman Award recognizes distinguished contributions to Portland State in the categories of instruction, university service and scholarship, with a particular dedication to students and the university. The Office of Academic Affairs solicits nominations for the annual award each spring.

A member of the geology faculty since 1990, Burns serves as the president of the inter-institutional faculty senate. He is also a member of several other university and department committees.

Burns has authored, edited and contributed to numerous publications.

In May, Burns was elected vice president of the International Association of Engineering Geologists.

Veda Kindle

Veda Kindle, senior assistant director of Admissions, Registration and Records, will be receiving the Mary H. Cumpston Award for service to students.

Kindle has worked in the Office of Admission, Registration and Records for 30 years. She has held multiple positions in the office, including manager for admissions, student recruiter and residency classification officer for the last 20 years.

The Mary H. Cumpston Award recognizes one PSU academic professional or university administrator without academic rank for excellence in the area of service to students. The recipient of the annual award is given a citation and a $1,500 check.

Kindle has provided current and incoming students with a wide variety of knowledge and assistance in her time at PSU.

“I am so excited that I am delirious–I am so absolutely honored,” Kindle said. “There are so many other people that I believe deserve this just as much–too bad that it can only go out to one person a year.”

Commencement will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 16 at the Portland Rose Garden arena.