Brian Koehler

Brian Koehler, associate professor of chemistry in Georgia Southern University's Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology, has received a 2009 Outstanding Advising Award from the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA).

 

"As Georgia Southern continues to explore ways to increase our retention and graduate rates, effective advising programs play a critical role in these areas. I appreciate the significant contributions Dr. Koehler has made to promote effective advising for our students," said University President Bruce Grube.

 

"Dr. Koehler is perpetually engaged in rich conversations with students, be it in his office, laboratory or hallways. He is passionate about coaching students on how to be successful at Georgia Southern and in their careers; his national recognition for his support of students through advisement is truly deserved," said Bret Danilowicz, dean of the College of Science and Technology.

 

Koehler will be honored along with this year's other recipients at an awards reception in September during the NACADA Annual Conference in San Antonio.

The non-profit National Academic Advising Association promotes quality academic advising and professional development of its membership of more than 10,000 faculty members, professional advisors, administrators, counselors and others in academic and student affairs.

Since coming to Georgia Southern in 1999, Koehler has devoted much of his time to working on educational improvements in the general chemistry laboratory program. He also has an ongoing group of research students analyzing foods for compounds with known health-related effects.

Greg Brock

Greg Brock, Ph.D. of the University's College of Business Administration's School of Economic Development, was awarded the Fulbright Specialists grant in Economics at the Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico.  Brock will leave for Mexico in May 2010, where he will spend three weeks working with college professors and teachers to bring age appropriate economic education to children in kindergarten through twelfth grade, in addition to other duties.

"Many educators in Mexico are starting to see the importance of teaching even young children basic economic principals. There is evidence that if you teach children economics when they're young, they will become better savers. And, it has an impact on their life across the board. They become better voters and they are better at time management when they have a solid foundation in economics," said Brock.

Brock believes the teaching tools used in Georgia classrooms will work well in Mexico.

"For decades, Georgia Southern has had a center to help teachers better teach economics. I  plan to meet with teachers in Mexico and tell them about the methods we use in Bulloch County and in the state of Georgia that we feel are very effective," said Brock.

While in Mexico, Brock will also teach a short course in economics at the Universidad Veracruzana.  Georgia Southern University and the Universidad Veracruzana have a long relationship of partnering in international education, including being part of a North American Mobility grant at Georgia Southern's Center for International Studies.   The Mobility grant enabled Dr. Brock to do an initial short visit to Xalapa in 2007 that was then leveraged in to the Fulbright award.   Brock hopes his 2007 and 2009 visits will grow the exchange program between the two universities and lead to further grants.

"Georgia Southern offers a new Masters of Applied Economics degree that students in Mexico could take advantage of even if they chose not to come to the United States to study. Eventually, we would like to see more of Universidad Veracruzana's faculty traveling to Georgia Southern to give our faculty even more international experience," said Brock.

The Fulbright Specialists Program provides short-term academic opportunities (two to six weeks) for U.S.-based University faculty and professionals.  To be selected, a candidate must first apply and is then selected after a comprehensive peer review of the application and qualifications.