MATC’S Bakken, Redfield Receive 2006 Distinguished
Teacher Awards
The
Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Foundation has selected Turina
Bakken, a marketing instructor, and Karen
Redfield, an English instructor,
to receive the college’s 2006 Distinguished Teacher Awards. Established
by the MATC Foundation in 1982 and co-sponsored by college’s student
honor society, Phi Theta Kappa, this annual award recognizes faculty
members for their contributions to students and the college. Students,
faculty and staff members nominate candidates, who then are considered
for the award based upon their effectiveness in working with students,
mentoring or orienting of new faculty, consulting with peers, providing
service to the college, and participating in professional development,
alumni and community activities.
Among the
students who nominated Turina Bakken, a resident
of DeForest, WI, for
the Distinguished Teacher Award, one student wrote, “She makes class fun and interactive,
yet very educational—just a great overall learning environment.” Bakken
says her teaching philosophy involves a firm belief in facilitating connections
for her students. “Helping each student find a connection within the field
is important. But teaching also requires that I connect with them—knowing
a bit about their lives, caring about them really matters,” she explains. “If
you can make that connection, the learning flows from there.”
Bakken joined
MATC in 1998 and currently serves as the lead teacher for the college’s
marketing faculty, while teaching marketing, promotions and international marketing
classes. She has coordinated strategic planning activities at the department
level and has served on several college-wide strategic teams. In addition, she
is a Phi Theta Kappa mentor and has helped design and has participated in faculty
and student exchange programs to Northern Ireland, Holland, Germany and Nepal.
Bakken’s
work experience includes directing marketing, promotions, programs and communications
at organization such as Funjet Vacations, UW—Madison and the Madison Area
Quality Improvement Network. She holds bachelor’s degrees in marketing
and international relations, as well as a master’s degree with an emphasis
in marketing and organizational design, from the University of Wisconsin—Madison.
She also earned a certificate in French and international business at the Universite
de Provence, France. Bakken serves as a volunteer ice hockey coach and is active
in the Executive Women’s Golf Association and golf tournaments,
and is a PADI-certified scuba diver.
Among those
who nominated Karen Redfield, who lives in Madison, for the Distinguished
Teacher Award, one student credited Redfield with providing the guidance
and support she needed as an adult student returning to the classroom
after 30 years. “She
saw my potential and challenged me to set higher goals for myself,” wrote
the student, who later earned membership in the college’s Phi Theta Kappa
honor society.
Redfield states
that she has been energized by the possibilities of her students. “Like
many of our students,
I am a first-generation college student in my family and I worked to
put myself through school,” she states. “My family life was
similar to many students’ families so I can relate in that way
as well.” She also
notes, “Many students do not know how to articulate who they are
or how much they have to say until their first college writing course,
and I have felt privileged to be part of this process.”
Since
joining MATC in 1988, she has taught for the college in homeless shelters
and tribal colleges, as well as in traditional classroom settings. Redfield
has taught writing, English as a Second Language and Native American
literature and in addition recently served as the lead teacher for the
English faculty. She has contributed to many college-wide committees,
is a three-time Phi Theta Kappa mentor and has facilitated diversity
workshops and conversations about college values.
Her work experience
includes holding the position of chair of the English Literature Department
at the Universidad Mayor de San Simon in Bolivia, as well as working as a communications
consult for several businesses. She earned both bachelor’s and
master’s
degrees from the State University of New York (SUNY), studied at the
University of Nottingham in England and will complete her Ph.D. at the
University of Wisconsin—Madison
this year. She also has presented at many national conferences and published
articles on composition and Native American writing. Redfield enjoys
cooking, gardening, travel, reading and films.
MATC is one
of the largest of the Wisconsin Technical College System’s 16 colleges.
It provides “real world smart” education through a comprehensive
curriculum of technical, liberal arts and science, adult basic education
and life enrichment studies and activities, as well as customized employee
training. MATC offers associate degrees, vocational diplomas and certificates,
and non-degree courses in more than 140 programs of study. The college
serves all or parts of 12 counties located in south-central Wisconsin
and offers instruction through five campuses and numerous community locations
throughout the district.
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Last
Modified:
October 2, 2006
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