ODU, TCC professors win Virginia outstanding faculty awards

Two Hampton Roads professors received the 2011 Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award announced Wednesday by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and Dominion Resources.

Tidewater Community College psychology professor James P. O’Brien and Old Dominion biology professor Mark Butler were recognized for excellence in teaching, research, knowledge, integration and public service. All 12 recipients honored will each receive $5,000 and an engraved award in a Richmond ceremony Feb. 17.

A committee of education, business and civic leaders assists SCHEV in selecting the recipients – this year from 106 entries – based on contributions to their students, academic disciplines, institutions and communities.

For O’Brien, this award comes on the heels of winning the Virginia Professor of the Year Award from the Carnegie Foundation and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) this fall. He has served as president of the Virginia Academy of Science, was named an Academy Fellow in 1997 and is currently its delegate to the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Association of Academies of Science

O’Brien holds a bachelor’s in psychology from Richmond, a master’s of science in general-applied psychology from VCU and a Ph.D. in human factors psychology from Catholic University.

Last year Butler was a finalist for the SCHEV Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award, nominated for the US Professor of the Year Award, and designated an Eminent Scholar at ODU. Two years prior, the College of Sciences at ODU honored him with the Hirschfield Award for Faculty Excellence.

When he served as graduate program director for his department, Butler restructured the master’s program in biology from the ground up and recently revamped the undergraduate program in marine biology at ODU and negotiated off-campus experiences for undergraduates at marine laboratories in Virginia, Florida, and Maine. As a marine biologist, he is recognized for his work with lobsters.

Butler holds a bachelor of arts degree from Wittenberg University and a master of science in zoology from Ohio State. His Ph.D in biological sciences is from Florida State.