Faculty recognized at Hancher-Finkbine dinner

The event has been held since 1917 to honor campus leaders and give them an opportunity to meet administrators, faculty, fellow students, and alumni. The dinner is named after William O. Finkbine, an 1880 UI law graduate and a Des Moines businessman.

The tradition of awarding Hancher-Finkbine medallions began in 1964. The awards, which recognize outstanding leadership, learning, and loyalty, are named after Finkbine and Virgil M. Hancher, who served as president of the UI from 1940 to 1964.

Faculty who received awards include:

Jerald L. Schnoor, professor of civil and environmental engineering, received the Hancher-Finkbine Faculty Medallion. Schnoor is co-director of the Iowa Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research and has twice been named a UI Distinguished Professor. He received the Faculty Excellence Award from the Board of Regents and the College of Engineering Outstanding Faculty Research Award. He advises three to five undergraduates in research and up to 12 master’s and doctoral students each year. He served as president of the Faculty Senate and on many UI college committees, including chair of the dean’s search committee and Faculty and Staff Engineering Building Financial Campaign.

N. William Hines, dean of the College of Law since 1976, received the M.L. Huit Faculty Award. Hines joined the faculty in 1962, maintains an active teaching schedule, and has taught Property Law to almost every first-year law student since he became dean. Hines fosters a family atmosphere at the college, encouraging all to become involved members of the law school community.

Mitchell J. Kelly, visiting assistant professor in psychological and quantitative foundations, received the James N. Murray Faculty Award. The award is given to an untenured faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding rapport with students and who creates an exemplary classroom atmosphere. This academic year Kelly is teaching eight sections of Educational Psychology courses. Students describe Kelly as someone who really cares about his students. He received a College of Education instructional improvement grant in 1998.

Article by Melvin O. Shaw