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Quality FacultyThe faculty at State Fair Community College are committed to teaching. Many of them have years of experience in their respective academic and professional fields, but they are here because they love the classroom environment and working with students. SFCC faculty believe that personal attention and innovative teaching techniques are the best way to reach students and address their personal educational interests. State Fair Community College named Steve Galloway instructor of the year and Jenny Pedersen adjunct instructor of the year at the college’s 2008-2009 Honors Convocation in the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center.
Steve Galloway, Instructor of the Year
Galloway, of Windsor, is an agriculture instructor and program coordinator for the college’s Associate of Applied Science Ag Business program and Associate of Arts Ag Business transfer program. He joined the SFCC faculty in 1979. He is the advisor for SFCC’s Ag Club and a member of the Missouri Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association.
Galloway received a Master of Science degree in agriculture technology and a Bachelor of Science degree in vocational agriculture education in 1979 from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg. In 1975 he received a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture business from CMSU. Prior to coming to SFCC, he was a graduate teaching assistant at CMSU and a substitute teacher in Missouri public schools. He also served two years with the United States Army, attaining the rank of sergeant. He is a member of the CMSU Agriculture Alumni Association, an advisory board member for Farm Credit Financial Services and a volunteer for the Sedalia Area Farmers’ Market. He served on the Henry County R-1 Board of Education from 1994 to 2003, serving as president for four years and vice president for three. Galloway said he considers the nomination for instructor of the year to be the highlight of his career since it is a student-nominated honor. “I am humbled and honored to be nominated for such a prestigious award,” he said. “I feel very proud that I … have the opportunity to make my students as proud of me as I am of them.” An educator for 29 years, Galloway said he has a responsibility to provide students with a healthy learning environment with challenging opportunities to help them prepare for life and become productive and responsible citizens. “I believe we should do this with compassion and dedication, and strive to provide the student with learning opportunities that will ensure their success in the work world.” Eight students nominated Galloway, calling him caring, down to earth, a good listener, easy to talk to, and always focused on the needs of his students. Lucus Gerlt said Galloway “is a tremendous teacher with outstanding character and intellect. He has an in-depth knowledge of the material he teaches, combined with real life experience. Mr. Galloway never hesitates to assist me or other students with class work, scheduling or other academic advice. I can truly say that Mr. Galloway puts students and faculty needs before his own.” Kelly Wansing said Galloway helps in any way possible for the betterment of the student.
Jenny Pedersen, Adjunct Instructor of the Year Pedersen, of Warrensburg, is an adjunct psychology instructor who has taught part-time at SFCC since 2006. She is a candidate for a Doctor of Philosophy degree in educational psychology at Walden University in Minneapolis. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology in 2004 from Troy University in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Pedersen also is an adjunct faculty member of Kaplan University and was a United States Department of Agriculture food specialist at Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster prior to coming to SFCC. She is vice president of Laborers Together, International; secretary of the Spirit Express Cheerleading Booster Club in Warrensburg; and a former member of the Warrensburg Wrestling Club and the Eielson Wrestling Club at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. She is a member of the Walden University chapter of the Psi Chi National Honor Society and the Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society, and a student member of the American Psychological Association. In her nomination essay, Pedersen said she is passionate about her chosen profession, which shines through in her classes. “By working diligently to develop a comfortable classroom climate, students can see that I am interested in them as people as well as interested in them as students,” she said. “They see my enthusiasm over the course material and how I relate the text to their lives, and find it easy to connect psychology to everyday life.” Pedersen said her goal is for students to feel free to take chances and risks and then discover they have learned in the process. Her lectures are always interactive; her objectives as an instructor are “to develop critical thinking skills, to encourage the application of knowledge rather than simple recall of information and to develop a lifelong love of learning.” Student John Dicus, who nominated Pedersen, called her a good instructor who always makes class fun. “She takes the time to take all views into account,” he said.
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Instructors of the Year1988 |
