The Fabulous Five Faculty

By Migdalia Sanchez
Social Media Manager

Correction: The print version of this story incorrectly named Dr. Louis Mark Carrier. The Bulletin regrets the mistake. This story was updated to reflect the correct name on 3/21/19 at 8:19 pm.

Five CSUDH professors have been chosen for the 2019 faculty awards in recognition of outstanding achievements in a variety of areas.

Based on recommendations from the Faculty and Leaves Committee, CSUDH President Thomas Parham formally recognized the following five faculty members earlier this month: Dr. Corina Benavides Lopez, an assistant professor in the Chicana and Chicano studies department; Dr. Orie Berezan, an assistant professor in the management and marketing department,  Dr. Louis Mark Carrier, a professor in the psychology department; Dr. Elvira Teller, a lecturer in the College of Business Administration and Public Policy;  and Dr. Katy M. Pinto, a professor of sociology.

Dr. Benavides Lopez received the Lyle E. Gibson Dominguez Hills Distinguished Teacher Award, named in honor of the founding vice president of Academic Affairs.

“I felt emotional and honored to have been selected to receive the Gibson award,” said Benavides-Lopez. “I entered [academia] as a first-generation college student from an immigrant family. So, every time I walk into my classes I am proud to be able to teach students who come from similar humble familiar roots and witness [what] many of them achieve while at CSUDH.”

The Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award was presented to Dr. Berezan. This award was established in 2004 to acknowledge research, scholarship, and creative activity. Berezan brings two decades of management experience in markets such as Japan, Canada, and Mexico, and has published numerous academic papers, studies and monographs.  

The Excellence in Service Award was also established in 2004 and recognizes faculty contributions to the university governance and development. This year, it was awarded to Carrier, a professor in the psychology department.

“When I first learned that I received the award, I was excited,” Carrier said. “I am most proud of being part of a team that worked on our campus reaccreditation. It was a huge task involving many people and years of hard work.”

The Catherine H. Jacobs Outstanding Faculty-Lecturer Award was presented to Dr. Teller. According to the faculty award website, this award acknowledges and honors faculty at the rank of lecturer who have demonstrated excellence in teaching effectiveness.

“Because many of our students have an insufficient English and mathematics background, any subject that heavily relies on these basic skills imposes a serious challenge to these students,” said Dr. Myron Sheu, chair of the informational system and operations management department.  “Yet, those who have studied these subjects with Dr. Teller often express their confidence in taking more subsequent courses. Most of these students are extremely happy with her methodical teaching style.”

Finally, arguably the most prestigious of the five awards, the Presidential Outstanding Professor Award, goes to Dr. Pinto,  a professor and graduate coordinator in the sociology department Dr. Pinto has a research lab that trains students in social science research by focusing on data collection, management, and analysis. Some of her research interests are sociology of the family, Latinx sociology and race, ethnicity, and immigration.