Newsbriefs, Summer 2010

Abercrombie named Teacher of the Year by Texas Foreign Language Association
Rita Abercrombie, a senior lecturer at Baylor, was named German Teacher of the Year by the Texas Foreign Language Association, which has more than 1,500 members. Billie Hulke, BA '66, a lecturer of Spanish at Baylor and a former president of the Texas Foreign Language Association, nominated Abercrombie for the award.
"Abercrombie presents her students with new information and concepts and then steps aside to allow them opportunities to take risks in communicative, authentic activities to develop their proficiency skills, while constantly serving as a guide," Hulke wrote in her nomination letter.

Brooks College earns top Gold Award from NASPA
Baylor's Brooks Residential College was recognized by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) as the nation's top honoree in the organization's annual Excellence Awards competition. The awards recognize the contributions of members who are transforming higher education through outstanding programs, innovative services and effective administration. 
Brooks College earned the top spot in the category of "Housing, Residence Life, Contracted Services, Judicial, and Related Areas." NASPA has over 11,000 members representing 1,400 colleges and universities. 
"This is a truly historic accomplishment for Baylor, and it signals our growing stature as a national leader in the area of student life," said Dr. Douglas Henry, faculty master at Brooks College. "To put this into perspective, no other residential life effort at any other college or university in the country is being featured by NASPA at the same level of affirmation or recognition this year." 
Randy Alexander, executive director of housing at the University of Arkansas, has spent the better part of 30 years as a chief housing officer and a consultant on college housing. He submitted a letter to NASPA in support of Baylor's nomination, describing Brooks Residential College as "the most exciting new residence hall facility" he has ever seen.