University of Houston-Clear Lake announces faculty fellowships

The University of Houston-Clear Lake has awarded its annual university faculty fellowships to Kim case, associate professor of women’s studies and psychology, Everette Penn, associate professor of criminology, and Cheryl Sawyer, associate professor of counseling.

“Their accomplishments and contributions to our university through their teaching, research and service are exemplary,” said UH-Clear Lake president William A. Staples in a news release. “The purpose of the university faculty fellowships is to formally recognize the significant contributions of our outstanding faculty to the success of our university.”

Case, who joined the university in 2005, focuses her research on culture, ethnicity, gender and sexuality. In addition to her duties in the classroom, Case serves as co-director of the university’s Teaching-Learning Enhancement Center. She is an active member of the Society for Psychological Study of Social Issues, and in 2009 the recipient of the Michele Alexander Early Career award for her scholarship and service. Case has had articles published in "Teaching of Psychology," "College Teaching" and "Psychology of Women Quarterly."

Penn joined the university in 2004 as an assistant professor of criminology and has since been promoted to his current position with tenure as well as division chair of behavioral and social sciences. He has had numerous articles published in "Journal of Criminal Justice Education," "Justice Professional" and "Justice Policy Review." In 2005, Penn received a Fulbright Scholarship and spent a semester teaching abroad in Egypt. Recently, Penn founded the Teen and Police Service Academy (TAPS).

Sawyer has been a teacher at the college level for the past 20 years and has also served 25 years in the public school setting as a teacher and counselor. She has published a textbook chapter and has had her work appear in several professional journals. Her current research projects at the university include the Collaborative Bilingual Counselor Training Project III and the Bilingual Cross Cultural Counseling Online Network.

“All three of these faculty members represent what we hope for all of our faculty,” added Staples. “Their dedication to education is admirable and commendable. We have many outstanding faculty at UH-Clear Lake and my hope is that in the coming years we can recognize more of our faculty with university faculty fellowships.”

Faculty members are nominated by other faculty and academic administrators from UH-Clear Lake. Recipients each receive a $5,000 stipend to be used for educational materials, research and travel fees related to conferences, workshops and seminars. Each recipient will also have his or her name engraved on a plaque on the first floor of Atrium II of the Bayou Building.