FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2003     
Contact: Jean Wasp, Media Relations, (707) 664-2057

Excellence in Teaching Awards go to Bill Barnier and Maria Hess for 2003

Sonoma State University’s Excellence in Teaching Awards for 2003 have been awarded to SSU mathematics professor William Barnier and psychology professor Maria Hess.

The annual award, recognizes and rewards members of the SSU faculty who have made an outstanding contribution through classroom instruction and other activities that promote student learning.

Donors supporting these awards are Wayne Rowlands, who graduated from Sonoma State University in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in biology, and the Sarlo Foundation of the Jewish Community Endowment Fund.

The criteria for this award includes: quality of instruction, creating an academic environment that successfully encourages high intellectual aspiration and achievement in students, mentoring students, and promoting learning outside of the classroom.

BILL BARNIER
Bill Barnier came to Sonoma State University in 1969 after doing his undergraduate work at San Diego State University, earning his Ph.D. at UCLA, and doing a post-doctoral instructorship at Dartmouth College. At SSU, he has been Chair of the Department of Mathematics twice and was Chair of the Faculty in 1991 – 1992.

When asked what is most rewarding about his job, he said “The lively interaction with students and colleagues regarding the teaching and learning of mathematics.”

He has taught courses for general education students, science majors, computer science majors, and mathematics majors. Most recently Bill has taught courses in calculus, computing for mathematics, discrete mathematics for computer science, and number theory.

During Fall, 2003 he and several colleagues will be offering a course for the Lifelong Learning Institute at Sonoma State entitled Infinity and Beyond. He has also co-authored two mathematics textbooks, one of which is currently being used at Sonoma State and at other universities across the country. Extracurricular activities include tennis, hiking, reading, and cooking.  

MARIA HESS
Pursuing a lifelong interest in psychology, Maria Hess completed her undergraduate studies at Chico State University in 1981. She received her graduate degree in clinical psychology from the Sonoma Institute through the External Masters degree at SSU.

In 1985 she was licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist, and subsequently earned her Ph.D. in East/West psychology, at California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. After a 12-year lectureship at SSU and surrounding Bay Area institutes and universities, she was recently hired as an assistant professor in the Psychology Department.

She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses for psychology majors, as well as seminars for doctoral candidates and licensed professionals. Some of the classes Hess teaches are Abnormal Behavior, Introduction to Counseling, Advanced Counseling, Careers in Psychology, Development of the Person, Psychology of the Family, Group Process, Psychology of Right Livelihood, Buddhism and Psychology, and Teaching as a Healing Art.

Other interests include educational travel, supporting Tibetan culture and religion, reading psychological thrillers, and finding humor in the human condition.