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Contact: Tom Parisi, Office of Public Affairs
(815) 753-3635

May 8, 2002

Blecksmith, Giles and Jones receive
Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Awards

DeKalb, Ill.—Their courses may be demanding and their standards high, but Northern Illinois University students still flock to the classrooms of mathematician Richard Blecksmith, American literature expert James Giles and political scientist Christopher Jones.

The students know from experience, or word of mouth, that what they learn from these professors will resonate beyond the classroom. Or, as one undergraduate said of Jones, "I really took something home with me besides a letter grade."

Students have selected the trio as this year’s recipients of the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Awards, NIU’s longest-standing faculty honor. Initiated in 1966, the awards recognize top undergraduate teaching. Here is a closer look at the three professors.

Richard Blecksmith

A short autobiography on Richard Blecksmith’s Web site quickly dispels any notion of mathematicians as humorless. "People say I look like Jerry Garcia," the first line reads. "Happily, I am not dead yet."

The NIU professor rides a Harley—a lot of math goes into the making of such a beautiful machine—and tries to drive home the point that mathematics need not be dull or intimidating.

Freshman Anna Zabelka was undecided on her major when she took Blecksmith’s pilot calculus course for women last fall. She recalled the professor walking into class the first day in a black Harley Davidson T-shirt, jeans and sandals. He had a ponytail. "I knew he was different," she said, but she couldn’t have predicted that he would alter the course of her college career. By the semester’s end, Zabelka had decided to pursue a career as a high school algebra teacher.

"Once I saw how Richard got into it and how focused he was on his teaching, I thought maybe I could do something along those lines," Zabelka says. "He’s not so much interested in your overall grade. His main concern is that you’re getting the concept of what he’s teaching. Personally, he made me feel like he really cared about my well-being and progress."

Blecksmith earned his Ph.D. at the University of Arizona, has been teaching at Northern since 1984 and lives in nearby Malta. Few teachers are as versatile. In the past five years alone, he has taught 14 different courses, many of them several times, ranging from college algebra to graduate-level analytical number theory.

Outside the classroom, he has published 21 research articles, runs the NIU summer math camp for high school students and coaches the NIU Putnam team, whose members participate in a nationwide, six-hour mathematics contest.

Blecksmith teaches in a laid-back style, often letting students lead the discussion and discover their own methods for solving problems. "I am convinced that students cannot really learn the material by just listening to me," he says. "Math is about learning to reason. It is not just about finding the correct answer. Proficiency in reasoning is a very important skill for any student in any field."

Being a math professor is an exciting profession, he adds, describing himself as a "TGIM kind of person."

"Every Monday," he says, "I look forward to coming into my office, seeing my students and working on some math problem."

James Giles

Students describe English Professor James Giles, a soft-spoken Texas native with a residual twang and easy-going manner, as a southern gentleman. Known for his self-deprecating wit, he guides discussions of contemporary American literature and elicits insights, creativity and smiles from his students.

"Usually, once people have taken his class, they want to take him again," says senior English major Giana Marelli. "He’s definitely been one of my favorite teachers, always willing to help and always around."

Two things set Giles apart. The first is an ability to go beyond the text, to give students historical and sociological context, Marelli says. She notes that students study author biographies along with the required readings. Then there’s his humor.

"It’s pretty hard to ignore the fact that he’s a Texan," Marelli laughs. "He still has a Texas accent, will tell stories about his childhood in Texas and exaggerates."

Sophomore English major Jessica Astrug says she recommends Giles’ courses to friends. She has taken two and will enroll in a third next fall. "He’s very enthusiastic about class and knows the material like the back of his hand," Astrug says. "And he’s hilarious."

Giles earned his Ph.D. at the University of Texas, has been teaching at NIU since 1970 and lives in DeKalb. He has been instrumental in steering the course of the Department of English, having developed its courses in African American literature and Ethnic American literature. He also regularly teaches 20th Century American Literature and the American Short Story.

Because his course material is contemporary and constantly evolving, Giles says it is easy to stay motivated as a teacher.

"I think I have an advantage over other people in teaching literature, which is inherently exciting and fascinating," he says. "As long as you can remain excited about that yourself, you should be able to convey excitement. Since I’m in contemporary American literature, it’s a constantly unfolding and evolving field. I’m always discovering new writers that I like."

Giles has directed seven doctoral dissertations. With publications of more than 30 articles, eight books and four edited volumes, he also has established himself as a leading scholar in American literary naturalism, the urban novel and multi-ethnic literature. Over the years, his students have been the primary beneficiaries of his scholarship.

"The students really won this (Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching) award," Giles says. "They prepared the application—but I’m going to take it."

Christopher Jones

Professor Christopher Jones’ office in Zulauf Hall is easy enough to find. It’s the one that often has students lined up outside.

Jones immerses himself in his teaching. The political scientist requires that his students become active participants in the classroom, encourages their interruptions during lectures and leads thought-provoking discussions that often leave students wanting more. They visit his office, send him e-mails and linger after class.

"He’s very interested in making sure that his students really come away with a solid core knowledge and an interest in the subject matter," says Debra Olson, a senior political science major. She has had one independent study with Jones and three of his courses.

"Every opportunity I get, I will take him," she says. "Dr. Jones sets high standards for his students, then makes it his priority to help his students achieve those goals. He has a teaching style and enthusiasm for the subject matter that inspires learning and a desire to delve even deeper into the topic."

Jones received his Ph.D. in political science from the Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs at Syracuse University. He is completing his sixth year at NIU and lives in Aurora.

An expert in American defense and foreign policy, Jones is the author of 10 publications on the politics of U.S. foreign policy-making and is frequently quoted in national and local media. At NIU, his courses include American Foreign Policy, National Security Policy and Middle East Politics. He also teaches a graduate-level seminar and regularly advises master’s- and Ph.D.-level students.

"I try to challenge my students intellectually and hold them to high standards," Jones says. "At the same time, I do everything in my power to create an open, engaging and respectful learning environment where students feel comfortable participating and are afforded every opportunity to succeed."

Political Science Chair Daniel Kempton says student evaluations of Jones are "likely the best that we have ever had in the department." Students describe him as highly organized and motivated, but Jones says it is the students who provide the inspiration.

"I am fortunate to be in a department where I encounter many engaged, interesting and bright students," he says, adding that the interest level in political science has risen since 9/11. "I am also fortunate to be in a department that values undergraduate teaching and has a reputation for excellence in this area. I am surrounded by wonderful role models."

Jones adds that he is honored to be recognized by students, but "it feels odd receiving an award for something that I love to do."

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