Camarillo, Calif., June 4, 2013 鈥� Blake Gillespie, Associate Professor of Chemistry at 海角社区 Channel Islands (CI), recently earned the 2013 President鈥檚 Award for Innovations in Teaching and Learning. The award recognizes an individual who has made unique and significant contributions to the teaching mission of the University.
A CI faculty member since 2003, Gillespie has a well-deserved reputation as an innovator. He makes chemistry appealing and accessible to science and non-science majors alike by creating courses such as CHEM 335: 鈥淐hemistry of the Kitchen,鈥� which places students in a kitchen laboratory for hands-on exposure to the chemistry, biology and physics behind the ingredients and preparation of food. His popular, original CHEM 490 class, 鈥淏eer, Wine and Spirits: The Art and Science of Fermentation,鈥� allows advanced chemistry students to learn about practical applications of their analytical wet-lab skills. Gillespie collaborates with other CI faculty to design and teach innovative interdisciplinary courses, such as a field course on blue whale migration that combines chemistry, English and biology, and a 鈥淐hemistry of Ceramics鈥� course, merging art and science.
An early adopter of the 鈥渇lipped classroom,鈥� Gillespie requires biochemistry students to view his videotaped lectures online on their own time, freeing them to use class time for discussion, projects and problem-solving. He shares the benefits of this learning model with colleagues in CI鈥檚 Blended Learning Preparation Program and at regional and national conferences.
鈥淭o understand science, students must do science,鈥� Gillespie said. 鈥淪cience is most
definitely not cookbook lab exercises with predetermined outcomes; science is questions, struggles, and hopefully, an answer or two, followed by more questions. It is a process of questions and answers that leads to a more complete knowledge of self and world.鈥�
That hands-on philosophy guides Gillespie to run outreach and mentoring programs for underrepresented high school and community college students, exposing them to scientific research and career paths. He鈥檚 also personally mentored dozens of CI students in undergraduate research, inspiring many to pursue advanced scientific degrees.
鈥淒r. Gillespie truly embodies the CI spirit of innovation and dedication to student success,鈥� said President Richard R. Rush. 鈥淗e brings remarkable passion and creativity to teaching, designing curriculum, and engaging students to become the owners and orchestrators of their own educations.鈥�
Rush presented Gillespie with the President鈥檚 Award during CI鈥檚 2013 Honors Convocation, Saturday, May 11, at the John Spoor Broome Library. Reviewers from outside CI selected Gillespie based on his impact on and involvement with students; scholarly approach to teaching and learning; contributions to undergraduate education, community and profession; and support from colleagues and students.
A number of enthusiastic students and colleagues nominated Gillespie for the award.
鈥淚 personally owe my advanced understanding of biochemistry and science to his unique
courses and dedication to his students,鈥� said Kevin Eden, a former student now working as a biochemist for a major pharmaceutical company and entering a biochemistry Ph.D. program. 鈥淚 believe that if more scientific courses were conducted with this type of multidimensional teaching, both science and non-science students would find the sciences more approachable, interesting and fun.鈥�
鈥淲ithout his support and belief in me, I probably would not have pursued graduate research,鈥� said Claudina Cammack, a former student. 鈥淗is dedication to his work and students surpasses that of any other professor I have ever met.鈥�
In addition to the President鈥檚 Award, Gillespie will be nominated by CI for the Carnegie Foundation鈥檚 U.S. Professors of the Year Award, which honors those who excel as educators and influence the lives and careers of their students. Sponsored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, it is the only national program to recognize excellence in undergraduate teaching and mentoring.
鈥淚 am truly honored to receive this award,鈥� said Gillespie. 鈥淭he most important work I do with students and for students is ensuring they are not receptacles for facts but are instead independent creators of ideas.鈥�
Contact Dr. Gillespie at blake.gillespie@csuci.edu or 805-437-2796.
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About 海角社区
海角社区 Channel Islands(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI鈥檚 strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master鈥檚 degrees.聽Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting聽CI's Social Media.