Stanford University

News Service


NEWS RELEASE

6/10/98

CONTACT: Kathleen O'Toole, News Service (650) 725-1939;
e-mail kathleen.otoole@stanford.edu

Five to be honored for contributions to undergraduate education

Five Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Awards for distinctive contributions to undergraduate education will be given at commencement ceremonies on Sunday, June 14.

The awards will go to Monisha Bajaj and Holly B. Hindman, both members of the Class of 1998; Patricia L. Ryan, senior lecturer in drama; Eric Roberts, professor (teaching) of computer science; and Ramón Saldívar, vice provost for undergraduate education and professor of English and comparative literature.

Bajaj, from Danville, Calif., was cited for her leadership of Tet Ansam, a student organization promoting solidarity with grassroots organizations in Haiti; for "exemplary public service," organizing projects in East Palo Alto, Haiti and the Dominican Republic; and for helping to create new courses on Haiti. As a graduate student in Latin American studies, Bajaj planned and organized a new course on the history, culture and socio-politics of Haiti and lobbied successfully to get Haitian Creole added to the language curriculum. She also has been active in public service projects.

Hindman, an undergraduate in biological sciences from Rochester, N.Y., was honored for developing a new course, as well as for her efforts to make Stanford a "safer community." A member of Stanford's swimming and diving team, she designed and implemented a new course in human biology on the performance and health issues of female athletes. She also designed an alcohol prevention strategy to promote safe and responsible party planning, coordinated the orientation program for new students last fall and formed a group to design and implement programs to address eating disorders among varsity athletes.

Ryan was cited for "fostering the development of creativity in generations of Stanford students," for her "endless accessibility" to the Stanford community and for developing new course sequences in acting and improvisation for undergraduates that have proven valuable to them after graduation, whether they went into professional acting or other fields. At Stanford since 1977, Ryan is also coach of the Stanford Improvisors, an ensemble that studies and performs improvisational theater and is a leader in national and international competitions.

Roberts was cited for his commitment to the "intellectual and moral development of students" in computer science courses, as well as for developing curricula, software systems and textbooks in computer programming that have been adopted and acclaimed nationwide. Associate chair of the department of computer science for educational affairs, he leads a team of lecturers that teach undergraduate computer sciences classes to majors and non-majors alike.

Saldívar was cited for "vision and persistence, for wise guidance and counsel in shaping the face of undergraduate education for the 21st century." Colleagues describe him as the driving force behind Stanford's new Introductory Studies program, a major effort to improve undergraduate education, especially by giving freshmen and sophomores a significant academic experience in a small group setting. His persistence, patience and eloquence in numerous committee meetings and public forums have allowed the program to go forward, they say.

Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel served as president of the Stanford Board of Trustees from 1953 to 1958. His family and friends donated the endowment for the awards as a memorial in 1960.

-30-

By Kathleen O'Toole


© Stanford University. All Rights Reserved. Stanford, CA 94305. (650) 723-2300. Terms of Use  |  Copyright Complaints