News04

Sheridan teacher of the Year

by Kalamalama staff

An HPU professor of social work, Dr. Mary Sheridan, has been awarded the University’s 2003 Trustees Award for Teaching Excellence. The announcement was made at HPUs spring commencement ceremony, May 14 at the Waikiki Shell.

Sheridan’s students call her a “molder of dreams” and a caring, inspiring mentor. One student wrote: [Dr. Sheridan] is extremely knowledgeable and always demonstrates excellence in the classroom. I turn into a sponge when I’m around her, wanting to absorb her knowledge. As long as I have known her, without exception, she has always tried to do what is in the best interest of the students, the University, and the community at large.

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Sheridan has taught at HPU since 1987 and was instrumental in the establishment of the University’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program. Since its inception in 1997, the program has continued to grow in popularity, and last year it was awarded a four-year accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education.

Before joining HPU, Sheridan worked for many years in Illinois and Hawai‘i as a social worker, social work education coordinator, director of social services, and research coordinator. She is a member of numerous social work associations in Hawai‘i and on the mainland. Her research has recently focused on “Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.”

Just this year, Sheridan was named Social Worker of the Year in Professional Education and Training for 2003 by the National Association of Social Work, Hawaii Chapter.

The annual Teacher of the Year Award is given to a faculty member nominated by students and chosen by a committee representing the entire HPU community, who best exemplifies the ideals of distinguished teaching.

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