TEXARKANA, Texas -- Texarkana College's Faculty Association named associate professor of biology Mark Storey as the 2022 Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence at Texarkana College's Spring Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 11.
The Endowed Chair program began in 2000 and has inducted 25 members. Storey said that through the years, he has always looked up to the faculty members who have been selected by their peers for this honor.
"The recipients of the Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence have been my mentors throughout my 30 years at Texarkana College, and it is incredible to me to think that I am now considered part of this group," Storey said. "I have learned so much from them and have always wanted to live up to the expectations of the two iconic men who hired me years ago, Dr. Carl 'Cheesie' Nelson, former TC president, and Dr. Royce Granberry, former division chair. Maybe this honor I have received indicates I have done OK!"
The nomination process is extensive. Each nomination must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from the dean of the program along with three letters from peers. The nomination form states that the person should be an outstanding educator deserving special recognition.
"If there was one word I would use to describe Mark, it would be character. I can say that you have to look far and wide to find another person with better character. He is honest and is always trying to do the right thing for his classes, students and Texarkana College," one colleague said.
Associate Professor Storey has served in several areas, including TC Faculty Association, Achieving the Dream, distance education, club sponsorships and department liaison for dual credit courses.
Doug Saffel, 2021-22 Faculty Association president, presented the award, which includes a $1,000 cash honorarium and a $500 professional development stipend.
Storey teaches integrated biology course sequences for science majors and non-science majors.
"Over my career, I have had my share of gifted students matriculate successfully to professional programs in veterinary medicine, medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, science teaching and nursing programs, and I am so proud of each of them," Storey said. "But for me personally, the most satisfaction has been my successes in working with under-prepared and at-risk students who fight hard to achieve a C in one of my courses. In those cases, I was able to convince them that they could learn and appreciate a scientific discipline despite many past failures and disappointments."