Awards Presented to Outstanding College of Arts and Architecture Faculty and Staff
May 30, 2008
Two College of Arts and Architecture faculty and staff recently received awards at the college’s spring awards ceremony.
Stuart Echols, assistant professor of landscape architecture received the Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching and Christine Butts, administrative assistant in the Department of Art History received the Staff Award for Outstanding Service.
Stuart Echols is assistant professor of landscape architecture and a nationally recognized leader in his field. Working at the forefront of the understanding that environmental and economic well-being are unavoidably intertwined, he plays a key role in preparing graduating students for leadership roles with extraordinary influence on shaping our built and natural environment. His research accomplishments focus on developing, implementing, and evaluating better strategies for managing urban runoff as a natural resource. He has taught courses in stormwater management, urban design, land development, environmental site construction methods, design research methods, land-use assessment, and design implementation. A registered landscape architect, he has practiced in Texas, Florida, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Stuart holds a bachelor of landscape architecture degree and a master’s degree in land development from Texas A&M University, as well as a master of landscape architecture degree and a Ph.D. in environmental design and planning from Virginia Tech.
Christine Butts is administrative assistant to the head of the Department of Art History, a position she has held since 2002. She has been at Penn State since 1992, first working in the College of Agricultural Sciences and then in the Smeal College of Business. Chris supervises the departmental office and plays a key role in assisting all undergraduates, graduate students, staff, and faculty. She is the staff liaison for undergraduate faculty advisors, and also is the primary assistant to the department’s graduate officer. She excels at dealing with the administrative needs of undergraduate and graduate student education, the responsibilities of the department head, the complexities of handling budgets, the importance of faculty searches, and the promotion and tenure process. Chris has devoted significant time to service within the College of Arts and Architecture, having served as chair of the Staff Professional Development Support Committee during 2004–2005, and as chair of the college’s Staff Advisory Council in 2005–2006. Last year she served on the search committee for the new dean of the College of Arts and Architecture. Chris holds an associate degree in business administration from Penn State.
Contact: Amy Milgrub Marshall, alm157@psu.edu or 814.863.2104