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Huron, Ohio – Bowling Green State University Firelands College honored one of its best at the 42nd annual Recognition Program held Friday, April 29,
Left to right Ken Borland, BGSU vice president for academic affairs and provost, Timothy Jurkovac, recipient of the Distinguished Teacher Award, William Balzer, BGSU Firelands Dean, Kathie Mueller, president of BGSU Firelands College Advisory Board.
in the Cedar Point Center. Timothy Jurkovac of Huron, an associate professor of sociology, was honored as the 2011 Distinguished Teacher.
“Dr. Jurkovac loves his subject and imbues his teaching with that enthusiasm. He is fair, challenging, and interesting . . . an invaluable member of the BGSU Firelands faculty,” wrote one of his student nominators.
Jurkovac began his tenure at BGSU Firelands in 1990 as a part-time instructor in sociology and became a full-time assistant professor in 1992, and associate professor in 2000. He also served as the program director for the associate of applied science in criminal justice program from 1994-2010. He was an instructor at the University of Toledo from 1988-1990, and did doctoral teaching and graduate teaching at BGSU from 1984-1988.
He earned both a doctoral degree and a master degree in sociology from BGSU and his bachelor degree in communications from Ohio University.
Jurkovac has presented 34 papers on topics ranging from political campaigning and communications strategies to the sociology of sports and the sociology of recreation and leisure. He has published seven journal articles and two educational videos.
Jurkovac is also actively involved with Amherst Public Access television and has participated in more than 40 programs on politics and sports.
He is a member of the American Sociological Association, the North American Society for the Sociology of Sports, the North Central Sociological Association, and the Association of University Regional Branch Campuses of Ohio.
Jurkovac earned the BGSU Firelands Distinguished Teacher Award in 1998.
Recipients of the Distinguished Teacher Award are nominated by students and selected by a committee of their peers.
Criteria for the award includes scholarly knowledge of the subject matter, careful organization and preparation for courses, an ability to generate enthusiasm for the field and for learning, demonstrated ability to stimulate the intellect of students so as to foster skills in critical thinking and independent analysis, ability to communicate the subject matter in a clear, effective manner, utilization of a diversity of teaching methods/techniques and sensitivity and responsiveness to students, both in and out of the class context.
In addition, the candidate must have teaching experience at BGSU Firelands for at least two years prior to the year of the nomination and candidates must not have received the award within the past five years.
For additional information or photos, contact Dean Schnurr, director of marketing and communication, at 419.372.0613 or via e-mail at dschnur@bgsu.edu
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