Saint Joseph College Psychology Lecturer Wins Teaching Excellence Award
Tonya Rondinone, M.A., lecturer in the department of Psychology at Saint Joseph College, has been selected
as the 2010 recipient of the Reverend John J. Stack Teaching Excellence Award, which is presented annually at the College’s Commencement ceremony. A resident of Wallingford, Ms. Rondinone earned an M.A. in Psychology from Southern Connecticut State University and a B.A. in Psychology from Niagara University (Lewiston, NY). She has been teaching at Saint Joseph College since 1998. As the winner of the Stack Award, Ms. Rondinone will deliver the Convocation Address at the start of the fall semester on August 30.
According to Saint Joseph College Interim Provost Anne Lippert, Ph.D., “The Reverend John J. Stack Teaching Excellence Award encompasses a proud tradition of recognizing members of the faculty who have made outstanding contributions to student learning. Ms. Tonya Rondinone, the College’s 2010 recipient of this prestigious honor, has been described by students and faculty colleagues alike as ‘organized, accessible, friendly, thought-provoking and enthusiastic,’ an individual who ‘truly cares about students’ progress and work … providing excellent guidance in and out of the classroom.’ Students who nominated Ms. Rondinone reflected on the high-level intellectual and academic skills they have acquired in class. One student commented that she ‘repeatedly challenges us to think critically about relevant issues from an integrative perspective: academic, psychological, societal, ethical, moral, scientific and pragmatic.’ Ms. Rondinone brings a depth of knowledge to the classroom that inspires students and fosters academic achievement.”
These are praiseworthy accomplishments in themselves, but it is particularly the transformative aspect inherent in the very best teaching that Saint Joseph College celebrates in naming Ms. Rondinone as this year’s Stack Award honoree. As stated in a nomination submitted by a student, “Ms. Rondinone recognized strengths in me I had never seen before and built up my confidence and self-esteem. She taught me about passion, hard work and perseverance.”
