Mark Grimes receives GSW’s teaching award

Published 11:43 am Thursday, November 19, 2015

AMERICUS — Mark Grimes, D.B.A., associate professor of management, was presented on Thursday with Georgia Southwestern State University’s “Caught in the Act of Great Teaching Award” by Lauren DiPaula, Ph.D.; Samantha Price, president of the Student Government Association; and Surge, the GSW mascot during one of his classes.
“I was completely caught off guard,” Grimes said. “Samantha Price told us at the beginning of class that we had a special visitor today, and I honestly expected Dr. Wilson to walk in with Dave the Therapy Dog. I love teaching and interacting with students. I love to see the ‘light’ when they get an important concept, and I love the laughter when class is fun.”
The Caught in the Act of Great Teaching Award was created by Lauren DiPaula, Ph.D., who has been tasked with faculty development and who was inspired by a similar award she heard about at the USG Consortium for Teaching and Learning. The award is a faculty appreciation initiative intended to recognize effective teaching strategies. It was made possible by an anonymous donor in the community who saw a need and donated $100.
“‘The Caught in the Act of Great Teaching Award’ is not only a lot of fun, but it is a way to honor faculty and share best strategies,” said DiPaula.
Students nominated professors within GeorgiaVIEW, GSW’s online Learning Management System, throughout the semester. A committee of students, selected by the deans of individual schools and colleges, reviewed the award nominees and selected a winner.
The factors that influenced the committee to select Grimes reveal the effective strategies he uses in the classroom. The committee chose Grimes because he is able to relate topics to real-world situations, is accessible and approachable, responds quickly to questions and often reaches out to touch base with his students.
“I’m really humbled and overwhelmed because the thought that students appreciate what I am doing is beyond words,” Grimes added. “I’m glad that I can make a difference. I don’t believe that I consistently hit the standard that this recognition represents, so this is an incentive to ‘step up my game’ to match up to the ideal that it embodies.”
Grimes joined the faculty of the GSW School of Business Administration Fall 1999, in an adjunct role and later obtained a fulltime tenure-track position teaching human resource management and management in Spring 2013.
“I don’t think there’s anyone more deserving in our school than Dr. Grimes,” said Liz Wilson, Ph.D., dean of the School of Business Administration. “He has worked tirelessly creating real-life projects for our students, spends hours with them making sure that we turn out job-ready students and just continually goes above and beyond.”
Grimes earned a bachelor of arts in religion from Samford University in 1986, an master’s of business administration in management from Kennesaw State University in 1991, and a doctor of business in management from Argosy University in 2004. His interests include family activities, Kiwanis Club activities, and watching Braves baseball. Grimes is also heavily involved at his church in various leadership and service opportunities.
Grimes was presented with a custom travel coffee mug, displaying his name and the award’s slogan, “I’ve been caught in the act of great teaching!”