Faculty, Staff Excellence Winners for 2020

Parkland College employees honored with campus and regional awards for the 2020 academic year

Parkland College employees were honored with campus and regional awards for superior instruction and service during the school's 2020 academic year. Most were nominated through Parkland College's Professional Development Subcommittees for Faculty and Staff.

Dr. C. Britt Carlson, Chemistry
2020 ICCTA Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Award, Illinois Community College Trustees Association

• A biomolecular chemistry grad from University of Wisconsin, Madison, Carlson has taught at Parkland College since 2013

• Received a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates grant, recently renewed (PRECS program)

• Selected to serve on NSF grant review panels and to participate in an NSF-AACC (National Science Foundation - American Association of Community Colleges) Summit on undergraduate research experiences at community colleges

• Chosen for AAWCC's (American Assocation for Women in Community Colleges) 40 Under 40 Award

Dr. Franklin Gallo, Music
2020 ICCTA Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Award for Parkland College, Illinois Community College Trustees Association

• In demand as a national and regional guest conductor, clinician, conference presenter, and composer, Gallo serves as Musical Instructor and Choral Director at Parkland 

• Has held faculty positions at DePaul University (IL), The Hartt School, University of Hartford (CT), and at Shepherd University (WV), teaching courses in musicianship, choral conducting, choral literature, and choral pedagogy

• Awarded the Organization of American Kodály Educators (OAKE) Ruth Boshkoff Composition Prize

• His compositions have been published by Boosey & Hawkes, Colla Voce Music, and Hal Leonard

• Featured in BH Contemporary and Secular Choral Series, Doreen Rao's Choral Music Experience, Henry Leck's Creating Artistry Choral Series, and the Ruth Dwyer Choral Series

Mark-Saint McDowell, TRiO/Student Support Services
2020 Outstanding Staff Gold Award

• Academic Coordinator with TRiO/Student Support Services for 18 years

• After working at the University of Illinois (where he completed a B.S. in Business Administration and an M.Ed. in Human Resources) for 14 years, joined Parkland in 2002

• Has been heavily involved in Parkland and the surrounding community, participating in numerous CETL sessions, attending Parkland's Leadership Academy, PSS union meetings, and the Parkland Bowling League!

• Readily supports activities sponsored by Admissions, Accessibility Services, Student Life, and Black Student Success Project

• Colleagues have said, "I returned to Parkland College, and TRiO in particular, because of the office culture that he helped create. I know with Mark I have a wonderful mentor who is able and willing to help me to be my best in my career and when serving my students.”

Kendra McClure, Communications
2020 Parkland Teaching Excellence Award Winner

• Associate professor of communication, McClure has served at Parkland College full-time since 2010

• Holds a Master of Arts in Communication Studies from Eastern Illinois University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Valparaiso University

• Named Parkland’s Online Teaching Excellence Award winner in 2018

• Her online courses stand out because of her attention to detail, clear expectations, and personal interactions with her students

• A founder and faculty advisor for Applied Media Promotions (AMP), a student-staffed strategic communication firm on campus that received the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation's Innovation in Engagement Award in 2015

Amy Frasca, Humanities and Fine and Applied Arts
2020 Outstanding Staff Green Award (<5 Years)

• As Department Assistant, Amy has implemented many improvements to the department’s processes and recordkeeping, such as moving processes online and facilitating demo/training sessions on SharePoint

• A native of Peoria, Illinois, she is a graduate of Parkland College and Illinois Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree

• Serves on PCA’s Sustainable Campus Committee, PSS Union Audit Committee, and is part of the Parkland Chamber Singers and a trained EEO representative

• Described by her colleagues as "the definition of 'grace under pressure'", "eager to learn new things and to implement what she learns", and "a proud student and staff member of Parkland [that] truly believes in...the artistic creations that we contribute to our community."