Award for Standing Faculty
Dr. Amy Hillier is the recipient of the 2013 Excellence in Teaching Award, for Standing Faculty, in the School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2). Dr. Hillier is an assistant professor of city and regional planning at the School of Design with a secondary appointment at SP2. She earned an MSW and PhD from SP2 where she was introduced to geographic information systems (GIS). She teaches introductory GIS classes in city planning, urban studies and social work that feature a mix of hands-on training and critical thinking about how to apply GIS technology. In addition to her classroom teaching, Dr. Hillier works closely with undergraduate and graduate students as the director of The Ward, a teaching, research, and outreach project based on W.E.B. Du Bois’ 1899 classic, The Philadelphia Negro (www.dubois-theward.org).
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Award for Part-time Faculty
Dr. Cynthia Closs is SP2’s recipient of the 2013 Excellence in Teaching Award, for Part-time Faculty. Dr. Closs earned her bachelor’s degree from Temple University, her master’s degree from Bryn Mawr College, and she graduated with the first DSW cohort at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Closs has taught courses on mental health diagnostics, human behavior and the social environment, and anxiety and depression, and she has given a number of lectures and presentations on best clinical practices when working with folks of trans* experience. Dr. Closs has co-authored a journal article on clinical intervention with lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth who were hospitalized for suicidal ideation. She has worked in the HIV field for 15 years, is currently the manager of addiction services at the Mazzoni Center, and is particularly passionate about, inspired by, and honored to be able to work with “amazing queer and trans* identified youth.” |