UACCM Instructor Named Faculty Scholar for PTK Honor Society
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Mathew Herrman, a speech instructor and PTK faculty instructor, at the UACCM's PTK Chapter Induction Ceremony. |
For eight years, Mathew Herrman has served as a faculty advisor to UACCM’s
chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society, an organization that celebrates students' academic excellence at two-year colleges.
During that time, he has helped improve the chapter’s status in the
organization, taken students to conferences, and given them extracurricular opportunities
on campus and in the community. Serving as an advisor has been one of his
highlights teaching at UACCM. Now, he’s looking to do more as a PTK Faculty
Scholar.
According to the honor society, “Faculty Scholars are key
figures at Honors Institute, PTK’s annual week-long honors conference, as they
lead small groups of the attendees in discussions about presentations by
keynote speakers.”
Faculty Scholars are all made up of faculty advisors and
alumni. It is an
elite class of professionals from across the country that Herrman said he feels
humbled to join. Among the 30 announced, he is the only scholar from the
Oklahoma-Arkansas region.
The nudge to apply came from a colleague, Dr. Rebekah
Robinette of National Park Community College in Hot Springs, who also serves as
the honor society’s regional coordinator.
“Without her encouragement, I would not have applied this
year,” he said. “I have outstanding colleagues from all over Oklahoma and
Arkansas who are a testament to the great things that Phi Theta Kappa does. I
simply hope I make UACCM and the Oklahoma-Arkansas region proud in my service.”
The application process was rigorous and included submitting
a philosophy of learning, curriculum vitae, and a video response to a prompt.
“Being selected is exciting because I know that I am being given an opportunity
that isn’t afforded to many people,” he said. “But it’s incredibly humbling
because I know that I’ll be learning from so many incredible leaders from
across the US – and I have a lot to learn,”
Herrman hopes that he can bring back a new skill set from the
conference that can benefit chapter members. He points to the chapter’s Honors
in Action, a research-based and action-orientated project that previously
focused on food insecurity on college campuses. “Deeper discussions about Phi
Theta Kappa’s new Honors in Action study topic will give me insight to share
with students, leading them to a better project,” he said.
This experience also provides professional development as a
UACCM speech instructor. “This training will help me strengthen my ability to
facilitate group discussions, and translate similar skills to my classes,” he
said.
With UACCM’s chapter, he has seen considerable developments
over his tenure as an advisor. Several members have gained awards at public
speaking competitions, and he takes particular pride that the winners are students
from his oral communications classes. “Now, they will be competing
internationally as speakers. This opportunity only exists because of their
involvement in Phi Theta Kappa,” he said.
Through student engagement in projects and activities, he
notes the chapter has grown in recent years. The chapter gained a five-star
status, the highest the organization can grant, just recently in 2019. The
Honors in Action project also earned a first place award. “When we band
together, incredible things happen,” he said.
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