University of Dubuque Inducts Two Members to Faculty Hall of Fame

May 12, 2012 | University of Dubuque Theological Seminary

The University of Dubuque inducted two new members into its Faculty Hall of Fame on Thursday, May 3, 2012.  Jennifer Supple Bartels, teaching specialist in communication, was recognized with the John Knox Coit Prize, and Richard Birkenbeuel, director of the domestic and international MBA programs and associate professor of business, was recognized with the William Lomax Award.

Jenn Supple Bartels
Jenn Supple Bartels earned the bachelor of fine arts in theatre from Drake University and the master of arts in communication studies from the University of Northern Iowa.  She joined the University of Dubuque in 2007 teaching courses in communication and the core curriculum.  Prior to joining UD, Supple Bartels taught in the communication department at the University of Northern Iowa.  In 2006 she received the Cooper Award for Excellence in Teaching (Masters Level) by the Central States Communication Association. Supple Bartels is considered by her peers to be an exemplary educator and one of the most sought after instructors on campus, with sections of her classes closing early as students compete to enroll in her classes. She designs her course work to intentionally place students across the desk in her office where she coaches them one-on-one.

"Jenn Supple Bartels' own professional mission statement represents the kind of engagement with the University's Mission which one desires to see from all faculty," stated Robert Reid, communication department head and director of the MAC program.  "Her concern for intellectual, moral, and spiritual growth is evident in her teaching, advising, and daily interaction with students and colleagues.  In the classroom, she employs both simple and complex questions and answers core to her lectures, making her classes some of the most powerful and appropriate learning environments I have witnessed as a professor."

Richard Birkenbeuel
Rich Birkenbeuel earned the B.S. and M.S. degree in mathematics from Illinois State University and completed additional graduate work in mathematics and theoretical and applied mechanics at the University of Georgia and the University of Illinois, respectively.  He joined the University of Dubuque in 2002 and serves as the director of the domestic and international MBA programs and as associate professor of business. Prior to joining the University of Dubuque, Birkenbeuel served in senior management positions for companies including Compuware Corporation, Gateway, Keebler Company, and Kraft Foods. While working in industry, he also served as an adjunct professor at Roosevelt University and the Keller Graduate School of Management in the Chicago area.  Birkenbeuel has presented on the topics of business and information technology in China, Europe, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United States.

"Rich Birkenbeuel embodies all of the important characteristics of an excellent teacher," commented Janet Jamieson, associate professor of accounting/business and director of the UD summer school program. "He is exceptionally caring and nurturing of his students, seeking to develop in them the knowledge and skills they will need to succeed in life.  Students see his classes as challenging, stimulating, and relevant to their professional lives and are captivated by his passion for the content.  Rich uses stories from his extensive experience in business to illustrate difficult concepts, and students consistently evaluate this as one of their favorite aspects of his classes.  To take a class with Rich, at either the undergraduate of graduate level, is to embark on a journey through the boardrooms and hallways of Kraft Foods and Gateway Computers as he masterfully brings the subject matter to life."