Adrian College Recognizes Professors for Excellent Teaching posted 9/28/10
College honors Michael McGrath and Norma Gladu

ADRIAN, Mich. - Adrian College is pleased to recognize Associate Professor Michael McGrath and Associate Professor Norma Gladu for their excellence in teaching. Both professors were honored in early September at the College’s opening convocation for the new school year.

Dr. McGrath receives his award from Dr. Agnes Caldwell, Vice President and Dean of Acadmic Affairs.

Michael McGrath, associate professor of history, was awarded the Ross Newsom Award for Outstanding Teaching. The Ross Newsom Award honors the memory of Ross Newsom (Adrian College class of 1936) and is sponsored by his sons.

McGrath graduated high school in Taiwan and from there he attended Princeton University. He served his duty in the Army from 1962 to 1969 with his last assignment in Vietnam.  McGrath started teaching at Adrian in the fall of 1983 and has previously taught at Princeton University, Rutgers, and Iowa State University as an instructor or visiting assistant professor. His scholarly work has been in two areas: Chinese medieval history and European medieval history. 

Fritz Detwiler, professor of philosophy/religion and director of the Institute for Ethics at the College, has become good friends with McGrath over the years, having team taught with him for about 20 years.

“Michael McGrath has a marvelous way of communicating with his students, using humor, critical thinking, life-long learning, and rich personal experiences,” said Detwiler.

“He is also a person with deep and honest humility who constantly thirsts for new ways of understanding things.  I have seen his creativity in course design, assessment, and directing student projects in ways that brings them to fundamental insights about the material for the course.”

Detwiler and McGrath have also traveled together numerous times to Asia for both course work and personal beliefs.

“One a recent trip with Michael to Japan to explore the ancient roots of Japanese Buddhism, other members of the group naturally and continuously gravitated to Michael as he brought his vast knowledge about Japanese history to life for them in ways that enriched their experiences and deepened their understanding of what they were seeing,” he said.  

Norma Gladu (center) receives her award from President Docking and Dr. Agnes Caldwell, Vice President and Dean of Acadmic Affairs.

Norma Gladu, associate professor of exercise science, received the Teaching Excellence Award. The Teaching Excellence Award is sponsored by the Division of Higher Education of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church.

Gladu has been very involved with her students over the years, teaching them the basics of sports and the importance of exercise and living a healthy lifestyle. She has coached multiple sports helping young athletes excel both on and off the playing fields.

Gladu graduated from Adrian College in 1972 and came back to teach just one year later and has never left. Her peers highly respect her and often look to Gladu for guidance in their own classes.

Long time friend, teacher and colleague, Nancy Walsh, who first met Gladu as a student and taught at the College in the exercise science department for over 30 years, says Gladu is simply outstanding.

“I never met anyone who could break things down so that the students could really understand them, whether it was in theory or in skills,” she said. “She has the ability to explain something in the classroom as well teach something like how to serve in tennis so that the students understand. She was an outstanding athlete and is an outstanding teacher.”

Gladu lettered in four varsity sports as a student at Adrian College including basketball, volleyball, tennis and field hockey. She was a member of the undefeated field hockey team in 1971 which beat the likes of University of Michigan and Michigan State.