By UNIVERSITY RELATIONS
Dr. Christianna Pruden, instructor of management at Fort Hays State University, has been recognized as the 2019-20 Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship (RCOBE) Faculty of the Year.
Pruden is entering her third year of teaching in the Department of Management. Dr. Rick Edgeman, department chair, refers to Pruden’s award as “a richly deserved honor.” He says “Dr. Pruden is well-known by both her students and colleagues alike for an exceptional blend of rigor and responsiveness, compassion and care, patience and persistence, dedication, and her ability to inspire students in the classroom.
“At a university well known for its exceptional teaching, Dr. Pruden is one of the best-of-the-best,” Edgeman said. “Her students, along with her colleagues in the Department of Management, the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship, and Fort Hays State University are fortunate to be alongside Dr. Pruden in their quest for knowledge.”
The RCOBE Faculty of the Year award process for 2019-20 was designed and implemented by students majoring in business through a survey tool. A survey was first administered to the RCOBE student population to gather nominations, followed by a second survey to narrow down finalists. Pruden received the highest number of final votes on the survey.
Students who participated in the survey had many positive examples to share on how Pruden has impacted their educational journeys. One student commented “Dr. Pruden showed up every day with a smile and a positive attitude. When transitioning to online classes in spring 2020, Dr. Pruden handled the situation exceptionally. She was always available for one-on-one Zoom meetings.”
Several students shared examples of how Pruden consistently brings a positive energy to her classes, has a knack for teaching difficult concepts in a way that students can relate to, and truly cares about student success. One such student commented that “Dr. Pruden inspired me in so many ways this past year. I learned a lot and felt like she really invests in her students.”
“Dr. Christianna Pruden is one of our best and most popular instructors,” said Dr. Muhammad Chishty, dean of the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship. “She is the perfect recipient of the RCOBE Faculty-of-the-Year Award.”