SFA psychology professor earns teaching award

Patricia Foster, assistant professor of psychology at SFA, has been chosen to receive the 2011 Distinguished Teaching Award from the College of Reading and Learning Association at their annual conference in November in San Diego, California.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Patricia Foster, assistant professor of psychology at Stephen F. Austin State University, has been chosen to receive the 2011 Distinguished Teaching Award from the College Reading and Learning Association.

The CRLA awards one Distinguished Teaching Award annually to a member of the association who exemplifies teaching and learning as a lifelong journey. Recipients provide students with a clear model of enthusiastic, knowledgeable and compassionate teaching.

CRLA presents this award to honor achievement, provide models of exemplary teaching for those new to the profession and encourage CRLA members to continue their professional development.

Foster joined the SFA faculty in 2008 as a visiting instructor in the Department of Psychology. She was promoted to assistant professor in 2010 and has taught classes in effective learning, general psychology, learning and conditioning, scientific literacy in psychology, research methods and positive psychology.

She also serves as associate director of the SFA Teaching Excellence Center, which supports the faculty in its efforts to enhance teaching effectiveness and student learning.

Foster is especially interested in learning, cognition, motivation and instruction with a focus on students who are at risk for achieving success in college. Her research relates to the specific expertise required to help students succeed academically.
Foster earned an associate degree in social sciences in 1997 from Cerro Coso Community College in Kern Valley, Calif. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology in 2002 from the University of Houston and her master's degree in psychology in 2004 from SFA. She expects to earn her doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Texas at Austin within the next year.

Foster will receive her award at the association's annual conference in November in San Diego, Calif.