Wytheville Community College recently honored two faculty members, Tracy McAfee and Terri Street, for their contributions to the college. 

WCC Associate Professor of Communications Studies and Theatre Tracy McAfee received the Improvement of Instruction Award, established to recognize notable contributions to the improvement of instruction at WCC by full-time employees who hold faculty rank or who work as an instructional assistant. An endowment created by Dr. and Mrs. Len O’Hara funds the Improvement of Instruction Award. Dr. O’Hara served as Dean of Instruction at WCC in the 1980s.

Mr. McAfee joined the WCC faculty in 2008. He serves as Associate Professor of Communication Studies and Theatre. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Communication and Theatre from Baldwin Wallace College, and a Master’s Degree in Speech Communication and Theatre from Ohio State University. McAfee was nominated for this year’s award in part for the work that he has done to develop an online Communication Studies course. The course is available for all WCC students, but he specifically worked with Josh Floyd, WCC’s Coordinator of Dual Enrollment, to prepare comprehensive information about course requirements for students and their parents to review prior to students enrolling in the online course. This information helped ensure that dual enrollment students clearly understood course expectations and improved their success in completing the course.

Dr. Terri Street received the WCC Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year Award, which recognizes adjunct faculty who have made notable contributions to the improvement of instruction. Terri earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English/Education from Emory & Henry College, a Master’s Degree in Education/Psychology from Radford University, and a Doctorate in Counselor Education from Virginia Tech. Street was nominated for this year’s award for her commitment to teaching and particularly for her willingness to teach a mid-day, in-person section of Psychology. While many students need or prefer online course options, it is important to provide in-person options for students who prefer face-to-face instruction. Terri’s willingness to teach during the lunch timeframe has been especially important for students who work but are able to attend classes mid-day. Beyond Terri Street’s teaching excellence, she is also recognized for her commitment to helping students. She regularly works with advisors and counselors to secure assistance for students in need, and she is proactive in helping students with study skills and sends academic alerts to keep students apprised of their need for tutoring or other academic resources. 

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