Gerald Maki, a dedicated English professor at Ivy Tech Indianapolis, was named as one of the President’s Faculty Award Honorees at the annual President's Awards held on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at the Black Iris Estate in Carmel, where Ivy Tech Community College celebrated its exceptional faculty members across the state.
Maki's excellence in the field of English is undeniable. He has showcased his expertise at regional, national, and international conferences, where his thoughtful dialogues on Rogerian Argumentation and his paper on "The Atopic, Placeless Vision of Kazuo Ishiguro" exemplify his contributions to the English discipline. But beyond conference presentations, Maki's commitment to global education is evident through his participation in a Collaborative Online International Learning Program, where he connected his class with students in Uzbekistan via Zoom, facilitating a transformative cross-cultural experience and fostering collaboration and reflection across borders.
In the classroom, Maki's teaching style stands out, showing that he cares about his students far beyond the syllabus. Maki fosters a supportive and engaging environment where students connect with one another, as evidenced by his nominator's account.
"At the start of a class I observed, there was a short check-in question related to something the students had read related to sleep. The students went around and shared about how much sleep they had received recently. As each shared, classmates encouraged or cheered their efforts to make a change,” Maki’s nominator wrote.
Furthermore, Maki's advocacy for change within the institution is commendable. His leadership in securing a grant to enhance faculty understanding of dyslexia, in partnership with the Dyslexia Institute of Indiana, underscores his commitment to improving student support services and advancing education at Ivy Tech.
We are thrilled to honor Maki for his exceptional work and dedication to his students and the Ivy Tech Indianapolis community!
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
