Strongsville Educator Recognized by Students and University of Phoenix

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Oct 05, 2010, 10:28 ET

CLEVELAND, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Strongsville resident Lisa Collins, M.Ed. was recently recognized as one of University of Phoenix's "Outstanding Faculty," an award based on nominations from her students at University of Phoenix Cleveland Campus. Winners were initially nominated by their students and approved by the University's campus management.

Because people typically learn by doing, University of Phoenix hires instructors who not only have earned advanced degrees, but have years of experience working in their respective fields, and Collins is a shining example of this. After completing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from Baldwin-Wallace, she went on to earn a Masters of Education from Kent State University. She worked as a clinical psychologist in private practice for nine years and currently is a drug and alcohol counselor at Recovery Resources, a Cleveland non-profit.

Since starting as a faculty member with University of Phoenix in 2003, Collins has taught 45 classes in psychology and sociology at all levels. She also serves the University as its area chair of the College of Arts and Sciences and oversees all psychology, sociology and criminal justice faculty on the Cleveland Campus.

Collins notes that the students who pursue an education at the University are as varied as the course offerings themselves. "I've had students who are here for many different reasons," says Collins. "Some are pursuing a degree but want more flexibility than the standard daytime university schedule. Many are trying to advance in their professional careers, while others just want to fulfill a lifelong dream of a college education."

The students who nominated Collins sing her praises. "[Ms.] Collins was the best! She answered calls from students and was always there when we needed her." "Collins was an insightful instructor. She was full of energy and quite refreshing."

Collins says that she gets as much enjoyment from teaching as her students get from her. As a department chair she is now helping to manage and improve curricula in her fields of study as part of the University's ongoing mission for continuous improvement in its educational quality.

"One of our advantages at University of Phoenix is the ability for our curriculum to evolve rapidly," she said. "It's important for educational institutions today to offer coursework that meets the very latest needs of the marketplace. I enjoy my role as department chair in helping to ensure that we keep our program relevant for our students."

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help students balance education and life in a rapidly changing world. Through flexible schedules, challenging courses and interactive learning, students achieve personal and career aspirations without putting their lives on hold. During the quarter ending May 31, 2010, 476,500 students were enrolled at University of Phoenix, the largest private university in North America. University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. More information can be found at www.phoenix.edu.