Summer 2022 Robert L. Bailey Teaching Award Recipients Announced

Contact:

Sherry Mercurio
Executive Director, Office of Community Relations
(614) 947-6581
Email: sherry.mercurio@franklin.edu

Commencement on Friday, September 9 at 7 p.m. (EDT). Along with honoring the graduates, Franklin recognizes Elizabeth Betzel and Dr. Chunbo Chu, from its faculty as recipients of the distinguished Robert L. Bailey Teaching Award.

Congratulations to this trimester’s recipients: Elizabeth Betzel, undergraduate faculty, and Dr. Chunbo Chu, graduate faculty.

Elizabeth Betzel has been an adjunct professor at Franklin University since 2013, teaching statistical concepts. She also currently serves as an instructional coach. Elizabeth is passionate about teaching adult learners and about learning the best practices of adult education and online instruction.

Elizabeth earned a master’s degree in mathematics from Cleveland State University and worked as an actuarial mathematician for five years before returning to education to teach at Columbus State Community College. She has received numerous awards recognizing her abilities as an educator. A lifelong learner, Elizabeth is currently completing a certification program in Enneagram and Executive Coaching with the Deep Coaching Institute and she recently earned the Association of College and University Educators and the American Council on Education’s Certificate in Effective College Instruction.

Dr. Chunbo Chu has been a lead faculty of computer science at Franklin University since 2008. He currently chairs the B.S. Computer Science and the M.S. Computer Science programs. Dr. Chu has led the CbusStudent Hackathon, mentored Choose Ohio First scholars, and supervised the graduate assistants for the Department of Computing Sciences and Mathematics. He has been leading engagement with the department’s advisory board, developing and maintaining the department website, and was invited to speak at the Association for Technology Professionals meeting.

Dr. Chu received his bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science from Fudan University in Shanghai and his doctorate in computer science from Wayne State University. He is an ACM professional member and a member of the ACM special interest group on computer science education.

About the Robert L. Bailey Teaching Award
Each trimester, two faculty members are honored with the Robert L. Bailey Teaching Award. Graduating students are asked to identify one undergraduate and one graduate faculty member who had the most significant influence on them throughout their educational experience at Franklin University. The award recognizes those who have challenged students intellectually and guided them in finding the significance of the course content as it relates to them both personally and professionally.

While more than 100 graduate and undergraduate faculty members are nominated each trimester – clearly showing the magnitude of interaction between students and faculty at Franklin University – the faculty members receiving the most nominations are awarded this honor.

These awards are funded through an endowment established by State Auto Insurance Companies in recognition of Robert L. Bailey, who served State Auto for 28 years in various positions, including President, CEO, and Chairman, until his retirement in 2000. Bailey is also a past Chair and a Trustee Emeritus of Franklin University’s Board of Trustees.
 

About Franklin University

Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).