Dr. Melissa J. Himelein

One of UNC Asheville's most respected professors, Melissa J. Himelein, was named today as a recipient of the Award for Excellence in Teaching from the University of North Carolina's Board of Governors. Himelein, professor of psychology, was nominated by a committee of UNC Asheville faculty. She will receive a commemorative bronze medallion and a $7,500 cash prize at a ceremony at UNC Chapel Hill next month.

Himelein joined the UNC Asheville faculty in 1992. She teaches a host of psychology courses -- from large sections of introductory psychology enrolling students from across the disciplines to small, seminar classes for advanced psychology majors. Himelein has also created a number of new classes, including Psychology of Women, Cross-Cultural Psychology and Advanced Personality.

Himelein's love for her subject matter and devotion to teaching is well known among students and faculty.

"Dr. Himelein expects of herself the same type of hard work and rigor that she expects of her students," said UNC Asheville Psychology Department Chair Tracy Brown. "I believe her students perceive that and respect her for it. The result is excellence."

Among her other teaching honors, Himelein received the 2000-01 UNC Asheville Distinguished Teaching Award in Social Sciences and earned the 2005-2007 Breman Professorship of Social Relations, which provides funds to implement a project unrelated to traditional teaching activities. Himelein has used the Breman funds to establish the successful GIFT (Getting Into Fitness Together) Program.

GIFT is a seven-week program designed to assist families struggling with weight or fitness concerns by introducing them to fun, creative activities for all family members. The program, offered to Asheville area children ages 71-2 and their families, just wrapped up its second year. The program pairs each family with a UNC Asheville student who is enrolled in Himelein's new class, Practicum in Family Wellness. She has called the project her "most rewarding teaching experience."

"What I discovered was a unique teaching experience in which students were true collaborators; we worked side-by-side generating ideas, writing and leading lesson plans, dealing with unexpected crises, and learning first-hand about the tremendous challenges modern families face in maintaining healthy weights," Himelein said. "Our post-GIFT debriefing sessions felt more like nonprofit organization board meetings than a college class. I believe my students learned invaluable lessons that will well-prepare them for applied work settings."

Even outside the GIFT Program course, Himelein is noted for creating consistently engaging and innovative classroom experiences. Students cite practicing their lessons on theoretical clients, internet discussion boards, group projects and journaling. And in each activity, Himelein pushes her students to do their absolute best.

"Melissa Himelein is truly an anomaly in the teaching profession," said former student Lindsey Sease. "Though she may push her students to strive for untapped knowledge, Dr. Himelein reassures us that we will not walk unaccompanied. She is both the tight-rope and the safety net on our journey toward enlightenment. She embodies all that is graceful, good and deserving in her profession."

Himelein holds master's and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology from the University of Kentucky. In addition, she completed a pre-doctoral clinical internship at the Medical University of South Carolina. Himelein, a licensed North Carolina psychologist and health services provider, previously taught at UNC Charlotte and Albright College in Reading, Penn.

Outside the classroom Himelein has lent her expertise to a number of community groups. She has currently serves on the Mission Hospitals Institutional Review Board and Health Partners' Obesity Action Team. She has previously been involved with the Rape Crisis Center, Literacy Council and Western North Carolina AIDS Project.

Her devotion to service and scholarship has motivated students to undertake undergraduate research projects. During the past five years Himelein has directed research projects for 15 students, which resulted in 10 presentations at professional meetings and four published articles.

Himelein supervised student researcher Laura Walton's undergraduate research project, which lead to a presentation at the 2006 National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Walton summed up the feeling many of her fellow student have about Himelein, by saying, "Through my extensive, year-long research with her I soon found out what the best teachers can do for you. They can teach you to teach yourself."