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Two �Ը������� Regional Campus faculty members were selected as recipients of this year’s Glenn Frank Distinguished Teaching Award: Angela Douglass from the East Liverpool Campus and Mary Russell from the Trumbull Campus.

Co-sponsored by the �Ը������� Alumni Association and the University Teaching Council, the Glenn Frank Distinguished Teaching Award is the university’s most prestigious honor in teaching. The award is presented annually to part- and full-time faculty members who demonstrate extraordinary teaching in the classroom and devotion to touching the lives of students.  

Along with Douglass and Russell, two additional regional campus faculty were finalists: Elizabeth Schlosser, associate lecturer for the  physical therapist assistant program on the Ashtabula Campus, and Richard Zarzour, associate lecturer for the associate degree of nursing program on the Geauga Campus.

Angela Spalsbury, Ph.D., interim associate vice president of the Regional Campus System and dean and chief administrative officer of the Geauga Campus, praised faculty for their dedication to teaching and their impact on student success.

“Exceptional teaching is at the heart of the �Ը������� Regional Campus experience. These faculty members demonstrate the impact educators can have through their dedication to student success, innovative teaching methods and commitment to helping students reach their full potential.”

Angela Douglass

Currently a senior lecturer for the Associate Degree of Nursing program at �Ը������� East Liverpool, Douglass began teaching here in 2003 and serves as the faculty advisor for the Student Nurses Association. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in nursing from Youngstown State University in 1992, followed by a Master of Science Degree in nursing in 2003.  

Douglass is a registered nurse and board certified as an adult clinical nurse specialist. She spent years working with dialysis patients in facilities in the Boardman/Youngstown area where she also worked as a charge nurse; patient education coordinator; and staff nurse on medical/surgical and telemetry units.

Her work with East Liverpool nursing students includes time in the classroom and labs, as well as community service projects. Each year, Douglass leads her students in outreach projects that include blood pressure screenings at community events, holiday toy drives and fundraising efforts to support nursing scholarships.

Last May, Douglass was named the Fulltime Faculty Member of the Year at the annual �Ը������� East Liverpool awards ceremony. Her selection was strongly supported by student nominations that praised her teaching methods, enthusiasm, empathy and efforts to make students career-ready.

Likewise, student nominations for the Glenn Frank Distinguished Teaching Award served as strong testimony for her effectiveness and the respect she has earned from those she teaches. Douglass was nominated by three students for this year’s award.

“(She) truly cares about her students’ success and goes above and beyond to support them,” stated one student. “…Her dedication and positive energy have made a meaningful impact on not only my life but many other students that have had the pleasure of having her as a teacher. She creates a supportive environment where students feel valued, motivated and confident in their abilities. … I will be forever grateful for having her as my instructor.”

Douglass noted that her teaching style is “rooted in enthusiasm, patience, compassion and a strong belief in lifelong learning.” She calls nursing her passion.

“I find so much joy in sharing my love for this amazing profession and inspiring the next generation of nurses,” she said. “It is an honor to serve students; support them as they work toward their goals; and watch them grow into confident professionals. One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching is seeing former students work alongside me and even care for members of my own family.

“Today, having former students teaching nursing clinicals and labs with me at �Ը������� is a full-circle moment that makes me incredibly proud. … I truly love what I do, and knowing that my commitment to my students is being recognized makes this honor especially meaningful.”  

Mary Russell, Ph.D.

Mary A. Russell, Ph.D., professor of biological sciences at �Ը�������  Trumbull, was named a recipient of the university’s 2026 Glenn Frank Distinguished Teaching Award, recognizing her commitment to student success, innovative teaching methods and passion for helping students discover their potential as scientists and learners.

Russell has taught at �Ը������� Trumbull for 23 years, bringing her background in microbiology and biomedical research into the classroom. She earned her Ph.D. in microbiology from Ohio State University and has dedicated much of her work to creating engaging and inclusive learning experiences that help students succeed.

Teaching courses including biological foundations and microbiology, Russell uses active learning strategies to help students understand complex scientific concepts. Her approach incorporates hands-on activities, puzzles, instructional videos, models and interactive exercises that encourage students to apply their knowledge rather than simply memorizing information.

In her microbiology course, for example, Russell developed an escape room activity that challenged students to work through problems while reinforcing key concepts. She also uses puzzles to help students visualize processes such as DNA replication, allowing them to build a deeper understanding of concepts that can otherwise be difficult to grasp.

Student nominations for the award highlighted Russell’s enthusiasm for science, creativity in the classroom and dedication to helping students learn. One student, Nicole Montecalvo, praised Russell’s ability to make learning enjoyable while helping students retain information. Montecalvo noted that Russell’s instructional videos were so effective that she continued watching them outside class and shared them with her children and nephew, who also enjoyed learning from them.

Russell’s commitment to student success extends beyond course content. She developed a course module featuring resources to help students identify effective learning and study strategies, recognizing that individuals learn and retain information in different ways. Her approach reflects her belief that education should equip students with skills they can use throughout their academic careers and beyond.

After a career in microbiology and biomedical research, Russell has focused much of her scholarly work on student belonging, active learning and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. She strives to create an environment in which students feel included, challenged and supported while developing confidence in their abilities.

“I hope to create an environment where students feel seen, challenged and supported through active learning, equitable course design and authentic engagement, with the hope that students discover both the beauty of biology and confidence in themselves as learners,” Russell said.

Through her teaching and scholarship, Russell works to help students see themselves as capable learners and scientists while encouraging meaningful engagement with the subject. Her selection for the Glenn Frank Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes the impact of that commitment over more than two decades at �Ը������� Trumbull.