“It’s one thing to give honor … but you also have to learn to receive honor.”

Those words came Thursday from an “overwhelmed” Dr. Michaele Chappell, who knows how to receive honor—with gratitude.

The MTSU professor received multiple kudos from faculty, students and community leaders in receiving the 2015 John Pleas Award, presented annually to a black faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in teaching, research and service.

Chappell, a professor of mathematics education and program coordinator for the Masters of Science in Teaching program, was presented with the honor in a Feb. 26 ceremony in the Tom Jackson Building as part of MTSU’s celebration of Black History Month.

In accepting the award, Chappell said, “When colleagues take the time to honor you for your work, for your efforts, all I can think about is what my mom used to teach me … just to be grateful.”

Dr. Michaele Chappell speaks to the crowd after accepting the 2015 John Pleas Outstanding Faculty Award in a Feb. 26 ceremony at MTSU’s Tom Jackson Building. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Dr. Bud Fischer, dean of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, praised Chappell in prepared remarks as “a first-rate scholar, teacher and co-learner.”

Chappell has authored or edited five manuscripts or books, authored more than two dozen academic articles and book chapters and given more than 65 presentations at conferences.

“Dr. Chappell has been a wonderful mentor during my graduate studies and her guidance has provided me with experiences that have supplemented my coursework nicely,” said Derek Smith, a Nashville-based graduate student in MTSU’s Mathematics and Science Education program.

Among the grants Chappell has been awarded is the $2.3 million National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Teaching Scholarship, for which she is co-principal investigator.

Dr. John Pleas

Her passion is promoting math literacy in historically disadvantaged communities. Chappell has administrated four summer institutes at MTSU that trained STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) educators who work with at-risk populations.

Chappell also has served in multiple positions with the Benjamin Banneker Association, enabling her to mentor STEM teachers working in African-American communities.

“You are strong, accomplished, you are stable and wise, and, in my words, you are a ‘bad chick,’” said graduate student and Rutherford County Schools teacher Melnequa Holloway of Antioch, Tennessee.

Chappell, who has worked at MTSU for 14 years, earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Georgia Southern University in 1981 and 1983, respectively, and her doctorate from Florida State University in 1991.

The John Pleas Faculty Award was established in 1997 to honor Dr. John Pleas, MTSU professor emeritus of psychology and recipient of an MTSU Outstanding Teaching Award in 1999.

Previous winners of the Pleas Faculty Recognition Award since its inception are:

• Dr. Robert Rucker, social work professor, 1997.
• Dr. Bichaka Fayissa, economics professor, 1998.
• Dr. Laura Jarmon, English professor, 1999.
• Dr. Gloria Bonner, dean of the College of Education, 2000.
• Dr. Sharon Shaw-McEwen, social work professor, 2001.
• Dr. Alphonse Carter, engineering technology professor, 2002.
• Dr. Bertha Clark, professor of communication disorders, 2003.
• Dr. Anantha Babbili, 2004, then-dean of the College of Mass Communication.
• Dr. Pat Patterson, professor of chemistry, 2005.
• Dr. Rosemary Owens, dean of continuing studies and public service, 2006.
• Dr. Connie Wade, chair of the Department of Elementary and Special Education, 2007.
• Dr. Marva Lucas, chair of the Department of University Studies, 2008.
• Dr. Adonijah Bakari, history professor, 2009.
• Dr. Dwight Patterson, 2010, chemistry professor.
• Dr. Raphael Bundage, 2011, music professor.
• Dr. Cheryl Slaughter Ellis, professor of community and public health, 2012.
• Dr. Newtona “Tina” Johnson, professor of English and director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, 2013.
• Dr. Sekou Franklin, political science professor, 2014.

For more information, contact Jonell Hinsey, director of the Intercultural and Diversity Center and chair of the MTSU Black History Month Committee, at 615-898-5797 or jonell.hinsey@mtsu.edu.

— Gina K. Logue (gina.logue@mtsu.edu)

Dr. Michaele Chappell, right, accepts the 2015 John Pleas Faculty Award from 1998 Pleas Award winner Dr. Bichaka Fayissa, a professor in the Department of Economics and Finance, in a Feb. 26 ceremony at MTSU’s Tom Jackson Building. (MTSU Photo by J. Intintoli)