“My goal is for students to feel that my classes have a transformative impact on them and their ability to think critically and to analyze situations,” she adds, noting that she uses strategic course planning along with motivational and engaging teaching and learning strategies to accommodate her students’ diverse learning styles.

Price, who teaches courses in Introduction to Psychology, Applications in Psychology, Human Development, and The Psychology of Adjustment, engages learners in an active, as opposed to passive, learning approach, utilizing such teaching methods as Socratic questioning, discussion, digitized video clips, application exercises, case studies, group activities, demonstrations, role plays, and computer simulations.

“Dr. Price prepares for instruction more diligently than anyone else I can recall over the 34 years I have served at this institution,” comments Dr. John Hutcheson, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Dalton State.

“She has an acute awareness that teaching is meaningless without reliable assurances of learning, and no one on our faculty is more sensitive to variations in students’ learning styles and the necessity for diverse modes of pedagogy.”

Hutcheson adds that the selection of Price as this year’s Regents’ Excellence in Teaching Award recipient for access colleges is even more gratifying since Dalton State Professor of Management Marilyn Helms received this same award in 2007.

“For two years in a row, Dalton State faculty members have been recognized state-wide as being among the best the University System of Georgia has to offer,” he says.

According to College officials, Price’s reputation for being an excellent teacher consistently results in extremely popular class offerings which are among the earliest to fill.

Recognized for having “near-perfect student evaluations,” Price “always uses class time to effectively help students learn the subject material,” according to one student. “On a scale from 1-10, I give her an 11+.”

“You always know when you’re in Dr. Price’s class what is expected in order to be successful, and this gives all styles of learners and personalities the tools to succeed,” commented a former student. “You come out of her class and out of spending time with her feeling that you can succeed at anything you put your mind to.”

Price is likewise praised by faculty and staff alike for her commitment to the concept of the college as a community of learners.

“She has participated in successful interdisciplinary learning communities on campus, currently serves on the new Teaching and Learning Committee, and has served as the College’s Retention and Progression Task Force coordinator,” observes Dr. Mary Nielsen, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts.

Price credits her colleagues for having a major impact on the development of her own pedagogical style.

“I have had fantastic experiences working with my teaching colleagues at Dalton State, like Dr. Tony Simones and Dr. Michael Hoff, who set the bar by entering the classroom with unmatched energy and enthusiasm.

In addition, Price has been influenced by her experience working with teachers in the local school system.

“I have worked with teachers like Debbie Barkley and Dana Phillips at Park Creek,” says Price.  “Their belief that significant learning is more likely to take place within the confines of a significant relationship was evidenced in every interaction they had with their students.  Observing them had a powerful impact on me as I realized that teaching success is a result of truly caring about students and their learning.”

Finally, Price credits inspiring spiritual influences like Matt Evans at Rock Bridge Community Church.

“Matt devotes himself to preparing the most powerful messages.  He is truly gifted in the way that he relates to, and connects with, his audience.  He has helped me to realize that I need to prepare high impact, relevant learning opportunities and really make the most of that hour and 15 minutes I have twice a week in the presence of our students.”

As a recipient of the Board of Regents’ awards program for 2008, Price will receive $5,000 and a certificate of achievement. Other honorees this year include Dr. Carol Barnum of Southern Polytechnic State University, who represents regional and state universities; and Dr. Balasubramaniam Ramesh, of Georgia State University, representing research universities.