Moore Awarded Suarez Professorship

During the recent Annual Academic Award Celebration, a Fairmont State University professor was awarded the Abelina Suarez Professorship.

The Abelina Suarez Professorship was established through the estate of Abelina Suarez in 2002, at the Fairmont State Foundation, Inc., to support faculty development and excellence in teaching. Suarez was a math and science teacher and school counselor in Harrison County. Her bequest created the first, privately funded professorship in FSU history.
Connie S. Moore, Associate Professor/Senior of Nursing, was selected to receive the professorship. Other faculty nominees were Mary A. “Dede” Burnell, Assistant Professor of Accounting and Information Systems; Dr. Carolyn Crislip-Tacy, Professor of Physical Education and Chair of the Department of Health and Human Performance; Dr. Debra Hemler, Professor of Geoscience Education; and Dr. Deanna Shields, Chair of the Department of Social Science and Professor of Criminal Justice.

Abelina Suarez Professors carry the title in perpetuity, but a new award will be given every five years. Dr. Judy P. Byers, 2002 Abelina Suarez Professorship recipient, is Senior Professor of English, Supervisor of English Education and Director of the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center at FSU. During the five-year active period of the award, honorees have the opportunity to develop and present a special course in their discipline. Recipients receive a $3,000 yearly stipend for five years to support their work. Nominations for this award are accepted from school chairs and faculty members.

“I am honored and surprised to receive this award,” Moore said. “I can only hope to work toward Dr. Judy Byers’ level of achievement. I want to thank the Suarez family for their vision and philanthropy to support teaching and learning that can foster change for a brighter future.”

Moore has been a full-time faculty member at Fairmont State since 1987. Prior to that time, she was an adjunct faculty member for five years. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from West Virginia University. She is also certified as a Clinical Specialist in Adult Health. In 2006 she was named Co-interim Dean of Nursing. She is currently Coordinator of Adult Health Nursing.

Moore previously taught nursing at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and at the University of Charleston in Charleston. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, national nursing honorary, West Virginia Nurses Association and the American Nurses’ Association.

She is currently a member of the Fairmont State Board of Governors and has served the last 10 years as Fairmont State’s representative to the Advisory Council of Faculty to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. While on the council, she has worked with the Legislature and the policy commission on legislation to benefit higher education and faculty. Her teaching endeavors have earned her the William A. Boram Award for Excellence in Teaching, Recognition of Outstanding Faculty Achievement and the Outstanding Community College Service Award.

In addition to her efforts to support the campus community, Moore is also active in the community, especially in her work with the 4-H program as a Teen Leader organization leader and Treasurer of the Marion County 4-H Camp Board. Her husband is Dennis J. Moore, DVM. Her three children are all professionals in the Marion County community: Lisa Flower, MD, Chris Moore, PT, and Scott Moore, DVM. She is also very proud of her three grandchildren, Sophia, Nate and Riley.

“The Abelina Suarez Professorship represents the confluence of excellent teaching, deep learning and the philanthropy that supports both,” said Dr. Anne Patterson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

“I hope that the award will serve as an inspiration and model for others who seek a way to recognize the contributions that teachers make in the lives of their students every day.”

Professorships honoring a teacher or loved one may be established through philanthropic contributions to the Fairmont State Foundation, Inc. For more information on creating a professorship, contact K. Jean Ahwesh, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director for the Fairmont State Foundation, Inc., at  jahwesh@fairmontstate.edu.

The mission of the Fairmont State Foundation, Inc. is to support, through ethical stewardship, the mission of Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community & Technical College. The Foundation will identify, establish and cultivate meaningful relationships with Fairmont State alumni and potential and existing funding constituencies to meet contributor needs while securing funds and supporters for priority objectives identified by the Board of Governors.