Deirdre Newman
OCC CAMPUS -- Two professors will share the honor of Faculty Member of
the Year at the college. Neither is the professor nominated in honor of
academic freedom.
Mathematics professor Valerie Hayward and Fine Arts professor Karen
Mortillaro split the vote of their fellow faculty members Wednesday
night.
"It's a great honor and you feel so pleased that your faculty members
think so highly of you," Hayward said.
Not selected was political science professor Ken Hearlson, whose
nomination was an attempt to continue the conversation of academic
freedom that started last semester when he was accused of harassing
Muslim students.
Officials placed Hearlson on paid administrative leave and an
independent investigation eventually cleared him of most of the charges.
Hayward, a resident of Seal Beach, has been with Orange Coast College
since 1989. She directs the Coast Community College District's innovative
TEACh3 Program that trains students for careers in teaching.
Mortillaro, a Huntington Beach resident, joined the college's faculty
32 years ago. She received a patent for one of her works and has earned
three fellowships.
The college will honor both professors April 16 and will invite them
to speak at graduation.
* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)
574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .
