Xenia Dialogue Fellow Wins Outstanding Professor Award

Xenia Institute fellow Susan Sharp

The Xenia Institute congratulates our dialogue fellow Susan Sharp, who has been awarded the 2009 Kinney Sugg Outstanding Professor Award in the University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences. We were thrilled to hear this news and commend Susan for her outstanding scholarship and her inspirational teaching.

We have worked with Susan in dialogue sessions and community projects for the past two years, and we can attest to her strong commitment to community engagement.  The Xenia Institute is honored to be associated with such a formidable scholar, master teacher and active community citizen.

The University of Oklahoma announced the award Oct. 13:

Susan Sharp, professor of sociology, recently was named the 2009 Kinney Sugg Outstanding Professor in the University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences.  Sharp is recognized as a leading researcher in the field of women and crime and is the author of many books and articles on the effects of female incarceration and on the effects of the death penalty. Paul B. Bell Jr., Dean of the college, surprised Sharp in her classroom on Tuesday with the news that she is the recipient of the plaque and monetary award in the amount of $5,000.

“Susan Sharp is a model professor who exemplifies the ideals of the Kinney Sugg Award.  She is both a well-respected scholar in her field and a talented teacher who is praised by her students,” said Bell.

Sharp graduated Phi Kappa Phi from Texas Tech University with her masters degree in sociology and received her doctorate degree from the University of Texas in 1996.  That same year, she joined the faculty of the University of Oklahoma.  She teaches classes at OU on women and crime, criminology and the criminal justice system.

While at OU, she has earned several honors, including the Saltzman Award from the American Society of Criminology’s Division on Women and Crime; Kenneth E. Crook Outstanding Faculty Award in the OU College of Liberal Studies; University of Oklahoma Good Teaching Award; ING Faculty Member of the Game; and most recently the L.J. Semrod Presidential Professorship at OU.

Sharp is a member of the American Sociological Association, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and American Society of Criminology.  She serves as chair of the Outstanding Paper Award committee for the Division on Women and Crime, ASC; Dean’s Executive Committee, OU College of Arts and Sciences; Committee A for Women’s and Gender Studies at OU; and reviewer for several journals.

Students in her classes write of her inspiring teaching and “real” mentorship:

• “She is an excellent teacher and the reason why I chose to major in criminology.
• “She should continue teaching the same way. I loved it. Probably my favorite class ever.
• “I really learned a lot about myself and life.
• “Best Honors course I’ve taken. Sharp is well-versed in the subject area, promotes discussion and is truly experienced in her field.

Doctoral candidate Juanita Ortiz wrote in her letter of recommendation, “She is truly an asset to every student she encounters, not only by way of the knowledge she imparts, but also in terms of the sincere interest and investment of time that she takes in every students.  Dr. Sharp is an amazing professor, but that is only because she is an amazing and compassionate person first.”

The Kinney-Sugg Outstanding Professor Award, established by OU alumna Sandy Kinney and her husband, Mike Sugg, was first awarded in 2002 to help the college reward and retain outstanding professors.  The OU College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest, largest and most diverse college at the University and provides 61 percent of course hours to the university student body.  Visit their Web site at www.ou.edu/cas.