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May 27, 2011

ULM alumnus receives Faculty Excellence Award at Mississippi University for Women

A University of Louisiana at Monroe alumnus was recently honored with the 2011 Kossen Faculty Excellence Award.

Dr. Mark Bean, chair of the Department of Health and Kinesiology at Mississippi University for Women, earned a doctorate in exercise physiology from the University of Southern Mississippi and master of education in physical education from ULM.

Dr. Bean obtained his bachelor of science in physical education from Mississippi State University.

The award, established in 2004 by Mississippi University for Women alumna Connie Kossen and her husband, Tom, includes a $5,000 stipend and recognizes the role of faculty "as the heart of the university."

To be eligible for the award, Bean had to meet criteria based on three fundamentals: excellence in teaching, excellence in scholarly or artistic achievement and excellence in service, preferably both on campus and in communities throughout MUW's service area. A faculty member must also exhibit a commitment to student success in each of these three areas of responsibility to be eligible for nomination.

Nominated by MUW faculty, students and administrators, Dr. Bean is known as a leader with integrity, vision, diplomacy and dedication to MUW, his community, his church and his family. In a nomination letter, one of his students said, "Dr. Bean is the main reason I chose MUW, and he has personally impacted my life in more ways than I can explain."

A faculty member in the Department of Health and Kinesiology stated, "Mark is an extraordinary educator who is committed to student success, and he has been an outstanding mentor to me."

Bean has been department chair since 2005. He also has served in other roles on campus including special assistant to the president for planning and institutional effectiveness and interim director of the Office of Continuing Education.

Highlights of his service include proposal of the B.S. in public health education program, implementing universitywide strategic planning processes and developing the majority of exercise courses now offered by MUW.

Dr. Bean is active in the community, most recently serving as president of the Town and Tower Club. He is a member of the Columbus Rotary Club and has served on the board of directors for the United Way of Lowndes County and Annunciation Catholic School.

In 2006, he received the Mississippi Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Presidential Citation.

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