2017 H. Aldous Dixon Awards
Dr. T. Ramakrishna (T.R.) Reddy, professor of political science and philosophy, and Dr. Eric Amsel, associate provost for academic programs and assessment, are the recipients of the 2017 H. Aldous Dixon Awards. Named in memory of the former Weber College president, the awards have been presented annually since 1970 to honor faculty and staff who have demonstrated careers of excellence and have gone beyond the call of duty to support students. Dixon served as president of Weber College from 1919 to 1920 and again from 1937 to 1953.
Dr. T. Ramakrishna (T.R.) Reddy
The Weber State from which T. Ramakrishna (T.R.) Reddy will retire at the end of fall semester 2017 is a far cry from the one he first encountered as a newly hired assistant professor in 1965. During a teaching career that will span 51 years, Reddy witnessed Weber State evolve from a small senior college into a nationally respected university.
By the time his desk is cleared, the India-born Reddy will have shared his unique perspective on American democracy and international politics with an estimated 30,000 students. Many of his previous students have forged illustrious careers; one became a Utah Supreme Court justice, and later, a federal judge.
Reddy, named Outstanding Social Sciences Faculty Member of 1980-81, infuses his classes with relevant assignments and topical guest presenters. In the wake of deadly attacks in the U.S. and abroad, Reddy invited India’s inspector general of police to speak to his students about combating terrorism.
Reddy, who chaired the Department of Political Science & Philosophy for more than a decade, encourages his students to expand their worldviews. He was a longtime faculty advisor for WSU’s Model United Nations program and was the university's Peace Corps liaison officer.
His distinguished service to Weber State students and faculty will not end with his retirement. Reddy plans to create an endowment to support a student research and writing award established in his name.
Dr. Eric Amsel
Eric Amsel’s lengthy resume reveals much about his innovative teaching, renowned scholarship, prolific research, numerous publications and prestigious awards. And yet, in a single line, written by the former student who nominated Amsel for the Dixon Award, we learn everything we need to know about Amsel’s selfless character: “No matter when you [reach out to] him, he is always to the rescue!” That’s a powerful, honest assessment of a man who knows a lot about assessment.
As associate provost for academic programs and assessment, Amsel oversees all academic degree programs at WSU. He also assumes primary responsibility for the university’s regional accreditation, program review, general education oversight, and assessment of learning outcomes.
Amsel joined WSU’s psychology faculty in 1996 as a champion of undergraduate research. During his long teaching tenure, he collaborated with scores of students on research into human cognition. He and his “apprentices” explored fascinating topics such as counterfactual thinking and its impact on job satisfaction, fantasy-reality confusion, and imaginary thinking in autistic children.
His outstanding chairmanship of the psychology department and leadership of the WSU Faculty Senate earned Amsel the respect of his Weber State colleagues. In 2007, Amsel was named a Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor, and in 2016, he was selected as one, of two, WSU associate provosts following a nationwide search.