Westmoreland presents Rhonda Soberdash with Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Teaching Award
January 20, 2021 Youngwood, Pa.Westmoreland County Community College recently named Assistant Professor Rhonda Soberdash of Greensburg as the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Teaching Award.
Presented by Dr. Kristy Bishop, vice president for Academic Affairs, the award recognizes and honors a Westmoreland full-time faculty member who demonstrates excellence in the classroom, instructional innovation, contributions to the community and leadership with the college. Faculty are nominated by students and the winner is selected by a committee of their peers.
This year, students submitted 213 nominations for more than 40 faculty members to receive the award.
Soberdash specializes in Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene and Expanded Functions Dental Assisting (EFDA). She currently serves as the director of the EFDA program and clinic coordinator for our Dental Hygiene Clinic.
She holds a master of arts in Adult and Community Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a bachelor of science degree in Education from California University of Pennsylvania and two dental certificates from the University of Pittsburgh. She started at Westmoreland as an adjunct faculty member and joined the full-time faculty in 2017.
One student who nominated her for the award said, “During this difficult time, Mrs. Soberdash has gone above and beyond to transfer our clinic into a safe and effective environment, so that we are able to continue our education. She listens to students’ concerns and really tries to accommodate everyone’s needs. She is an outstanding instructor who truly wants the best for you and is willing to help you with whatever you need so that you succeed.”
Soberdash serves as a member of the Advisory Committees for Dental Hygiene, Dental Assisting and EFDA, provides CPR training for faculty, teaches Basic Life Support with the American Heart Association, and has taught continuing education courses in Local Anesthesia for the Dental Professional.
She is a member of both the American Dental Hygiene and Assisting Associations and attends numerous conferences, seminars and symposiums annually to remain current in her field.
Soberdash received 15 separate nominations, which is the most nominations ever received for the full-time faculty award. In her Best Teaching Experience Narrative, she told a story about helping a nontraditional student in the EFDA program to overcome obstacles and finish his degree as a first-generation Latino college graduate.
After telling the story, she wrote: “This student reminded me of how we change lives as educators. Reflecting on my best teaching moments reminded me that helping our students beyond the classroom, adjusting to different learning styles, and meeting their individual needs to accomplish their goals is how I elevate myself and I notice the students follow.”
“Faculty and staff at Westmoreland County Community College also notice how you elevate yourself and we endeavor to follow,” Bishop said. “We are proud to have you as a member of our college community and hope to elevate ourselves as you do to meet the needs of our students.”