PITTSBURGH TECHNICAL COLLEGE FACULTY EARNS NATIONAL EDUCATION EXCELLENCE AWARD
Tracie Brady named 2020 Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty Recognition Award Winner
PITTSBURGH—January 28, 2020 – Tracie Brady, Pittsburgh Technical College (PTC) faculty in the School of Business, is the 2020 winner of the Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty Recognition Award by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). Designed to recognize faculty making a difference in the classroom, this award acknowledges Brady’s passion for her students, supporting them inside the classroom and beyond, and her willingness to go above what is required to ensure student success, and her continued professional development and participation in college committees.
Brady was informed of her recognition at the end of classes for the quarter and expressed her gratitude. “Wow! What a way to end the term!” She added, “To be recognized on a national level is truly an honor. Teaching is not just an occupation, for me it’s a calling that I fulfill without hesitation. I believe I get more from my students than I can ever give to them, and I’m continuously seeking ways to enhance their experience at PTC. The reward is the trust the students place in me to guide them and help them succeed in their education and ultimately as they develop their careers. I get to be a teacher, friend, mentor, and sometimes even a ‘mom’ for every student who walks into my class.”
“I am so very proud of Tracie,” stated Dr. Alicia B. Harvey‐Smith, president and CEO of PTC. “I was confident that AACC would see what I see in Tracie and PTC, and salute us as a national academic model. This is one of the highest awards nationally for faculty excellence, and Tracie will forever be noted as one of the best in higher education instruction.”
In the nomination application, Brady was acknowledged for her belief that anyone can learn when the material is presented the right way, and her endeavor to continuously seek new resources allowing her to find the right approach for each student. While pursuing her doctoral degree in business administration, she is also actively helping the PTC business faculty rework curriculum, preparing new courses, instructing new faculty, interacting with industry professionals, and advising PTC’s DECA chapter which includes fundraisers, community service activities, and competitions.
Brady will receive the award on Sunday, March 29, 2020, at a private reception during the AACC 100th Annual Convention in National Harbor, MD.
Pittsburgh Technical College, located in Oakdale, PA, is a nonprofit, academic institution with more than 30 programs that prepare students for career success. For more information about Pittsburgh Technical College, visit www.ptcollege.edu. PTC began its association with AACC in 2019. Per its website, www.aacc.nche.edu, AACC is the primary advocacy organization for the nation’s community colleges. The association represents nearly 1,200 2‐year, associate degree‐granting institutions and more than 12 million students.
