For the first round of American National University’s Bi-Annual Faculty Institutional Excellence Award, three professors have been named – Dr. Tem Burgin, Telicia Ward-Thomas, and Dr. Misty Chisum. Program chairs, deans, and direct managers undergo the nomination process twice each year, seeking individuals who embody ANU’s values. Nominees must display a commitment to teaching and their students, an engaging, encouraging, active teaching approach to ensure students are intellectually stimulated, the ability to effectively communicate with students, and a positive, lasting impact on students. Earning this award is how we recognize members of the faculty who embody these ANU values. These three embody this award for their dedication to their classes, students, and work to provide the education our students deserve.
Dr. Tem Burgin
Dr. Tem Bugarin first served 30 years in the Navy with heavy experience in engineering and leadership. He is honored to be the first foreign-born in the Philippine Islands to come to America and command a US Navy Warship. After serving in the Navy, Dr. Bugarin served over 24 years as a scientist and project manager in the private sector. Simultaneously, he has taught at various universities for the last 24 years, teaching primarily statistics, mathematics, quantitative analysis, and different management and leadership courses.
Along with his naval, engineering, and educational teaching experience, Dr. Bugarin has had the honor of working with several international students in their efforts to obtain and successfully defend their doctoral degrees. He served as the Dean of graduate studies at California International Business University and the lead faculty/area chair at the University of Phoenix. In 2013, Dr. Bugarin earned the distinction of being chosen as the outstanding faculty of the year. His research interests include comparative analysis, optimized decision-making, evaluation of decision support systems and operations, statistical analysis, leadership, finance, and business. Dr. Bugarin is proud to have chaired and been the lead faculty member for 32 students who have completed their doctoral degrees.
Dr. Bugarin earned his doctorate in Business Administration with a concentration in Quantitative Analysis (Statistics) in 2001 from United States International University, now known as Alliant University. He holds the following master’s degrees: Operations Research Systems Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, Business and Public Administration from Southeastern University, Washington, D.C., and International Relations from the Navy War College/Salve Regina College in Newport, Rhode Island.
He enjoys mentoring graduate students in their efforts towards completing their graduate degrees. The opportunity to assist students in earning their life-changing degrees has been his crowning achievement and the achievement he is most satisfied with.
He was nominated for his outstanding contributions to ANU’s online classroom environment and the department, his dedication, and overall commitment to student success!
Telicia Ward-Thomas
Telicia Ward-Thomas is an adjunct professor at ANU. Professor Ward-Thomas has been teaching higher education since 2013 and enjoyed every moment of mentoring her students into their future careers.
Professor Ward-Thomas has her Master’s in Public Health and Policy. She has been a certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) for over 20 years. Her experience and education both allow her to guide students into their new skills and knowledge.
Her spouse is in the military, so Professor Ward-Thomas is no stranger to packing up and moving to a new place. In her personal time, she enjoys spending time with her family, as well being able to relax in the sands of a beach.
She is nominated for her instrumental role in the Pharmacy Technician lab courses, her unique teaching technique, her ability to connect with students, and her eagerness to assist the Pharmacy Technician department above and beyond expectations.
Dr. Misty Chisum
Dr. Misty Chisum in an instructor at American National University and an Executive Functions Coach. She has her doctorate in education. She is currently pursuing graduate certificates in Teaching Neurodiverse Learners with an emphasis in Autism and Executive Function.
In addition to over two decades in higher education, Dr. Chisum is certified to teach English Language Arts (ELA) for grades 5 through 12, as well Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). She has done extensive work in online instruction outside of ANU, as well as dual enrollment.
Her research interests include student-instructor engagement in distance education and equity-based instruction.
She is nominated for her innovative ways of presenting material, her weekly announcements and pep talks – both of which help her students understand key concepts and stay motivated – as well as her overall supportive demeanor!
