News and Media

Published: Jul 7, 2011

SAVANNAH, Georgia - The Savannah College of Art and Design announces that foundation studies professors Karen Davies and John E. Rise have been awarded 2010-11 Vulcan Materials Company Teaching Excellence Awards for their outstanding contributions to undergraduate education, student learning and campus life.

The awards, created to recognize faculty who make a significant difference in the classroom and university community, provides a stipend endowed by Vulcan Materials Co. The Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges manages the awards.

"We are so proud of professors Davies and Rise, and we're very appreciative to Vulcan Materials Company and the Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges for recognizing them in this way," said Maureen Garvin, dean of the School of Foundation Studies. "Both of these professors are outstanding examples of the talented, dedicated and hardworking faculty that guide and mentor our students for professional, creative careers."

Davies has been with SCAD since 1990 and has served in a variety of positions, including director of faculty development, director of academic research and faculty development, special program director, dean of special programs, and special program coordinator. She has taught in the fibers department, and some of her more recent courses include experimental bookmaking, form in space, and creative thinking strategies.

In addition to serving as a SCAD professor, Rise has formed Best Artists Products, a company that designs, manufactures and distributes canvas stretcher bar systems. He also has designed and marketed hybrid aluminum and wood stretcher bar systems for artists, wood screen print frames for commercial printing, and hardwood artist easels.

Since 2007, Rise also has acted as the chief coordinator for the university's Art Materials Trade Show, the largest of its kind in the Southeast. Each year Rise coordinates a number of vendors, speakers and workshop opportunities for students, fellow professors and the local community in Savannah, with proceeds from the trade show benefitting the School of Foundation Studies Scholarship program.