Two Faculty Members Leave UPB
Two longtime faculty members left the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford at the end of the spring term: Sharon Woodruff, assistant professor of computer science, who taught for 25 years, and Dr. Joanne C. “Jody” Burgert, assistant professor of teacher education, who worked at the university in various capacities for 24 years.
“Sharon has been a pillar in the computer science program,” said Dr. Yong-Zhou Chen, chairman of the division of physical and computational sciences. “She taught classes not only during the daytime, but also at night, often on overload, to meet students’ needs.”
Woodruff worked with John Slimick, associate professor of computer science, to develop Pitt-Bradford’s first computer science major and minor in the 1980s.
Over the course of her Pitt-Bradford career, she taught at least 17 different courses, including 10 different program languages and eight different database management systems.
Woodruff also ran the Seneca Highlands Summer Academy for several years.
A native of Canada, she enjoys downhill skiing with her family, reading medical thrillers, going to Broadway musicals and plays, surfing the Internet and doing cross stitch.
Burgert began as adjunct composition instructor, then moved on to run the Academic Development Center and teacher education program. She has served as director of Science in Motion and the Freshman Seminar. In 1997, she was appointed director of the Teacher Education Program.
“In 10 years, Jody has nursed a program staffed by adjunct faculty, which sent our student to St. Bonaventure in order to complete their degrees, to a thriving, stand-alone, well-enrolled program with three full-time faculty,” said Dr. Steven E. Hardin, vice president and dean of academic affairs.
Most recently, Burgert taught Secondary Methods, Reading and Writing in the Content Curriculum, and Adolescent Literature. She also supervised student teachers. She has studied teaching students the same material in a variety of ways, focusing on how the practice can meet the needs of all students in a classroom.
“Jody has left her mark on the university,” said Lizbeth Matz, associate professor of business management and chairwoman of the division of management and education. “Every program with which she has been associated was better and stronger when she handed it off to her successors.
“The Academic Success Center (formerly the Academic Development Center) is now a major part of student support services; Science in Motion continues to provide services to schools in the region; and the teacher education program has grown from a handful of students to one of the largest programs on campus.”
Burgert lives in Franklin. In her retirement, she plans to play with her new granddaughter, read and, in typical fashion, start a new Pitt-Bradford seminar in East Asian studies for teachers and student teachers.
“Sharon has been a pillar in the computer science program,” said Dr. Yong-Zhou Chen, chairman of the division of physical and computational sciences. “She taught classes not only during the daytime, but also at night, often on overload, to meet students’ needs.”Woodruff worked with John Slimick, associate professor of computer science, to develop Pitt-Bradford’s first computer science major and minor in the 1980s.
Over the course of her Pitt-Bradford career, she taught at least 17 different courses, including 10 different program languages and eight different database management systems.
Woodruff also ran the Seneca Highlands Summer Academy for several years.
A native of Canada, she enjoys downhill skiing with her family, reading medical thrillers, going to Broadway musicals and plays, surfing the Internet and doing cross stitch.
Burgert began as adjunct composition instructor, then moved on to run the Academic Development Center and teacher education program. She has served as director of Science in Motion and the Freshman Seminar. In 1997, she was appointed director of the Teacher Education Program.“In 10 years, Jody has nursed a program staffed by adjunct faculty, which sent our student to St. Bonaventure in order to complete their degrees, to a thriving, stand-alone, well-enrolled program with three full-time faculty,” said Dr. Steven E. Hardin, vice president and dean of academic affairs.
Most recently, Burgert taught Secondary Methods, Reading and Writing in the Content Curriculum, and Adolescent Literature. She also supervised student teachers. She has studied teaching students the same material in a variety of ways, focusing on how the practice can meet the needs of all students in a classroom.
“Jody has left her mark on the university,” said Lizbeth Matz, associate professor of business management and chairwoman of the division of management and education. “Every program with which she has been associated was better and stronger when she handed it off to her successors.
“The Academic Success Center (formerly the Academic Development Center) is now a major part of student support services; Science in Motion continues to provide services to schools in the region; and the teacher education program has grown from a handful of students to one of the largest programs on campus.”
Burgert lives in Franklin. In her retirement, she plans to play with her new granddaughter, read and, in typical fashion, start a new Pitt-Bradford seminar in East Asian studies for teachers and student teachers.
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