BIG RAPIDS - Susan Hastings-Bishop of Rodney, professor and department chair of Recreation, Leisure Services and Wellness, has been named the 2007 Ferris Professional Woman of the Year.
The Ferris Professional Women annually recognizes an outstanding woman on campus who has stimulated the awareness of women by participating in activities to enhance the status of all women, encouraging women to exercise their rights and roles in the Ferris community and continuing to be a model of professionalism to students and other colleagues.
Hastings-Bishop was nominated for the honor by Lee Ann Westman, professor of Humanities, and was recognized at the May 4 FPW Commencement Breakfast.
In her nomination, Westman stated, "Dr. Hastings-Bishop's scholarly work on adolescent girls and camping supports women in recreation and her many years of work in the Girl Scouts of America underscores her commitment to girls and recreation."
Most recently Hastings-Bishop was named academic project director for the Brighter Futures Grant in partnership with the Girl Scouts of Michigan Trails working with high school girls to explore career options, encourage the pursuit of a college education and youth development in community service. The project involves eight faculty, 14 students and 15 community members who are mentoring the high school participants.
She has also worked with youth from the local Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization to teach them to fish and about the conservation and preservation of local fishery of the Muskegon River Basin. She has also helped Big Rapids Middle School students explore environmental habitats and construct habitat gardens and served on the Big Rapids city pool task force.
Her work at the local level extends statewide and nationally through participation in professional organizations, committees, workshops, pilot projects, presentations, grant and research activities and field experiences.
Hastings-Bishop joined the Ferris faculty in 1988 as an assistant professor of Recreation Leadership and Management, and has held progressively responsible positions since then. In addition to her department chair and teaching responsibilities, she advises up to 40 undergraduate students each semester who are enrolled in or considering majoring in Recreation, Leisure Services and Wellness.
Her professional career spans more than 35 years from New York to Colorado, and she has been the first woman to hold a number of positions in her field.