Longtime Western Nebraska Community College instructor Dr. Guy Wylie was recently named the recipient of the Nebraska Community College Association (NCCA) 2013 Faculty Member Award during the annual NCCA Award Ceremony on November 4 in North Platte.
The Nebraska Community College Association (NCCA) presented the 2013 Faculty Member Award to Western Nebraska Community College instructor Dr. Guy Wylie, at left, pictured with WNCC President Dr. Todd Holcomb.Wylie has taught full-time at WNCC since January 1977 in the areas of psychology, counseling, and human service work. He earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Bucknell University, a master's degree in psychology from Kansas State College of Pittsburg, and his Ph.D. from Kansas State University in student counseling and personnel services in 1989.
Over the years, Wylie has served in key college committee leadership roles like co-chairing the WNCC Assessment Committee, assisting with the preparation of the self-study documents for three comprehensive visits from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, serving as the social sciences division chair for six years.
Notably, Wylie has also served as faculty representative to the Western Community College Area Board of Governors. He has functioned in this capacity all but one year since the creation of the position in the late 1980s. WNCC President Todd Holcomb calls Wylie a "role model" for other faculty.
"Given his unique role as faculty representative for the board and the thoughtful insight he can provide due to his tenure with the college, his contributions are always even-handed and reliable," Holcomb said. "He's a singular presence at the college and this honor is well-deserved."
Wylie was selected as the "Outstanding Teacher" by the local chapter of Phi Theta Kappa in 1982 and again in 2000, having received a similar award from officials at the University Of Nebraska Medical Center College Of Nursing in 1991 based upon student recommendation and the level of preparation demonstrated by transfer students.
"From my perspective, I appreciate how Dr. Wylie has developed and nurtured relationships with our college and social services organizations within the community, and aligned our curriculum with those agencies, as well as our four-year partners in the region," said WNCC Vice President for Educational Services Terry Gaalswyck. "He's provided unparalleled leadership as a faculty member, division chair, and as faculty representative to the board."
Gaalswyck also points to Wylie's service to the community, including his involvement in various capacities with numerous key boards at the local and state level since 1977, including the Region 1 Substance Abuse Advisory Board, the State of Nebraska Substance Abuse Advisory Board, the Mental Health Board, the Region 1 Mental Health Advisory Board, the Panhandle Interagency Council, along with service to local agencies like the Elks Lodge and the West Nebraska Arts Center.