Heartland Community College
1500 West Raab Road
Normal, Illinois 61761-9446
Phone: 309-268-8000
Heartland Community College
1500 West Raab Road
Normal, Illinois 61761-9446
Phone: 309-268-8000
Vandiver has been teaching for over twenty years in the Digital Media Communication (DMED) program he created for Heartland Community College. Under Vandiver’s leadership, the DMED program was the first at the College to deliver content via video lectures to students, far before it became standard.
During his career at Heartland, Vandiver has served as faculty advisor for the College’s chapters of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and SkillsUSA, helped present student film festivals, and led the development of a faculty mentoring program. He serves as the program coordinator for Digital Media, has been chair of the Assessment Committee for two terms, and serves on numerous College committees and boards.
In their nomination of Vandiver, one student stated, “His enthusiasm and ‘realness’ really made an impression on me from day one. I want to strive to be a person like that in my future jobs.”
“His enthusiasm and ‘realness’ really made an impression on me from day one. I want to strive to be a person like that in my future jobs.”
Each year, Heartland Community College names one full-time and one part-time faculty member to be honored as examples of the dedication, expertise, and commitment to student learning found amongst our College’s instructors.
The Heartland Outstanding Faculty Award winners are selected from student nominations. Heartland’s recipients are also submitted to the Illinois Community College Trustees Association for the statewide award.
“I had such a great learning experience from her last year, that I took her second class and could not be happier. She deserves the world!”
2024 FULL-TIME FACULTY AWARD WINNER
Phil Vandiver
2024 PART-TIME FACULTY AWARD WINNER
Laura Coughlin
2024 OUTSTANDING FACULTY AWARD WINNERS
- Student nominator
Becky Ropp, Heartland Board Chair presenting full-time faculty award to Phil Vandiver
Phil Vandiver is the recipient of the
2024 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Award.
- Student nominator
2024 OUTSTANDING FACULTY AWARD WINNERS
Each year, Heartland Community College names one full-time and one part-time faculty member to be honored as examples of the dedication, expertise, and commitment to student learning found amongst our College’s instructors.
The Heartland Outstanding Faculty Award winners are selected from student nominations. Heartland’s recipients are also submitted to the Illinois Community College Trustees Association for the statewide award.
2024 FULL-TIME FACULTY AWARD WINNER
Phil Vandiver
“His enthusiasm and ‘realness’ really made an impression on me from day one. I want to strive to be a person like that in my future jobs.”
- Student nominator -
Becky Ropp, Heartland Board Chair presenting full-time faculty award to Phil Vandiver
Vandiver has been teaching for over twenty years in the Digital Media Communication (DMED) program he created for Heartland Community College. Under Vandiver’s leadership, the DMED program was the first at the College to deliver content via video lectures to students, far before it became standard.
During his career at Heartland, Vandiver has served as faculty advisor for the College’s chapters of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and SkillsUSA, helped present student film festivals, and led the development of a faculty mentoring program. He serves as the program coordinator for Digital Media, has been chair of the Assessment Committee for two terms, and serves on numerous College committees and boards.
In their nomination of Vandiver, one student stated, “His enthusiasm and ‘realness’ really made an impression on me from day one. I want to strive to be a person like that in my future jobs.”
2024 PART-TIME FACULTY AWARD WINNER
Laura Coughlin
Becky Ropp, Heartland Board Chair presenting part-time faculty award to Laurie Coughlin
Coughlin earned her Master’s in Physical Therapy from Touro College, an MBA from the University of St. Francis, and her Bachelor’s in Biology from Drake University.
Coughlin has taught at Heartland Community College for four years, and she brings something uniquely valuable to the classroom: 24 years of experience as a licensed physical therapist and administrator.
Coughlin serves as a positive role model for students interested in healthcare. In her nomination, one student shared, “I had such a great learning experience from her last year, that I took her second class and could not be happier. She deserves the world!”
“His enthusiasm and ‘realness’ really made an impression on me from day one. I want to strive to be a person like that in my future jobs.”
- Student -
“I had such a great learning experience from her last year, that I took her second class and could not be happier. She deserves the world!”
- Student nominator -
Becky Ropp, Heartland Board Chair presenting part-time faculty award to Laurie Coughlin
Adjunct Professor of Anatomy and Physiology, Laura Coughlin, is the recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Award.
Phil Vandiver, is the recipient of the
2024 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Award.
Phil Vandiver, is the recipient
of the 2024 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Award.