Dr. Lora Geriguis is Professor of English at La Sierra University, where she has served since 2007. Her teaching has included courses on Science and Literature, Early Modern British Literature, Medical Humanities, and Literary Criticism for the undergraduate and graduate program in English, as well as rhetoric and research methods for Honors, and First-Year Experience for general education. As a faculty member who contributes to the teaching of a graduate degree and undergraduate major, she has been able to draw from various scholarship projects to enrich classes in both the content of particular classes focused on literary criticism, periods of literature, and in the methods of literary study. During the past 15 years, 23 conference presentations delivered have also provided content and research practice examples utilized in teaching. Lora has remained on the cutting edge of her field and has become an expert in her selected area of Margaret Cavendish studies. Lora continues to elicit interest from students and scholars through well-designed presentations. She makes use of her research in the classroom to enhance her curriculum and to engage students in the research process with her, an effective teaching tool. She makes use of questions and investigative work in the classroom to involve graduate and undergraduate students in her research. Dr. Geriguis’s service roles have included Department of English chair, Faculty Senate chair, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Accreditation Liaison Officer for WASC. On July 1, she'll begin service as our Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Geriguis, this award affirms that your teaching aligns with La Sierra's motto of seeking, knowing, and serving in your career and classroom. Through your teaching, as Dr. Andrew Howe has stated, you reflect “the liberal arts, service-based ethos of G. T. Anderson, the institution's first president after its elevation to a four-year, senior college.” 
In summary, Dr. Lora Geriguis’s superb teaching, combined with her research and her service to La Sierra and to the community, warrant bestowing upon her this year’s G. T. Anderson Award. Congratulations, Dr. Geriguis!

Dr. Thomas taught in the K-12 arena in Seventh-day Adventist schools for the first four years of his career, teaching young people physical education, health, gymnastics, and math in New Mexico and Kansas.  He then taught in Massachusetts for 13 years at Atlantic Union College, where he coached women’s volleyball, was aquatics director, and served as dept chair during his final 5 years.  He then wisely joined La Sierra’s Health & Exercise Science department in 2001 and has taught a variety of courses, such as Motor Learning; Research Methods; Physiological Assessment & Exercise Prescription; Principles of Epidemiology; and the UNST 404 Senior Seminar.
Dr. Thomas often uses a “flipped classroom” approach where students prepare ahead of time by having read content or watched a video lecture. They often begin class with a quiz, and then participate in high-engagement, active-learning work during class to illustrate theoretical concepts from the real world. Because he has a love of history and “preserving the story,” he has involved students in interviewing people who have made a difference in health and kinesiology and other professionals in students’ fields of interest. These projects give students knowledge about the heritage of Exercise Science and Health Science and inculcate the attributes of those serving in health-related professions.  
In addition, Dr. Thomas’s love of research is illustrated in two ways; first, helping students learn how to conduct original research with human participants; and second, including students in his own research efforts, following protocols to collect biometric data of human subjects. Dr. Thomas has mentored students on more than 100 original research projects. He has included at least 20 students in his research projects in three general areas: 1) assessing the cardiovascular fitness in college students; 2) determining fitness levels of students in grades 5-12 in SDA schools across the United States; and, 3) assisting with his book project on the historical development of SDA Physical Education in North American colleges. These are wonderful opportunities for students to learn high-level academic research first-hand. 
Dr. Thomas has served in a variety of leadership positions including president of the Western Society for Kinesiology & Wellness, chair of La Sierra University’s Faculty Senate (twice), and executive director for the SDA Health, Physical Education, & Recreation Association (for 21 years). He was the Principal Investigator for the national Physical Genesis fitness study from 2015 to 2018, and he has presented research around the world . 
This is not Dr. Thomas’s first award at La Sierra. He has received the “Distinguished Faculty Service Award”; the Anees Haddad “Excellence in Faculty Governance” award; and a “Faculty of the Year” award for Service-Learning. 
In summary, Dr. Rob Thomas’s superb teaching, combined with his research and his service to La Sierra and to the community, warrant bestowing upon him this year’s G. T. Anderson Award. Congratulations, Dr. Thomas!