DUBOIS, Pa. — Barbara Reinard, assistant teaching professor in the Penn State DuBois Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) program, has been named the DuBois Educational Foundation (DEF) Educator of the Year. She was presented with the award by DEF president Craig Ball during commencement ceremonies at Penn State DuBois on Friday evening.
The Educator of the Year Award is given annually by the DEF to recognize outstanding teaching. All nominees must be full-time faculty members with at least one year of prior service at Penn State DuBois. The honor is based purely on student feedback, as the students submit nominations and the award winner is chosen based on the number and quality of nominations received.
Student nominations praised Reinard with statements such as, "During all of Dr. Reinard's lectures, she always had this positive energy and presented things with such passion that it made you want to learn. During class, you can tell how much the physical therapy field means to her. She truly wants each student that sits in her class to share that same enthusiasm for physical therapy that she has. It makes learning fun, and you look forward to going to her class to see what new material she has for next time."
Another student's nominations said, "Barb is more than deserving of this award as she has dedicated so much of her time in developing the PTA program. She will go above and beyond to make sure her students understand the course content and can be successful."
Reinard began teaching at Penn State DuBois in 1997. She also is the staff physical therapist and assistant director of physical/occupational therapy at Indiana Hospital, where she has worked since 1988. She has served as clinical instructor at the hospital for six years, and as the center coordinator for clinical education for five years.
Reinard earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Clarion University in 1985, and a bachelor's degree in physical therapy from the University of Pittsburgh in 1988. She went on to complete her master's degree in adult and community education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1997. She recently earned a doctorate in physical therapy from Shenandoah University.