Finalists named from College of Professional Advancement, College of Nursing, College of Education, School of Engineering and School of Law
Jordan “Jody” Blanke, Ernest L. Baskin Jr. Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and Law in the School of Business, is this year’s recipient of the Joe and Jean Hendricks Excellence in Teaching Award, which will be presented at Mercer University’s Atlanta commencement on May 10.
The annual Hendricks Award recognizes a full-time teacher who best exemplifies the qualities that distinguished siblings Dr. Joseph “Papa Joe” Hendricks and Dr. Jean Hendricks as teachers and mentors to generations of Mercer students. These include challenging and inspiring teaching in and out of the classroom; actively engaging students in the process of learning, discovery and leadership; and providing caring mentorship to motivate students and junior faculty to achieve their highest aspirations.
“Professor Blanke embodies the core values of the Hendricks Award, as he consistently challenges and inspires students through his teaching,” School of Business Dean Dr. Julie Petherbridge said. “His teaching philosophy centers on student engagement, as evidenced by his dynamic classroom interactions, innovative teaching strategies, and reputation for making even the most intricate subjects captivating and relevant.”
Over his 40 years at Mercer, Blanke has taught a wide variety of graduate and undergraduate courses in computer science, law and ethics. He regularly teaches legal, ethical and regulatory environment of business; legal and ethical issues affecting big data; privacy law and policy; technology and the law; and employment law.
“His courses integrate real-world applications, interactive discussions and engaging case studies. His ability to present complex legal and technological concepts in an accessible and thought-provoking manner fosters critical thinking and intellectual curiosity,” Dr. Petherbridge said.
Blanke did not originally set out to be a teacher. After earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he went on to earn his law degree with distinction from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta.
He spent a few years as a commercial litigator and law clerk in New York when he and his wife learned they were expecting their first child. As a lawyer, he had been spending long hours at the office, and he wanted to have more time with his daughter once she was born. He had enjoyed working as a teaching assistant in graduate school, so he reached out to the nearby St. John’s University about a job, joining the faculty as assistant professor of computer science in 1983.
Later, when the couple was looking to settle somewhere with a lower cost of living, they turned back to Georgia. Blanke was hired to chair the computer science department at Mercer’s College of Arts and Sciences in Atlanta.
“I came to realize at Mercer that teaching was my calling,” he said.
Receiving the Hendricks Excellence in Teaching Award holds a special meaning for Blanke, who remembers Dr. Jean Hendricks, a senior faculty member at the time, as a friend and mentor.
“I generally spoke with her at least weekly for five years. As anyone who knew Jean might guess, I did most of the talking, and she mostly listened,” he said. “I like to think that some of her knowledge about teaching and kindness in dealing with students rubbed off on me. One thing I know that I learned from Jean and other great teachers at Mercer is that students are all different, have different backgrounds and often learn in different ways.”
Blanke joined the School of Business when Mercer closed the College of Arts and Sciences on the Atlanta campus in 1990. To date, he has taught nearly 400 courses and almost 7,000 students across multiple schools and colleges.
He has won numerous awards, including the Larry A. DiMatteo Senior Scholar Award from the Southeastern Academy of Legal Studies in Business in 2023, Mercer’s Outstanding Faculty Award — Full-Time MBA Cohort for the 2016-17 academic year, and Mercer’s Distinguished Faculty Award in the 2014-15, 2004-05 and 1999-2000 academic years.
“What truly set Professor Blanke apart was not only his deep knowledge of the subject but also his ability to make the material relevant to our lives,” said alumnus Arthur Rincon de Freitas, who took Blanke’s course on legal and ethical issues affecting big data and earned his Master of Science in Business Analytics in 2023.
“The focus on data protection laws and ethical considerations in data usage has profoundly shaped my understanding of the intersection of technology, policy and ethics, especially in this age where AI (artificial intelligence) is becoming ever more present. His lessons have influenced my approach to navigating the complexities of data use and reinforced the importance of balancing innovation with responsibility in my own career,” he said.
As a recipient of the Joe and Jean Hendricks Excellence in Teaching Award, Blanke will receive a $5,000 stipend. In giving the award, Mercer also remembers the two legendary siblings for their dedication to students and their ability to engage students in transformative learning and discovery.
Dr. Joseph Hendricks, a 1955 graduate of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, earned his Ph.D. from Emory University and taught for 32 years in the freshman seminar program, which he and his sister were instrumental in creating. He also founded the interdisciplinary studies department and taught for years in the religion department, both in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Dr. Jean Hendricks, a 1942 graduate of Tift College, earned her Ph.D. from Florida State University, served as chair of the psychology department in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and was the beloved dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in Atlanta.
Hendricks Excellence in Teaching Award finalists
Timothy “Tim” Floyd is professor and Tommy Malone Distinguished Chair in Trial Advocacy in the School of Law. He joined the Mercer faculty in 2006, when he was hired to develop and direct a new law and public service program, which became the experiential education program in 2014. He served as director of experiential education until 2023. As a professor, he’s taught nearly 20 required and elective courses that span all three years of the law school’s curriculum.
Floyd takes the time to get to know individual students, striving for his teaching to be both demanding and supportive. He wants every student to succeed, not just academically but also personally. In his classes, he helps students see that law is more than rules and cognitive analysis; it’s also about people and their relationships. Outside the classroom, he has served as an advisor to student organizations, as well as the Mercer Law Review.
He earned his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law and holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Emory University.
Dr. Sara Luke is an associate professor in the College of Education. She joined the Mercer faculty in 2018 and has taught several programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels across the Atlanta and Macon campuses and Douglas County and Henry County centers, as well as online.
Dr. Luke believes that effective teaching requires intentionality, adaptability and a commitment to evidence-based practices. She sees it as her responsibility to provide structured, meaningful and engaging classes that meet students where they are and help them progress toward mastery. Dr. Luke strives to model effective teaching practices in her classroom. She received the College of Education’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 2023 and William O. Lacefield II Excellence in Service Award in 2021.
She holds a Ph.D. in special education from the University of Georgia, Education Specialist degree in educational leadership from Lincoln Memorial University, Master of Education in special education from Georgia State University, and Bachelor of Science in psychology from Clearwater Christian College.
Dr. Sinjae Hyun is a professor of biomedical engineering in the School of Engineering, where he also is director of graduate programs and chair of the biomedical engineering department. In his 22 years at Mercer, his innovative teaching, service-learning and global outreach have inspired students to see the wide-ranging impact of their engineering skills.
Dr. Hyun’s teaching bridges theoretical knowledge with real-world applications. His Mercer On Mission program takes students to South Korea, where they lead North Korean refugee children in activities to help improve their English language skills and teach them engineering concepts. In addition, his students’ work on Touch3D Yearbooks provides students at Macon’s Georgia Academy for the Blind with a tactile keepsake of their school years. Dr. Hyun has received several teaching awards, most recently for Outstanding Faculty Contributions to Service-Learning in Higher Education at the 2024 Gulf-South Summit, and he has mentored two recipients of the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship.
He holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University and bachelor’s and master’s engineering degrees from Kyungpook National University in South Korea.
Dr. Karen Rowland is a professor of counseling in the College of Professional Advancement. A 17-year veteran of Mercer, she previously has served as chair of the counseling department and coordinator for the school counseling program. She also is a mentor for new faculty.
Dr. Rowland approaches each class with enthusiasm and gets to know each student she’s teaching. She creates a safe learning environment that is interactive, collaborative and promotes independent thinking. She uses various teaching techniques, such as case studies, role plays, discussions, lectures and videos, to encourage students to think critically, creatively and ethically. Dr. Rowland has served as a member of various committees and teams related to school counseling, including serving two terms as journal editor for the Georgia School Counselor Association Professional Journal. She was the recipient of the Georgia School Counselor Association’s Counselor Educator of the Year award for the 2012-13 academic year and is currently on the association’s executive board as counselor education director.
She earned her Ph.D. in counselor education from the University of South Carolina and holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in counselor education and elementary education, respectively, from the University of Maine.
Dr. Linda Streit is a professor, registered nurse and certified nurse educator in the College of Nursing. She joined the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing in 1996 and remained with the college through its merger with Mercer in 2001. Dr. Streit previously served as dean of the College of Nursing from 2010-22, stepping down from the position to return to full-time teaching.
Dr. Streit challenges and inspires nursing students to reach their fullest potential. In the classroom, she creates a rigorous yet supportive environment where she encourages students to think critically and engage in meaningful clinical decision-making. She has received numerous academic awards and honors, including the Susan Sweat Gunby Excellence in Nursing Award in 2015, National Student Nurses Association’s Leader of Leaders Award in 2015, and Georgia Baptist College of Nursing’s Faculty of the Year Award in 1999 and 1992.
She earned a Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a Master of Science in Nursing from Old Dominion University, and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Indiana State University.
