Mrozla and Feldhacker Honored with USD Belbas-Larson Awards
Candidates for the awards are nominated by students and colleagues and are selected by a faculty committee based on a variety of metrics such as demanding rigorous standards of performance, inspiring students to greater achievement and ensuring course content represents the highest standards in the field.
Thomas Mrozla, Ph.D., honored in the tenure category, is an associate professor of criminal justice in the Department of Political Science in the College of Arts & Sciences.
During his time at USD, Mrozla taught criminology and the political science department’s main classes on policing – Policing in a Free Society and Advanced Policing Issues. His research focuses on police accountability and public perceptions of law enforcement, specifically with rural policing, fear of crime and personal safety. The last three summers, he has been responsible for the department’s faculty-led program in Washington, D.C., in addition to sitting in on honors theses and mentoring students through research opportunities. He said he is most proud of helping students “discover their calling” and watching them make a difference in their field.
Mackenzie Feldhacker, OTD, honored in the non-tenured category, is an assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy in the School of Health Sciences.
Feldhacker joined the USD Department of Occupational Therapy in 2018. She teaches course content related to the theoretical foundation and history of occupational therapy, neuroanatomy, physical health conditions, environmental influences on occupation, research and capstone. Her scholarship interests include the scholarship of teaching and learning and the needs of individuals with neurological conditions. She is most proud of creating a learning environment where students are challenged yet supported to learn and grow every day and where they appreciate the value of lifelong learning in clinical practice.
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