July 12-13, 2001

ITEM 112-1503-R0701  Professor Emeritus Status for Joanne Cortese, Professor, Professional and Technical Communication; Montana Tech of The University of Montana

 

THAT: Montana Tech of The University of Montana wishes to acknowledge the retirement of Joanne Cortese for her years of dedicated and valued service to the College and to the State of Montana by recommending that she receive Professor Emeritus status from the Board of Regents of the Montana University System.

 

EXPLANATION: In 1960, Joanne Cortese earned her B.A. in Education, History and English from Edgewood College. She received a Master of Arts degree in Elementary School Administration from Loras College in 1969 and a Doctorate in Education from Nova University in 1990. She joined the faculty of Montana College of Mineral Science & Technology in 1979.

Over the course of her tenure, Professor Cortese has had a profound impact on the character of Montana Tech. She served as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences from 19811997. In 1982, Professor Cortese directed the development of Tech's Expanding Your Horizons program. She played a central role in the development of Montana Tech's B.S. in Professional and Technical Communication and M.S. in Technical Communication. She served as the first Department Head for Professional and Technical Communication from 19972000.

Professor Cortese received the Carnegie Foundation Montana Professor of the Year Award and the recognition of the faculty of Montana Tech for outstanding achievement. Known as an exceptional teacher, Professor Cortese's first priority has remained the education and well-being of her students.

A long time member of the American Association of University Women, she served as both local and Montana State president. Professor Cortese also developed the first Montana Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication in 1996 and served as faculty advisor to Tech's STC student chapter until 2000.

With this recommendation, go sincere thanks to Professor Joanne Cortese for 22 years of invaluable service to the Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology, to Montana Tech of The University of Montana, to the City of Butte, and to the State of Montana.