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Awards
celebrate dedicated teaching at the University
By
Robert Brickhouse
Amazing.
Committed. Supportive. Demanding. Insightful. Passionate. Enriching.
Those are just a few of the words used by students and faculty
alike to describe nine U.Va. professors, four graduate teaching
assistants and two medical residents, known for their exceptional
classroom dedication, who will receive this year’s University-wide
awards that honor outstanding teaching.
The
honorees, chosen by a committee from numerous nominations and
in-depth testimonials from students and colleagues, will be honored
April 11 in the Rotunda at U.Va.’s 10th annual “In Celebration
of Teaching” banquet. Vice
President and Provost Peter W. Low and Vice Provost Barbara
Nolan will present the awards.
Each
year, the choices are not only difficult but also inspirational
for selection committee members, said Nolan, who coordinated the
awards process. “Brilliant teaching takes place every day
of every semester in our lecture halls and seminars and in individual
meetings with students,” she said. “These award winners
truly exemplify the best efforts of all our faculty.”
Receiving
the 2001 teaching awards are:
•
Richard Guy Wilson, professor
of architectural history: the Alumni Association Distinguished
Professor Award. The annual award is given to a faculty member
who has excelled as a teacher, shown unusual concern for students
and made significant contributions to University life for at least
a decade. The winner receives a $2,500 prize.
•
Susan E. Burns, assistant professor
of civil engineering: The Alumni Board of Trustees Teaching Award.
The award is given to an assistant professor for demonstrated
skill in teaching and carries a $1,000 prize, with $1,500 in additional
support and offers a semester’s research assignment.
Winners
of All-University Outstanding Teaching Awards, each carrying a
$2,000 prize and recognizing ability to inspire and motivate students,
are:
•
Glenn Beamer, assistant professor of government and foreign
affairs
•
Claire Lyu, assistant professor of French
•
Anthony Spearing, professor of English
•
Robert Weikle II, associate professor of electrical and
computer engineering
•
Timothy D. Wilson, professor of psychology
New
this year are Outstanding Teaching Awards for those who teach
University Seminars, known as USEMs. The awards recognize outstanding
efforts to promote critical thinking skills. The winners are:
•
Sarah Farrell, assistant professor of Nursing
•
Cynthia Wall, associate professor of English
The
awards, each carrying a $1,500 prize, are open to faculty members
who have taught in the USEM program of intensive classes for first-year
students.
“The
USEM program has matured to the point where we have a large number
of faculty who have taught them, and we thought they deserved
to be recognized,” said Nolan. Based on student evaluations
this year, the selection process may include other evaluation
and assessment tools in the future, she said.
Winners
of All-University Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards,
each carrying a $1,000 prize for teaching excellence, are:
•
K. Drogula, History
•
June A. Griffin, English
•
Ben Lee, English
•
Karen Batt Stanish, Mathematics
Winners
of the Resident Teaching Awards in the School of Medicine, each
receiving a $1,000 prize, are:
•
Dr. Don M. Benson, Department of Internal Medicine
• Dr. Andrew E. Lazar, Department of Internal Medicine
Also
honored at the banquet will be James A. Smith, associate professor
of civil engineering, who holds the Cavaliers’ Distinguished
Teaching Professorship this year and next. The rotating endowed
professorship that recognizes excellent teaching is partly supported
by athletic bowl earnings.
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