April 12, 1999
Contact: Bob Brickhouse
(804) 924-6856
   
									
	[Reporters are welcome to cover the April 14 "In Celebration of
Teaching" banquet, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Rotunda. The awards
portion will begin about 8 p.m.]
 
AWARDS CELEBRATE OUTSTANDING TEACHING AT U.VA.	
	Known for challenging their students in exceptional ways, nine
University of Virginia professors and four graduate teaching assistants
will receive 1999 University-wide awards honoring outstanding teaching.
	The honorees, chosen from numerous nominations backed by
heart-felt testimonials from students and colleagues, will be feted
Wednesday, April 14, in the Rotunda at U.Va.'s annual "In Celebration of
Teaching" banquet, hosted by Vice President and Provost Peter Low. 
	Vice Provost Barbara Nolan, who coordinated the awards process,
said that the selection committee, chaired by English professor Jahan
Ramazani, "found the choices both extremely difficult and inspiring.  As
always, the winners the committee chose for this year's teaching awards
epitomize the dedication to teaching and pedagogical skill
characteristic of our faculty as a whole.
 	"Though we can honor only a few teachers each year with an
award, the banquet also provides an opportunity to celebrate the very
large number of vibrant professors, lecturers, and graduate instructors
at U.Va. who are committed to educating their students not only
for professional careers but also for life. If we had ten or twenty
times our current number of awards, we would still be unable to honor
everyone whose achievements in the classroom merit them."
	Receiving this year's teaching awards are:
	+ Thomas F.X. Noble, professor of 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 $1,500 prize.
	
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	+ Brian Owensby, assistant professor of history: 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:
	+ Julian W. Connolly, professor of Slavic languages and
literatures
	+ Anne M. Coughlin, professor of law  
     	+ William C. Johnson, professor of materials science and
engineering 
     	+ Jeanne M. Liedtka, professor of business administration 
     	+ Daniel B. Willingham, professor of psychology

	Winners of All-University Outstanding Graduate Teaching
Assistant Awards, each carrying a $1,000 prize for teaching excellence,
are: 
	+ Christopher Boner, mathematics
	+ Amy Feely, history
	+ Anna Patchias, English

	Winner of the Resident Teaching Award in the School of Medicine,
carrying a $1,000 prize, is Dr. Maria Mascolo, internal medicine.
	Earlier this year, Edmund P. Russell III, assistant professor of
technology, culture and communication, received a 1999 Outstanding
Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia,
the Commonwealth's highest honor for college and university teaching.
	Also honored at the banquet will be Karen Chase, professor of
English, who holds the Cavaliers' Distinguished Teaching Professorship
this year.  The rotating endowed professorship recognizing excellent
teaching is partly supported by athletic bowl earnings.  ### 
	For additional information about the awards please contact
Barbara Nolan at (804) 982-2814. Television reporters should contact the
TV News Office at (804) 924-7550.