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Arts and Science faculty honored for graduate student teaching, mentoring

Posted 12/10/2008

Two College of Arts and Science faculty, Gregg Horowitz and Jon Kaas, were honored for their contributions to graduate education in the college’s faculty assembly Dec. 9 in Wilson Hall.

Horowitz, associate professor of philosophy, was presented with the 2008 Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching.

“He is described by his colleagues as ‘the most interesting, engaging, skilled educator I have known,’” Marc Hetherington, associate professor of political science, said when presenting the award. “His combination of creativity and profundity with lucidity and elegance is uncanny.”

A former Horowitz student described him as “simply the finest teacher I have ever had or have ever known.”

Kaas, Centennial Professor of Psychology, was honored with the 2008 Award for Excellence in Graduate Mentoring. Two of Kaas’ former post-doctoral students, Leah Krubitzer and Kenneth Catania, have gone on to win MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Awards.

“He takes an open door policy to a new level,” Hetherington said. “As one of his mentees wrote, ‘If a problem or question arises, he is permanently on-call to lend help.’”

Hetherington shared additional words from another Kaas mentee. “Jon Kaas is simply one of the very best graduate mentors that you could wish for, and his recognition in this role is overdue. He has an infectious enthusiasm for research that is encouraging and energizing to everyone in his lab.”

Both awards were selected by faculty committees.

Contact:    Melanie Moran, (615) 322-NEWS
melanie.moran@vanderbilt.edu

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