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A&S announces teaching, advising awards

Posted 10/6/2010

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The College of Arts and Science recognized members of the faculty with teaching and advising awards at its first faculty meeting of the semester in September.

The winners:

The Jeffrey Nordhaus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Humanities: Mark Wollaeger (English)
Natural Sciences: Prasad Polavarapu
(Chemistry)
Social Sciences: Michael Bess (History)

The Jeffrey Nordhaus Award was established in 1982 by a gift from Katherine Stumb Nordhaus and George Nordhaus in memory of their son, Jeffrey, who was a victim of an airplane crash in 1979. George Nordhaus, Jeffrey's father, is a 1955 Vanderbilt University graduate. The awards recognize Arts and Science faculty who have excelled in teaching undergraduates. Nominations are reviewed and ranked by student members of Phi Beta Kappa, after which the dean selects a winner. In 2004 the Jeffrey Nordhaus Award was expanded by the Nordhaus family to recognize excellence in teaching within each of the three main areas of Arts and Science - the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. Each winner receives $2,500 and an engraved Mississippi
Julep pewter cup.

The Harriet S. Gilliam Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Senior Lecturer
Steve Baskauf (Biological Sciences)

The Gilliam Award was established in 1995 in memory of Harriet S. Gilliam. The award recognizes a senior lecturer or lecturer who has achieved excellence in teaching undergraduates. Candidates may be either full- or part-time and must have taught at least five semesters. Nominations are reviewed and ranked by student members of Phi Beta Kappa, after which the dean selects a winner. The award winner receives $1,000 and an engraved Mississippi Julep pewter cup.

The Ernest A. Jones Faculty Adviser Award
David Furbish (Earth and Environmental Sciences)

The Ernest A. Jones Award was established in 1978 by a grateful parent in recognition of the excellent academic advice his son received from Professor Ernest A. Jones of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. The award honors a faculty member for dedication to undergraduate advising. The recipient of the Jones Award is chosen by a vote of graduating seniors. Each winner receives a $1,000 and an engraved Mississippi Julep pewter cup.

The Alumni Outstanding Pre-Major Adviser Award
Scott Zeman (Philosophy)
This award was established in 1983 to honor faculty members for their commitment to advising students during their first two years in the College of Arts and Science. The recipient of the award is chosen on the basis of information provided by first-year students in evaluations submitted during the spring semester. Each winner receives $1,000 and an engraved Mississippi Julep pewter cup.

Contact: Jim Patterson, (615) 322-NEWS
jim.patterson@vanderbilt.edu