U.S. Congressional Record Recognizing Professors of the Year

U.S. Senator Mark Udall
IN RECOGNITION OF PROFESSORS OF THE YEAR
Statement for the Record
November 14, 2013


Mr. President—I rise today to congratulate the four national winners of the U.S. Professors of the Year Award. Since 1981, this program has recognized outstanding undergraduate instructors throughout the country. In addition to the national winners, a state Professor of the Year was also recognized in 36 states. This year, I am very proud to say that Colorado has the exceptional distinction of being home to two of the four national winners: Ann Williams at the Metropolitan State University of Denver and Steven Pollock at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

While the prestigious Professor of the Year Awards recognizes professors from diverse institutions and fields of study, this year's honorees all share a strong commitment to the art of teaching and to their students. Recipients are proven innovators who drive their fields and their colleagues forward, through both their energy and their enthusiasm. These educators are shaping the next generation of American leaders and should be recognized for the critical role they play in moving our country forward.

I am especially proud to celebrate the two national winners from my state of Colorado. Ann Williams is a Professor of French at Metropolitan State University and is being recognized as the Outstanding Baccalaureate College Professor of the Year. The judges noted her inspirational and innovative teaching of the French language and the cultures of French speaking countries. She has served her campus community through leadership in her department and institution, her state through participation with a task force on academic standards, and her profession as an author and presenter on pedagogical issues, a textbook writer, a consultant to the Advanced Placement program, and winner of an award for one of the ten Best Practices courses in the country.

Steven Pollock, Professor of Physics at CU-Boulder, has been chosen as the Outstanding Doctoral and Research Universities Professor of the Year. He brings an enthusiasm to his research that stirs excitement for learning in both his undergraduate and graduate students. His innovative methods of teaching and student assessment have been widely adopted through materials he makes publically available, and he has further offered his time to help others integrate them in their courses, fields, and institutional settings. He is also the developer of the highly regarded Student Learning Assistant program, a mentor to undergraduate physics majors, and author of two popular Learning Company video courses on physics.

Our success as a nation is in no small part due to the leadership and passion of professors like Ann Williams and Steven Pollock. These educators know that focusing on student achievement is critical to fostering the innovation and creativity necessary to make Colorado and our nation a leader in 21^st century job creation. I wish all the winners the very best in their endeavors. Congratulations and best regards.

The four national award winners are:

• Outstanding Baccalaureate Colleges Professor of the Year: Ann Williams, Professor of French, Metropolitan State University of Denver
• Outstanding Community Colleges Professor of the Year: Robert Chaney, Professor of Mathematics, Sinclair Community College
• Outstanding Doctoral and Research Universities Professor of the Year: Steven Pollock, Professor, University of Colorado at Boulder
• Outstanding Master's Universities and Colleges Professor of the Year: Gintaras Duda, Associate Professor, Creighton University

The 36 state winners are:

Alabama
Laura Stultz
Professor of Chemistry
Birmingham-Southern College

Arizona
Amber Wutich
Associate Professor of Anthropology
Arizona State University

California
Manoutchehr Eskandari-Qajar
Professor of Political Science and Middle East Studies;
Chair, Political Science and Economics Department
Santa Barbara City College

Connecticut
Michelle Loris
Professor of English and Psychology
Sacred Heart University

Delaware
Harold Bancroft White
Professor of Biochemistry
University of Delaware

Florida
Thomas Moore
Archibald Granville Bush Professor of Natural Science and Professor of Physics
Rollins College

Georgia
Mulatu Lemma
Chair of Department of Mathematics
Savannah State University

Illinois
Jeffrey Boshart
Professor of Art Foundations/Sculpture
Eastern Illinois University

Indiana
Robert Palumbo
Alfred W. Sieving Chair of Engineering and Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Valparaiso University

Iowa
Paul Kimball
Science Professor
Northeast Iowa Community College

Kansas
Gregory Eiselein
Professor of English
Kansas State University

Kentucky
Mark Lucas
Jobson Professor of English
Centre College

Maryland
Gregory Wahl
Associate Professor, Department of English
Montgomery College

Massachusetts
Susan Rodgers
Professor of Anthropology and W. Arthur Garrity Sr. Professor
College of the Holy Cross

Michigan
Steve Wolfinbarger
Professor of Music (Trombone)
Western Michigan University

Minnesota
Brian Wisenden
Professor of Biology
Minnesota State University Moorhead

Mississippi
William Kelleher Storey
Professor of History
Millsaps College

Missouri
Terrence Freeman
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley

Montana
Sara Mae Glasgow
Professor of Political Science
University of Montana Western

Nebraska
Matthew Huss
Professor of Psychology
Creighton University

New Hampshire
Vicki May
Instructional Associate Professor of Engineering
Dartmouth College

New Jersey
Linda Wang
Professor, Math Department
Brookdale Community College

New York
Curt Stager
Professor of Natural Sciences
Paul Smith's College

North Carolina
Christopher Cooper
Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Affairs
Western Carolina University

Ohio
John Ritter
Professor of Geology and Director of Environmental Science
Wittenberg University

Oklahoma
Mary Phillips
Associate Professor of Biology
Tulsa Community College

Oregon
Sammy Basu
Professor of Politics
Willamette University

Pennsylvania
David Bartholomae
Professor of English and Charles Crow Chair
University of Pittsburgh

Rhode Island
Cheryl Foster
Professor of Philosophy
University of Rhode Island

South Carolina
Joe Dunn
Charles A. Dana Professor and Chair, Department of History and Politics
Converse College

South Dakota
James D. Feiszli
Professor of Humanities and Director of Music Activities
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Texas
Ceilidh Charleson-Jennings
Professor of Communication Studies
Collin College

Utah
Joyce Kinkead
Professor of English
Utah State University

Virginia
Scott Boltwood
Professor of English and Drama; Chair, English Department
Emory and Henry College

Washington
Scott Linneman
Professor of Geology
Western Washington University

Wisconsin
Victor Macias-Gonzalez
Professor of History and Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse