Overview
Faculty and Graduate Student Awards
Each academic year in its first meeting of the faculty, the professors and aministrators of the College of Arts and Science recognize excellence in teaching and research within the Arts and Science community. The awards listed here are an important part of the Arts and Science tradition, and the lists of recipients below contain the names of some of the most distinguished and beloved professors in the history of the Vanderbilt faculty.
» University-wide faculty awards and award winners
The Jeffrey Nordhaus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
The Jeffrey Nordhaus Award was established in 1982 by a gift from Katherine Stumb Nordhaus and George Nordhaus in memory of their son, Jeffrey, 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. Each winner receives a cash award and an engraved Mississippi Julep pewter cup.
Congradulations to our 2006 Jeffrey Nordhaus Award winners.
Left to right: Katherine Friedman (Biological Sciences), Tiffiny Tung (Anthropology),
Edward Friedman (Spanish)
1989 Paul H. Freedman (History)
1990 Samuel A. McSeveney (History)
1991 Marshall C. Eakin (History)
1992 Emerson Brown, Jr. (English)
1993 Francis W. Wcislo (History)
1994 Gerald J. Stubbs (Molecular Biology)
1995 Richard N. Porter (Germanic and Slavic Languages)
1996 Joseph H. Hamilton (Physics and Astronomy)
1997 Helmut W. Smith (History)
1998 Gregg M. Horowitz (Philosophy) and Malcolm Getz (Economics)
1999 Karen Campbell (Sociology)
2000 Timothy Hanusa (Chemistry)
2001 Andres Zamora (Spanish and Portuguese)
2002 Edward Fischer (Anthropology)
2003 David Weintraub (Physics and Astronomy)
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.
2004 Molly Miller (Earth and Environmental Sciences)
2004 Rene Marois (Psychology)
2004 Jeffrey Tlumak (Philosophy)
2005 Will Johns (Physics and Astronomy)
2005 John Geer (Political Science)
2005 Mark Schoenfield (English)
2006 Edward Friedman (Spanish)
2006 Katherine Friedman (Biological Sciences)
2006 Tiffiny Tung (Anthropology)
The Harriet S. Gilliam Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Lecturer or Senior Lecturer
The Gilliam Award was established in 1995 in memory of Harriet S. Gilliam, B.A., 1966. The award recognizes a lecturer or senior 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 a cash award and an engraved Mississippi Julep pewter cup.
1995 Leslie M. Smith (Psychology)
1996 Tracy Barrett (French and Italian)
1997 Elena Olazagasti-Segovia (Spanish and Porguguese)
1998 Zohair D. Issac (Mathematics)
1999 Albert Bronstein (Mathematics)
2000 Mark Woelfle (Biological Sciences)
2001 Daniel Solomon (Classical Studies)
2002 Alison Piepmeier (Women's Studies)
2003 Roger Moore (English)
2004 Peter Lorge (History)
2005 Nathalie Dieu-Porter (French and Italian)
2006 John English (Communication Studies)
The Ernest A. Jones Faculty Advisor Award
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 cash award and an engraved Mississippi Julep pewter cup.
1978 Ernest A. Jones (Physics and Astronomy)
1979 Paul H. Hardacre (History)
1980 Billy F. Bryant (Mathematics)
1981 John L. Bingham (Spanish and Portuguese)
1982 Lamar Field (Chemistry)
1983 Robert V. Dilts (Chemistry)
1984 Jean Leblon (French and Italian)
1985 Robert Birkby (Political Science)
1986 Richard J. Larsen (Mathematics)
1987 Kassian A. Kovalcheck, Jr. (Drama and Speech)
1988 Samuel T. McSeveney (History)
1989 Randall M. Fischer (Communication Studies and Theatre)
1990 Erwin C. Hargrove (Political Science)
1991 Leonard Folgarait (Fine Arts)
1992 William E. Engel (English)
1993 Virginia M. Scott (French and Italian)
1994 William W. Damon (Economics and Business Administration)
1995 David A. Nunnally (Biology)
1996 Marshall C. Eakin (History)
1996 George Becker (Sociology)
1997 Gerald J. Stubbs (Molecular Biology)
1998 Malcolm Getz (Economics and Business Administration)
1999 M. Donald Hancock (Political Science)
2000 Victoria Burrus (Spanish and Portuguese)
2001 Terry Page (Biological Sciences)
2002 Beth A. Conklin (Anthropology)
2003 Michael Bess (History)
2004 Mark Wollaeger (English)
2005 George Graham (Political Science)
2006 Jim Ray (Political Science)
The Alumni Outstanding Freshman Advisor Award
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 freshmen in evaluations submitted during the spring semester. Each winner receives a cash prize and an engraved Mississippi Julep pewter cup.
1983 David A. Lowe (Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures)
1984 P. Galen Lenhert (Physics and Astronomy)
1985 Carl R. Phillips (French)
1986 Charles H. Hambrick (Religious Studies)
1987 James R. Wesson (Mathematics)
1988 James E. Engel (Germanic Languages and Literatures)
1989 Howard E. Smith (Chemistry)
1990 Richard G. Stearns (Geology)
1991 Richard J. Larsen (Mathematics)
1992 Luigi Monga (French and Italian)
1993 Jon W. Hallquist (Communication Studies and Theatre)
1994 William G. Eickmeier (Biology)
1995 Maureen K. Powers (Psychology)
1996 John F. Ahner (Mathematics)
1997 Michael L. Aurbach (Fine Arts)
1998 Paul D. Sheldon (Physics and Astronomy)
1999 Molly Miller (Geology)
2000 Terryl Hallquist (Communication Studies and Theatre)
2001 Thomas A. Schwartz (History)
2002 David G. Schlundt (Psychology)
2003 Kate Daniels (English)
2004 Phillip Franck (Theatre)
2005 Clint Carter (Biological Sciences)
2006 Frank Wcislo (History)
The Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching
Established in 1985 by the College of Arts and Science in collaboration with the Graduate School, this award recognizes a graduate faculty member in the College of Arts and Science for outstanding classroom teaching. An award committee composed of Directors of Graduate Studies from the Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences evaluates student testimonials, course evaluations, and the faculty member’s own statement of teaching philosophy. Each winner receives a cash award and an engraved Mississippi Julep pewter cup.
1985 Samuel Morley (Economics)
1986 Jeffrey Tlumak (Philosophy)
1987 W. Paul Elledge (English)
1988 Dewey Grantham (History)
1989 Gisela Mosig (Molecular Biology)
1990 Vereen Bell (English)
1991 J. S. Butler (Economics)
1992 William Race (Classical Studies)
1993 Daniel Cornfield (Sociology)
1994 Paul Conkin (History)
1995 not given
1996 John Halperin (English)
1997 Thomas M. Harris (Chemistry)
1998 not given
1999 Michael Kreyling (English)
2000 John Lachs (Philosophy)
2001 Walter Gove (Sociology)
2002 Lynn Enterline (English)
2003 Peggy Thoits (Sociology)
2004 Brooke Ackerly (Political Science)
2005 Volker E. Oberacker (Physics and Astronomy)
2006 Calvin Miller (Earth & Environmental Sciences)
2007 Leah Marcus (English)
The Award for Excellence in Graduate Mentoring
Established in 2004 by the College of Arts and Science, this annual award recognizes a faculty member for exceptional guidance of graduate students toward a high degree of professional accomplishment. An award committee composed of Directors of Graduate Studies from the Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences evaluates nominees’ statements of mentoring philosophy and description of students’ professional achievements, as well as testimonials from students themselves. Each winner receives a cash award and an engraved Mississippi Julep pewter cup.
2004 John McCarthy (Germanic and Slavic Languages)
2005 Bruce Oppenheimer (Political Science)
2006 Randolph Blake (Psychology)
2007 Edward H. Friedman (Spanish & Portuguese)
The Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award
Established in 1985, this award is given each year for exceptionally effective classroom and/or laboratory instruction by a graduate student, as determined by his or her students and a panel of seniors in Phi Beta Kappa. Each winner receives a cash prize and an engraved plaque.
2003 Martha Bailey (Economics)
2003 David Smith (English)
2004 Adrienn Lazar (Germanic and Slavic Languages)
2004 Bjeorn Rump (Psychology)
2005 Caleb Clanton (Philosophy)
2005 Lisa Niles (English)
2006 Jennifer Clement (English)
2006
Scott Crombie (Earth & Environmental Sciences)
2007 Heather Talley (Sociology) and Casey Leonetti (Math)
