Lawrence is, first and foremost, an undergraduate teaching institution, and excellence in teaching is therefore the paramount objective of our faculty members. All faculty are expected to demonstrate not only a sound knowledge of the discipline in which they teach, but an ability to convey that discipline clearly and appropriately--to deliver engaging lectures, lead fruitful discussions, develop challenging assignments. They are expected to be accessible to students and proficient as advisors. The faculty's extraordinary commitment to teaching is reflected in the fact that more than half the courses taken by Lawrence students are in the form of one-on-one tutorials and independent studies.
Awards for Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship
Each year at graduation, faculty are recognized for their excellence in teaching and scholarship.
+ University Award for Excellence in Teaching
In 1959, the Uhrig Foundation created at Lawrence an award to recognize "outstanding performance in the actual teaching process, including leadership in the quest to ensure that students reach their full development as individuals, human beings and future leaders of society." This award--renamed in 1974 the University Award for Excellence in Teaching--has for three decades been given to teachers who have, over the course of distinguished careers at Lawrence, met these high standards.
University Award for Excellence in Teaching
2021 Massimiliano Verita, Arabic and Italian
2020 Celia Barnes, English
2019 Erin Lesser, Conservatory of Music
2018 Karen Hoffmann, English
2017 Anthony Padilla, Conservatory of Music
2016 Kathy Kautsky, Conservatory of Music
2015 Dane Richeson, Conservatory of Music
2014 Tim Spurgin, English
2013 Marcia Bjornerud, Geology
2012 Thomas Ryckman, Philosophy
2011 Eilene Hoft-March, French and Francophone Studies
2010 David Becker, Conservatory of Music
2009 Michael Orr, Art History
2008 Paul Cohen, History
2007 Richard Bjella, Conservatory of Music
2006 Karen Carr, Religious Studies
2005 Fred Sturm, Conservatory of Music
2004 Carol Lawton, Art History
2003 Richard Sanerib, Mathematics
2002 Brad Rence, Biology
2001 Steven Jordheim, Conservatory of Music
2000 Bruce Pourciau, Mathematics
1999 Franklin Doeringer, History and East Asian Languages and Cultures
1998 Daniel Taylor, Classics
1997 Corry Azzi, Economics
1996 Ken Bozeman, Conservatory of Music
1995 John Brandenberger, Physics
1994 William Bremer, History
1993 Michael Hittle, History
1992 Sumner Richman, Biology
1991 Minoo Adenwalla, Government
1990 David Cook, Physics
1989 John Dreher, Philosophy
1988 Peter Fritzell, English
1987 Robert Rosenberg, Chemistry
1986 Mojmir Povolny, Government
1985 Charles Breunig, History
1984 Miriam Duncan, Conservatory of Music
1983 Michael LaMarca, Biology
1982 James Ming, Conservatory of Music
1981 Leonard Thompson, Religious Studies
1980 Dorrit Friedlander, German
1979 Ronald Mason, Anthropology
1978 James Dana, Economics
1977 Marjory Irvin, Conservatory of Music
1976 Bertrand Goldgar, English
1975 George Walter, Education
1974 John Bucklew, Psychology
Uhrig Award
1973 William Chaney, History
1972 Fred Schroeder, Conservatory of Music
1971 Andrew C. Berry, Mathematics
1970 Chong-do Hah, Government
1969 George Smalley, Slavic
1968 Carl Wellman, Philosophy & Maurice Cunningham, Classics
1967 Elisabeth Koffka, History
1966 E. Graham Waring, Religion
1965 Merton M. Sealts, English
1964 Mr. & Mrs. W. Paul Gilbert, Physics and Biology
1963 Anne P. Jones, French
1962 William H. Riker, Government
1961 Warren Beck, English
1960 William A. McConagha, Economics
+ Award for Excellence in Scholarship or Creative Activity
First presented in 2006, this award recognizes the importance of excellence in scholarly and creative work for advancing the mission of Lawrence University. Preference in selection is given to those who have demonstrated sustained programs of excellent work for a number of years and whose work exemplifies the ideals of the teacher/scholar.
2021 Gustavo Fares, Spanish
2020 Rob Neilson, Studio Art
2019 Marcia Bjornerud, Geoscience
2018 Jerry Podair, History
2017 Jake Frederick, History
2016 Bart De Stasio, Biology
2015 Arnold Shober, Government
2014 Monica Rico, History
2013 Michael Mizrahi, Conservatory of Music
2013 Claudena Skran, Government
2012 John Shimon & Julie Lindemann, Art & Art History
2012 Peter Peregrine, Anthropology
2011 Phillip Swan, Conservatory of Music
2011 Peter Glick, Psychology
2010 Patrice Michaels, Conservatory of Music
2010 Jerald Podair, History
2009 Bruce Pourciau, Mathematics
2009 David McGlynn, English
2008 Bertrand Goldgar, English
2008 Fred Sturm, Conservatory of Music
2007 Marcia Bjørnerud, Geology
2006 John Brandenberger, Physics
The training, support, and encouragement of new faculty are among Lawrence's most important responsibilities. As part of that effort, the Young Teacher Award is given annually to an untenured member of the faculty who has demonstrated excellence in the classroom and the promise of continued growth.
2021 Rebecca Perry, Conservatory of Music
2020 Brigid Vance, History
2019 Jose Encarnacion, Conservatory of Music
2018 Lavanya (Proctor) Murali, Anthropology
2017 Alison Guenther-Pal, German
2016 Benjamin Tilghman, Art & Art History
2015 Sara Gross Ceballos, Conservatory of Music
2014 Stephen Sieck, Conservatory of Music
2013 Peter John Thomas, Russian
2012 Samantha George, Conservatory of Music
2011 Scott Corry, Mathematics
2010 Dominica Chang, French and Francophone Studies
2009 Andrew Mast, Conservatory of Music
2008 Megan Pickett, Physics
2007 Julie McQuinn, Conservatory of Music
2006 Faith Barrett, English
2005 Rosa Tapia, Spanish
2004 Karen Nordell Pearson , Chemistry
2003 Randall McNeill, Classics
2002 Joy Jordan, Statistics
2001 Jeffrey Clark, Geology
2000 Brigetta Miller, Conservatory of Music
1999 Rebecca Matveyev, Russian
1998 Wendy Nicholson, History
1997 Karen Harpp, Chemistry
1996 Elizabeth DeStasio, Biology
1995 Todd McGrain, Art
1994 Bridget Michaele-Reischl, Conservatory of Music
1993 Timothy Spurgin, English
1992 Michael Orr, Art History
1991 Eilene Hoft-March, French
1990 Allen Gimbel, Conservatory of Music
1989 Karen Carr, Religious Studies
1988 Nicholas Keelan, Conservatory of Music
1987 Alan Parks, Mathematics
1986 Thomas Ryckman, Philosophy
1985 Bradford Rence, Biology
1984 Ernestine Whitman, Conservatory of Music
1983 Fred Sturm, Conservatory of Music
1982 Carol Lawton, Art History
1981 George Saunders, Anthropology
1980 Kenneth Bozeman, Conservatory of Music
1979 Richard Sanerib, Mathematics
1978 Douglas Greenberg, History
1977 Colin Murdoch, Conservatory of Music
1976 Frank Doeringer, History
1975 Sonia Kovitz, Slavic
+ Freshman Studies Teaching Award
Freshman Studies —a two-term, interdisciplinary core course required of all freshmen — is the foundation of the Lawrence curriculum. The faculty members from across the university who teach in the program do more than pass along information; they model for students the challenging process of grappling with difficult or unfamiliar works, cultures, and ideas. In short, they help students learn how to learn. Each year since 1994, one faculty member has been recognized by the university for excellence in the teaching of Freshman Studies.
2021 Allison Fleshman, Chemistry
2020 Garth Bond, English
2019 Tim Spurgin, English
2018 Julie Haurykiewicz, Center for Academic Success
2017 Ameya Balsekar, Government
2016 Melissa Range, English
2015 Peter John Thomas, Russian
2014 Gene Biringer, Conservatory of Music
2013 Steven Jordheim, Conservatory of Music
2012 Terry Gottfried, Psychology
2011 Andrew Mast, Conservatory of Music
2010 Karen Hoffmann, English
2009 Pete Gilbert, Library
2008 Elizabeth Carlson, Art History
2007 Alan E. Parks, Mathematics
2006 Michael Orr, Art History
2005 David Hall, Chemistry
2004 Timothy X. Troy, Theatre Arts
2003 Howard Niblock, Music
2002 John Dreher, Philosophy
2001 Mary Blackwell, Chemistry
2000 Dirck Vorenkamp, Religious Studies
1999 Paul Cohen, History
1998 Carol Lawton, Art History
1997 Eilene Hoft-March, French
1996 Kathryn Kueny, Religious Studies
1995 Geoff Gajewski, Center for Academic Success
1994 Elizabeth DeStasio, Biology
1994 Tim Spurgin, English