NATION'S TOP PROFESSORS HONORED; Four National Winners, 46 State Winners Saluted for Extraordinary Contribution to Teaching

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching recently named four national "Professors of the Year," chosen for their excellent undergraduating teaching. The national winners each received $5,000 awards. Forty-six state winners were also named.

Washington, DC --The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching today named four college and university professors as winners of the 2002 U.S. Professors of the Year Award for their dedication to teaching, commitment to students, and creative approach to education. The U.S. Professors of the Year Awards, created in 1981, are the only national honors for excellent teaching in higher education.
The four national winners, selected from more than 400 nominations, are:

 Outstanding Community College Professor: Alicia Juarrero, professor of philosophy, Prince Georges Community College (Largo, MD);
 Outstanding Baccalaureate College Professor: James Adams, professor of art, Manchester College (North Manchester, IN);
 Outstanding Masters University and College Professor: Francisco Jiménez, Fay Boyle Professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures and director of the Ethnic Studies Program, Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA);
 Outstanding Doctoral and Research University Professor: Dennis Jacobs, professor of chemistry, University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN).

We are pleased to honor these distinguished professors who have demonstrated a passion for teaching, a dedication to student learning, and a commitment to an examination of their teaching practice," said Carnegie Foundation President Lee S. Shulman. These extraordinary teachers are shaping the lives of tomorrows leaders and scholars everyday in their classrooms."

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Said Vance T. Peterson, president of CASE, The Professors of the Year bring tremendous energy and passion to everything they do because of their genuine love for students, teaching, and their disciplines. The professors ability to nurture, encourage, and challenge students is inspiring, and CASE is honored to have a role in recognizing them."
Last spring CASE assembled two preliminary panels of judges who evaluated the nominees in four areas: 1) impact on and involvement with undergraduate students; 2) scholarly approach to teaching and learning; 3) contributions to undergraduate education within the institution and community; and 4) support from colleagues and students. CASE then forwarded a list of 30 finalists to the Carnegie Foundation, which performed the final judging and awards a $5,000 prize to each of the four national winners. Carnegie also selected 46-state level winners (see attached list).
The Professors of the Year were honored today at a luncheon at the National Press Club. John H. Marburger III, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, was the keynote speaker. The four national winners spoke about their commitment to teaching and students.
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching was founded in 1905 by Andrew Carnegie to do and perform all things necessary to encourage, uphold and dignify the profession of teaching." The Foundation is the third-oldest foundation in the nation. Its non-profit research activities are produced by a small group of distinguished scholars.
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is the largest international association of education institutions, serving more than 3,200 universities, colleges, schools, and related organizations in 45 countries. CASE is the leading resource for professional development, information, and standards in the fields of education fund raising, communications, and alumni relations.
TIAA-CREF, one of Americas leading financial services organizations and higher educations premier retirement system, is the primary sponsor for the awards ceremony.