Five professors were recognized on Wednesday as some of the most popular professors at UB, and awarded for their efforts in the classroom at the annual Milton Plesur Excellence in Teaching Awards.
This year's winners include Distinguished Teaching Professor Dr. Clyde F. Herreid, Department of Biological Sciences; Rev. Dr. John B. Mansfield, Office Of Campus Ministries; Joel T. Grundy, the Learning Center; Assistant Professor Alex B. Ampadu, Accounting and Law; and Adjunct Professor Marc. A. Adler, Communication.
The Student Association, which gives out the awards, hosted a ceremony for the winners Wednesday in the Student Union Flag Room where friends, colleagues and students turned out to honor the five professors.
Dela Yador, SA president, spoke at the ceremony about the challenges teachers face in motivating students to try their best. Both he and Viqar Hussain, SA president-elect, agreed that it is extraordinary when a professor is able to cater to a student's interests.
Herreid said the nature of the award makes it especially significant.
"I think it's wonderful," said Herreid, distinguished teaching professor of biological sciences. "The thing that obviously makes it more meaningful is that the students are giving it."
Grundy, who was awarded for his work in the Thomas J. Edwards Learning Center teaching math, agreed.
"I was extremely pleased because it was generated by the students," Grundy said. He also commented that he would cherish it forever as an "adorner for my soul."
Adler also said he was pleased to hear he received the commendation.
"I feel great about my award. It's a very unexpected honor. I don't do this for these types of things, I do it for the students," Adler said. He went on to say that he is only an adjunct and works full time, but still manages to come in three or four nights a week to teach.
"It's really a great honor to be recognized by the students beyond student evaluations," Ampadu said.
Leslie Meister, SA vice president-elect, closed the ceremony.
"Our faculty is vital to our university and our students," Meister said.
The Student Association established the teaching award in 1984, and one of its first recipients was Milton Plesur, then a popular history professor. After Plesur passed away in 1987, SA renamed the award in his memory.
