Convocation August 28th, 2006: Presentation of Faculty Awards
Remarks from Doug Little, Professor of History and Associate Provost and Dean of the College
And now I am delighted to present two awards that recognize and honor Clark faculty for excellence in advising and teaching. Quite rightly, Clark students have very high expectations about their professors, both as mentors and as teachers. And Clarkies are not bashful about showing their appreciation for faculty who exceed those expectations, both inside and outside the classroom.
Each spring, the Academic Advising Center asks all undergraduates to evaluate their faculty advisors using a number of criteria. The individual who receives the highest overall rating from her or his advisees is selected as the Outstanding Academic Advisor. I'd like this year's winner, Professor Tim Shary from our Screen Studies program in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, to join me here on stage. Ever since Tim arrived at Clark in the late 1990s, he has won rave reviews from students, not just because, as one of them put it, "he's wicked smart," but also because he is approachable and accessible. Much to my delight, two years ago Tim was selected by the Class of 2004 as the Outstanding Teacher of the Year. Because good teaching begins with good advising, it is not surprising that Tim has now won the outstanding adviser award. As one of his advisees put it, "Tim Shary is awesome. . . . He is the man." We talk a lot at Clark about the synergy between research and teaching, but in Tim's case this synergy also extends to advising. Having published two books teen films, he seems to have a real knack for connecting with Clarkies as they transition to adulthood. Put most simply, Tim Shary, like the Robin Williams character in Peter Weir's Dead Poets Society, is a wonderful mentor. Let's give another one of his advisees the last word: "Tim Shary is supportive, helpful, and encourages students to take risks. I can honestly say [that he] . . . is one of the top reasons I have loved Clark. His concern for students and their success is unfathomable." Nice job, Tim.
As Tim Shary has reminded us, outstanding advising is an important aspect of outstanding teaching, something in which we at Clark have always taken great pride. We are fortunate to have many talented and dedicated professors who make classroom teaching their highest priority and who inspire their students to achieve true academic excellence. Each spring, members of the senior class select one such professor as the Outstanding Teacher of the Year. I'd like this year's winner, Betsy Huang of the Department of English, to join me up here on stage. Betsy joined our faculty in 2003, and during the past three years it has been an absolute delight to watch her blossom into a true teacher-scholar in the tradition of legendary Clark faculty like Stan Sultan. Although as far as I know, Betsy does not keep a copy of Finnegan's Wake on her nightstand, according to one of her students: "She is intelligent, funny, kind, helpful, and someone you want to work hard for." Ginger Vaughan, who chairs the English Department, confirms that "Betsy has that rare gift. She can push students to the max, and leave them asking for more. She combines the highest intellectual standards with compassion for her students as individuals."
Even more remarkable, Betsy Huang has had a profound impact on other people's students. Listen to what this budding biologist had to say. "I have never actually had Betsy Huang as a professor or an adviser since I am a science major. I know her because several of my close friends had her . . . Even though I am not one of her students she still seems to care about how I am doing . . . [and] asks me about my plans. . . . I know she has had a great influence over many people because they have told me about her helping, caring, and guidance. I wish that I had had her at Clark, but I'm glad I got to know her anyway." For my money, however, it was an e.e. cummings aficionado majoring in English who summed it up best when he wrote, using only lower case: "i wish i could properly articulate my admiration for betsy, but my tongue tripping would do no justice to her unparalleled awesometude.' On behalf of your students and your colleagues, Betsy, let me just say two words: Totally awesome.