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SAS 2007 Teaching Awards
April 24, 2007, Volume 53, No. 31

  • David Wallace: Ira H. Abrams Memorial Award for Distinguished Teaching
  • Peter Decherney: Dean’s Award for Innovation in Teaching
  • Frederick Scatena: Dean’s Award for Mentorship of Undergraduate Research
  • Karen Detlefsen: Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Award for Distinguished Teaching by an Assistant Professor
  • Clelia (Sally) Mallory: Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching by Affiliated Faculty
  • Michael Gamer: CGS Distinguished Teaching Award
  • Deborah Burnham: CGS Distinguished Teaching Award
  • Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching by Graduate Students

  • Awards Reception

    Dr. Rebecca W. Bushnell, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, and Dr. Dennis DeTurck, dean of the College, announce the following recipients of the School’s 2007 teaching awards, to be presented this afternoon, at an awards reception that is open to the University community, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Upper Egyptian Gallery of the Penn Museum.


    Ira H. Abrams Memorial Award for Distinguished Teaching

    David Wallace

    This year’s recipient of SAS’s highest teaching honor is Dr. David Wallace, Judith Rodin Professor of English.  Dr. Wallace earns praise as a teacher with “the enviable gift of making very difficult medieval texts accessible, attractive and utterly relevant” in classroom settings large and small,” wrote one colleague.  “Without sacrificing rigor … he encourages students of every ability to write well and express themselves thoughtfully about subjects that students initially find intimidating or obscure.”

    Created in 1983, the Ira H. Abrams Memorial Award for Distinguished Teaching recognizes teaching that is intellectually challenging and exceptionally coherent and honors faculty who embody high standards of integrity and fairness, have a strong commitment to learning, and are open to new ideas.


    Dean’s Award for Innovation in Teaching

    Peter Decherney

    This award, which recognizes exceptional creativity and innovation in instruction, goes to Dr. Peter Decherney, assistant professor of English. In both his teaching of film history and his inventive courses such as “Copyright and Culture,” or in his contributions to Penn’s emerging cinema studies curriculum, Dr.  Decherney, a colleague wrote, “is a veritable engine of new approaches and ideas.” 


    Dean’s Award for Mentorship of Undergraduate Research

    Frederick Scatena

    This award recognizes faculty members who have excelled in nurturing students’ desires and abilities to conduct meaningful research. This year’s honoree is Dr. Frederick Scatena, professor and chair of earth and environmental science.    A colleague wrote that “his eagerness to engage students at all levels in his field research has extended to a new level the willingness of faculty in our department to find the best in even very young aspirants to the scientific community.”


    Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Award for Distinguished Teaching by an Assistant Professor

    Karen Detlefsen

    This award recognizes a member of the junior faculty who demonstrates unusual promise as an educator. This year’s recipient is Dr. Karen Detlefsen, assistant professor of philosophy.  A former student in Dr.  Detlefsen’s “History of Modern Philosophy” course wrote that “She gets her students jazzed up about abstract concepts with her enthusiasm and her ability to make this hard-to-access material understandable.”


    Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching by Affiliated Faculty

    Clelia (Sally) Mallory

    This award recognizes the contributions to undergraduate education made by the School’s non-standing faculty. This year’s recipient is Clelia (Sally) Mallory, a senior lecturer in chemistry and long-time instructor in the department’s challenging introductory experimental organic chemistry course.  A colleague observed that “She constantly generates great student enthusiasm … and yet she does it by getting her students to work really hard!”


    CGS Distinguished Teaching Award

    Michael Gamer

    This award honors outstanding teaching and advising in the College of General Studies (CGS). This year’s recipient of the award for standing faculty is Dr. Michael Gamer, associate professor of English, who has developed a number of innovative CGS courses like “Law and Literature” and has revamped the curriculum in CGS’s Penn-in-London summer program.  

    Dr. Deborah Burnham, a lecturer in English, earns the non-standing faculty honor for her exceptional teaching in CGS undergraduate and Master of Liberal Arts courses, and for her dedication as an advisor to CGS students. 

    Deborah Burnham

    Dr. Deborah Burnham, a lecturer in English, earns the non-standing faculty honor for her exceptional teaching in CGS undergraduate and Master of Liberal Arts courses, and for her dedication as an advisor to CGS students. 


    Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching by Graduate Students

    This award recognizes graduate students for teaching that is intellectually rigorous and has a considerable impact on undergraduate students. This year’s awardees are:

    Asher Auel, Mathematics
    Jennifer Glaser, Comparative Literature
    Laura Heffernan, English
    Myra Lotto, English
    Efstratios Minakakis, Music
    Megan Phifer-Rixey, Biology
    Veronica Schanoes, English
    Jill Shashaty, English
    Greg Steirer, English
    Curtis Swope, German

    Almanac - April 24, 2007, Volume 53, No. 31