NEWS RELEASE
November 20, 2003
RICHMOND — Professors at two Virginia schools, the public University of Virginia and private Lynchburg College, were named U.S. Professors of the Year at the doctoral/research and master's college/university levels respectively by the Carnegie Foundation and Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
The awards were presented on Thursday, November 13, to Edward Ayers, professor of history and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Virginia; and Patty Hale, professor of nursing at Lynchburg College. The presentations were made at a luncheon held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
"No one in Virginia should be surprised by these accolades," said Carl Kelly, chairman of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. "That not one, but two, Virginia professors should be recognized for their outstanding teaching contributions is just one more example of the overall excellence of Virginia's system of higher education."
Virginia's unique public-private system of higher education institutions, each buttressed by direct and indirect forms of state support, has thrived under decades of independent development. Virginia institutions regularly populate the higher echelons of ratings publications such as U.S. News & World Report and Petersen's, and national recognition of teaching, research, and service contributions of Virginia college faculty are a regular occurrence.
"We're concerned about how long our institutions will be able to maintain this level of excellence without the infusion of resources we all know are long overdue," added Kelly.
Professor of the year: