College of Arts and Sciences dean Jeffrey Henderson recently announced the winners of three CAS teaching excellence awards, which recognize dedicated professors who teach well, both inside and outside of the classroom.
Diane Meuser of the mathematics and statistics department received the Neu teaching award, named after Richard Neu, a 1961 CAS graduate. The Wisneski teaching award went to Curtis Runnels of the archaeology department, and John Straub of the chemistry department won the Gitner award, endowed by 1966 CAS graduate Gerald Gitner and his family.
The winners will be recognized in a ceremony on May 17 and will receive citations and cash prizes.
Henderson said department chairpersons select candidates based on their merits and accomplishments throughout the year.
Straub said the Gitner award was the first to recognize the quality of his teaching since he began his career at Boston University in 1991.
“It is truly an honor,” Straub said. “I feel very fortunate to have been selected form the large group of very fine teachers at Boston University.”
Runnels, who has been teaching at BU since 1987, said he had not anticipated winning the award endowed by Frank and Lynne Wisneski, parents of 1999 CAS graduate Corey Wisneski.
“I was surprised to learn about this award from BU as I did not know I had been nominated,” Runnels said. “I was both surprised and, naturally, pleased.”
Runnels also received the Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching by the Archaeological Institute of America in 1998.
Meuser, who has been teaching at the university level for 22 years, said she appreciated BU’s recognition of her hard work.
“I enjoy teaching and interacting with students quite a bit,” Meuser said. “It is indeed nice to have the university recognize this by giving me this award. I appreciate it very much.”
The Gitner and Neu teaching awards have been given out since 1996, and the Wisneski award has been given out since 2000. In addition to the three teaching awards, Henderson also announced four advising excellence awards, which have been given out since 1999.
Those awards went to Stephanie Nelson of core curriculum and the classical studies department, Meers Oppenheim of the astronomy department, Edward Stern in pre-law advising and Glen Zamansky in pre-medical advising.
Henderson said students nominate their professors for awards.
Zamansky, who has been on the faculty for 22 years and has been the assistant dean for pre-med advising for seven years, said he was surprised and thrilled to receive this award.
“It is an honor to be recognized with the College Prize for Excellence in Student Advising,” Zamansky said. “I was surprised and thrilled to receive this award … Every morning, I look forward to arriving on campus.”
Zamansky also said he considers it a privilege “to assist [students] on their journeys to careers in the health professions.”
Stern, moderator of the BU mock trial team, said he was overwhelmed to receive the award.
“It’s a wonderful feeling,” Stern said. “It’s always nice to be noticed.”
Oppenheim had been told he was being nominated for the award, yet still said he was unsure of whether he would get it. This award is the first CAS-based award Oppenheim has received.