Faculty Awards Presented at Annual Fall Convocation

The annual Holy Cross Fall Faculty Convocation and Awards Ceremony honored biology professor George Hoffmann, the recipient of the 2005 Holy Cross Distinguished Teaching Award and faculty members Susan Berman, David Hummon, Mary Lee Ledbetter, John Little, Philip Rule, S.J., and Jorge Valdes, all of whom received the Rev. Raymond J. Swords, S.J., Faculty Medal.

The Holy Cross Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes and honors the teaching excellence of the College’s faculty. A committee of students, faculty, alumni and administrators selects the honoree after careful review of nominations from individuals and groups on campus. Recipients demonstrate the College’s commitment to teaching and personalized instruction by making ideas come alive for students both in and out of the classroom. The Distinguished Teacher is invited to give the principal address during the Faculty Convocation and is awarded a $1,000 honorarium.

Commenting on Hoffmann’s award as Distinguished Teacher, Stephen C. Ainlay, vice president of academic affairs and dean of the college, said: "Members of the Selection Committee were extraordinarily impressed by the testimonials we received from George’s colleagues and from current and former students. Members were struck by the consensus among those who nominated him about the traits that made him a distinguished teacher."

A colleague described the enthusiasm Hoffmann brings to the classroom. "George spends an enormous amount of time incorporating current material into his lecture notes and lab manuals in order to keep both as up-to-date as possible."

A member of the Holy Cross faculty since 1981, Hoffmann earned his Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee and had appointments as a National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellow, senior staff officer at the National Academy of Sciences and visiting scientist at Oak Ridge Associated Universities.

Hoffmann has distinguished himself by his many research papers, essays, editorials, book reviews and abstracts. He has also served as the president of the Environmental Mutagen Society and the Mutagenesis Association of New England.

The Raymond J. Swords, S.J., Faculty Medal honors those members of the faculty who have served the College for 25 years or more. This year’s recipients were Susan Berman, recently retired associate professor of biology; David Hummon, professor of sociology; Mary Lee Ledbetter, professor of biology; John Little III, professor of mathematics; Philip Rule, S.J. recently retired professor of English; and Jorge Valdes, associate professor of modern languages and literatures. Each was presented with a gilded silver medal bearing the College seal and engraved with their names.