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2009 Karen T. Romer Prize for Undergraduate Advising and Mentoring

04/27/2009 - The Dean of the College is pleased to announce that the 2009 Karen T. Romer Prize for Undergraduate Advising and Mentoring has been awarded to Karen Fischer, Professor of Geological Sciences, and Evelyn Hu-DeHart, Professor of History.

The prize was established by a gift from the family of trustee Marty Granoff, and is named for a former associate dean of the College. It is presented each year to two faculty members who have demonstrated extraordinary care in attending to the academic and personal needs of undergraduate students. Each winner receives an award of $5,000.

Nominations were solicited broadly from faculty and students. The selection committee, chaired by Dean of the College Katherine Bergeron, included Karen Romer, Julie Pridham ’10 , and last year’s prize-winners, Thomas Banchoff, Professor of Mathematics and James Green, Associate Professor of History.

The nominators for Professor Fischer spoke of her unfailing kindness and her interest in students. “She is warmly inviting and approachable . . . . She listens carefully, to the whole person.” Another colleague praised Professor Fischer for her ability to provide clear direction and guidance while still inspiring students to think big and to think for themselves: “Encouraging academic and intellectual exploration is top amongst her goals.”

Professor Hu-DeHart’s nominators similarly praised her exemplary devotion to students: One student wrote, “Professor Hu-DeHart always responded to my emails and always made time to speak to me and give me advice.” Another commented, “Professor Hu-Dehart has gone above and beyond when it comes to guiding me and pointing me in the right direction.” Yet another student praised her engagement with ideas, and to ensuring “that her students question and challenge [received] wisdom.”

The College is proud to have such dedicated faculty working with our students. Professors Fischer and Hu-DeHart will be honored publicly at the Sheridan Center Teaching Awards Ceremony on May 6.