EUGENE–The University of Oregon today (May 18) awarded crystal apples–symbols of teaching excellence–to three of its top teachers.

Rob Proudfoot, associate professor of international studies, and Jon Erlandson and Madonna Moss, both associate professors of anthropology, are recipients of 1999-2000 Thomas F. Herman Awards for Distinguished Teaching. Herman Award winners, chosen on the recommendation of faculty members and students, receive $2,000 added to their base salaries.

UO President Dave Frohnmayer dropped in on classes taught by the professors to hand deliver the crystal apples.

"This year’s honorees are among the most esteemed teachers in their fields," says Frohnmayer. "Part of that stems from the respect they give their students. This dedication to education is one of the many admirable qualities this award recognizes."

Proudfoot teaches courses on post-war relations between the United States and Vietnam, cross cultural communication and value systems, and indigenous cultural survival. Students who nominated him say what they learned in his classes will stay with them throughout their lifetimes. He also received the university’s 1989 Ersted Award for Excellence in teaching, given to faculty members early in their careers; the Outstanding Multicultural Educator Award in 1989, 1992 and 1996; and the Indian Education Association’s Outstanding Indian Educator Award in 1991 and 1996.

Students describe Erlandson as a passionate, articulate, inspiring instructor who makes archaeology come alive as a field that has relevance for today’s world. Supervisors say his teaching accounts, at least in part, for a continuing enrollment increase in anthropology.

Moss has, according to the nominating committee, "distinguished herself as an innovator, a teacher who will not settle for mediocrity for herself or her students–a compassionate mentor."

Moss and Erlandson are husband wife, but were chosen independently for the award.

The Thomas F. Herman Award for Distinguished Teaching honors senior faculty members who have achieved outstanding records as teachers. A faculty-student committee made the recommendations for both awards.

Moss, Erlandson and Proudfoot also will be honored at spring commencement ceremonies, to be held at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, at Hayward Field, 1580 E. 15th Ave.

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