October 5, 2005 

CONTACT: Adela de la Torre
(202) 994-6424; adelita@gwu.edu          

GW'S 2005 BENDER TEACHING AWARDS ANNOUNCED
Awards Honor Six Outstanding Teachers

WASHINGTON - Six professors are recipients of The George Washington University's annual Bender Teaching Award, which honors GW educators for their work towards the development of faculty activities in addition to their role as outstanding educators.  Richard Robin, associate professor of Russian and international affairs; Dianne Martin, professor of engineering and applied science; Christopher Cahill, assistant professor of chemistry; Dolores Perillan, part-time instructor in Spanish; Jocelyne Brant, assistant professor of French; and Robert Eisen, acting chair of the department of religion and professor of religion, are this year's Bender Teaching Award winners. 

"The Bender Awards recognize teaching of the highest quality at GW," said Craig Linebaugh, associate vice president for academic planning and development.  "Students and faculty alike support these nominations, and it's gratifying to see not only the excitement generated over teaching excellence but also the recognition that these awards provide to highly deserving members of the GW teaching community."
Nominations for the Bender Teaching Award are solicited by GW's Office of Academic Planning and Development during the beginning of the spring semester.  The selection committee reviews the nominations in addition to letters of recommendations, student teaching evaluations, and sample syllabi. Awardees are selected based on their demonstrated use of sound teaching practices, innovative technologies, the level of involvement of their students, and several other criteria. 

Founded in 1999 and endowed by Morton Bender and The George Washington University, the Bender Teaching Awards are disbursed by the Office of Academic Planning and Development.  Each award grants a $500 prize to be used by the recipient for faculty development activities.  These awards recognize undergraduate, graduate, and professional teaching at GW.  The awards will be presented at the Fall Faculty Assembly on Oct. 31, from 3-5 p.m. 

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