Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos presented five faculty members with awards when Vanderbilt‘s Spring Faculty Assembly convened April 7. Professors of psychology and human development, French and Italian, chemistry and biomedical engineering and earth and environmental sciences were recognized before the chancellor addressed the assembly.
Clare McCabe, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering
The Madison Sarratt Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
The winner is selected by the chancellor from nominations by undergraduate students.
“Clare joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 2004, and has since built a successful research program while also earning praise as a highly respected and spectacularly effective teacher,” said Zeppos. “In reviewing the students’ anecdotal comments, one cannot help but notice a reoccurring sentiment: ‘Dr. McCabe genuinely cares about her students and wants them to succeed in their quest for learning.’ Outside of the classroom, Clare excels as a mentor and devotes time to supervising students in their independent research projects. It is teachers like Clare McCabe who make Vanderbilt a truly great university.”
David Furbish, professor and chair of earth and environmental sciences and professor of civil and environmental engineering
The Harvie Branscomb Distinguished Professor Award
This award was started in 1963 to honor retiring Chancellor Branscomb.
“Recognizing David’s talents as a gifted researcher with a passion for science, we recruited him to Vanderbilt to chair the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences eight years ago,” said Zeppos. “Since that time his commitment to the educational goals of his department and to the mission of the university has been unwavering. For David’s extraordinary contributions to Vanderbilt University and for inspiring our society as a leader in earth and environmental sciences, he is highly deserving of the Harvie Branscomb Distinguished Professor Award.”
Wyatt, Heard and Branscomb award winners receive $2,500 award and an engraved silver tray. Ingalls and Sarratt winners receive $2,500 and an engraved pewter cup. Sarratt winner also gets name on a permanent plaque in the Sarratt Student Center.