This year's Thomas W. Briggs Foundation Excellence in TeachingAward recipients haven't met, but they are linked by the very thingthat sets them apart -- an enthusiasm for teaching.
"Teaching is a passion," said award recipient Stephen Hancock,assistant professor of theatre and dance.
"Seeing students' eyes light up when they get it" is whatHancock said inspires him to teach and is also what inspired othersto nominate him for the award.
The Thomas W. Briggs Foundation established the Excellence inTeaching Award to recognize overall commitment to undergraduateteaching.
According to biology professor and award recipient CharlesBiggers, "just because you teach does not make you good."
To Biggers, teaching is not only about presenting material. Itis also about worrying about textbook prices and helping studentsunderstand the subject about which the teacher is passionate.
"I look forward -- and this may seem ridiculous after 35 yearsof teaching -- to going to the classroom," said Biggers.
Biggers, a doctoral graduate of the University of South Carolinawho has been teaching since 1969, said he can't wait to tell hisstudents about new discoveries in science.
"Sometimes I bore my wife when I talk about the brain, but shehas no interest," Biggers said. "So I just wait until I'm in frontof my students."
People have asked Biggers when he will retire, but his onlyresponse is, "I can't imagine retiring because I would lose myaudience."
"Teaching is about showmanship," he said, a quality that, asidefrom knowing how to teach, is what ties him to the other Excellencein Teaching Award recipient.
Hancock always found himself in the position of teaching whenworking in professional theater. Because the stage is extremelycompetitive, he was discouraged but said he always knew he "had agift for teaching."
Hancock took an opportunity to come to The U of M in the 1980sto teach for three years. Although that period really sparked hislove for his career, professorships in theatre and dancedepartments are as competitive as roles in professional theater, soHancock had to wait a few years before acquiring his position.
Hancock knew he wanted to teach at The U of M because of hisprevious experience here, and in 1988 he got his chance. He is nowthe coordinator of introduction theatre and dance classes. Hancockalso trains actors and instructs playwrights.
Hancock, who is very enthusiastic in class, set his goal as"getting someone to participate."
Introduction theatre and dance classes usually have about 25students, but when even five participate, it's exciting, hesaid.
Hancock said students generally have a tendency to disregardtheir general education classes by not seeing a connection betweenthem and their overall education goals, but said, "I try not togive up."
