2012 Cuthbertson, Dinkelspiel, Gores awards honor faculty, students and staff
Nine members of the Stanford University community will be recognized at Commencement with Cuthbertson, Dinkelspiel and Gores awards. The awards honor individuals for exceptional contributions to Stanford, for distinctive contributions to undergraduate education and for excellence in teaching. Three professors, three staff members, two undergraduate students and one PhD candidate will receive the awards on Sunday, June 17, at the Commencement ceremony.
Cuthbertson Award
The Kenneth M. Cuthbertson Award for Exceptional Contributions to Stanford University, which was established by members of the faculty in 1981, was named after one of the early architects of Stanford's long-term financial planning and fundraising program. The 2012 winners are:
Sally Dickson, associate vice provost for student affairs, dean of educational resources and adviser to the president on campus life, was honored "for the breadth and scope of her work over 20 years at Stanford, crossing borders to serve in academic, administrative and student affairs roles."
The award cited Dickson "for her uncommon diplomacy and commitment to working with people to resolve differences, create understanding and build community," and "for her pioneering efforts to promote diversity among the faculty."
Dickson also was commended "for her ability to work both at the forefront of programmatic efforts, as well as quietly and effectively behind the scenes," and "for her unswerving dedication to the highest ideals of intellectual excellence, diversity and service to others."
John Pearson, director of the Bechtel International Center, was honored "for 27 years of unparalleled work on behalf of the international community at Stanford." The award cited Pearson "for his compassionate and thoughtful support of virtually every corner of the university - working with visiting scholars and new faculty appointees, reaching out to international students and their families, helping undergraduates and graduate students as they consider study or research abroad, and advising on issues of security and risk."
Pearson also was commended "for his careful management of the nomination process and mentoring of students through all stages of such scholarship competitions as the Rhodes, Marshall and Fulbright with extraordinary success: Stanford students have led the nation in the last few years in being selected for many of these prestigious awards."
The award also cited Pearson "for his warmth and his humor, which put people at ease and make every interaction a pleasure" and "for being 'the voice of Stanford that first welcomes students from abroad.'"
Dinkelspiel Awards
The Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Awards for Distinctive Contributions to Undergraduate Education, named after the president of the Board of Trustees who served from 1953 to 1958, recognize distinctive contributions to undergraduate education or to the quality of student life. The 2012 winners are:
Carol Boggs, the Bing Director of the Program in Human Biology and a professor (teaching) of biology, was honored "for her many contributions to the Program in Human Biology - from teaching enormous numbers of undergraduates to curriculum development, advising honors theses, training student advisers and serving as program director."
The award cited Boggs "for raising the profile of HumBio throughout the university and beyond campus, increasing community awareness of the program, as well as participation among alumni."
The citation also commended Boggs "for the cooperative and open atmosphere she fosters among faculty and staff within the program and from other departments," and "for the myriad ways she has served as an inspiration to budding conservationists and given fully and enthusiastically to students at Stanford."
Bridgette Martin Hard, course coordinator for Introductory Psychology, was honored "for her innovative demonstrations and lectures that are intellectually provocative, clear and engaging."
The award cited Hard "for being a terrific and much-valued teacher of teachers, mentoring and guiding TAs and fellow faculty so that they improve their performance," and "for her insights, high standards and passion for effective teaching that have led to improvements in one of the most popular courses at Stanford."
Hard also was commended "for her extraordinary gifts as a teacher who leaves a lasting impression on her students, leading one to declare 'Bridgett Hard is a VERY great lecturer.'"
Otis Reid, a senior in public policy and economics, was honored "for his deep investment in public service throughout his four years at Stanford - holding leadership roles at Stanford in Government and the Stanford Association for International Development, in addition to serving as a resident assistant at Crothers."
The award cited Reid "for working to bring major speakers to Stanford to focus on crucial issues, including Kofi Annan, who discussed global hunger," and "for organizing an extremely successful conference on conflict and health in developing countries for the Stanford Association for International Development."
Reid also was commended "for serving as a role model and thoughtful mentor to fellow students."
Michael Tubbs, a senior in comparative studies in race and ethnicity, and a master's candidate in Policy, Organization and Leadership Studies, was honored "for his leadership in such organizations at the Stanford NAACP and the Black Student Union."
The award cited Tubbs "for his service as co-chair of the Senior Gift Campaign, working to support the Stanford undergraduate experience and preserve opportunities for the next generation of students."
Tubbs also was commended "for his ability to translate vision into action, founding The Phoenix Scholars, a California-based nonprofit designed to mentor and help low-income and first-generation college students achieve academic success."
The award also cited Tubbs "for his efforts to provide opportunities for the underserved - and to inspire others to do so as well - both on campus and in his hometown of Stockton."
Gores Awards
The Walter J. Gores Awards are the university's highest teaching honor. They are named for Professor Walter J. Gores, a member of the Stanford Class of 1917 who became a professor of design at the University of Michigan. This year's winners are:
Stephen Haber, the A.A. and Jeanne Welch Milligan Professor in the Department of Political Science, and the Peter and Helen Bing Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, was honored "for the candor, humor and clarity with which he explains complex matters and responds to student questions and proposals."
The award cited Haber "for his unconditional support and generosity as a mentor to graduates and undergraduates alike, extending beyond the classroom and beyond their time at Stanford."
Haber also was commended "for developing innovative approaches to teaching, including a powerful new 'lab' model of instruction that has the potential to enhance student experiences in the social sciences throughout the university."
The award also cited Haber "for his unswerving dedication to excellence, which has inspired students and colleagues alike for more than two decades."
George Hilley, associate professor of geological and environmental sciences, was honored "for the skill with which he employs the Socratic method, leading students through the process of inquiry and discovery to develop their abilities as independent thinkers."
The award cited Hilley "for his open-door policy, encouraging students to drop by any time and 'talk science,'" and "for the high standards he sets for himself, constantly adjusting course materials and assignments to better foster student learning."
Hilley also was commended "for his dedication as a teacher, which led one student to write, 'He has played a critical role in my development as a scientist and an intellectual.'"
Luke C.D. Stein, a PhD candidate in economics, was honored "for his effectiveness in teaching students from very different backgrounds - academic, cultural and linguistic," and "for his ability to anticipate areas of difficulty, make challenging concepts comprehensible and examples engaging."
The award cited Stein "for creating a welcoming and relaxed learning environment that helps students feel a stronger connection to the Economics Department."
Stein also was commended "for his encouraging attitude and exemplary teaching, which prompted one student to write, 'I had been dreading this class for two years … it is clear we lucked out with Luke at the helm.'"
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