Dr. Gary Rose Named 2011 Connecticut Professor Of The Year

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FAIRFIELD, CT (11/18/2011)(readMedia)-- Sacred Heart University's Gary Rose, Ph.D., has been named 2011 Connecticut Professor of the Year by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Dr. Rose was selected from nearly 300 top professors in the United States.

Dr. Rose joined the Sacred Heart University faculty in 1982 and is currently chairman of the Department of Government and Politics. He recently published his 10th book, Connecticut's Fourth Congressional District: History, Politics and the Maverick Tradition, which he describes as "a microcosm of emerging political trends currently taking place within the context of congressional politics, particularly in the New England region."

Dr. Rose is passionate about introducing students to the political system and how it operates. "My inspiration comes from a firm belief that students can, if they so desire, make a profound difference in American politics. I believe in the old axiom that 'knowledge is power.' So, in essence, my mission as a university professor is to objectively expand the political knowledge of my students so they in turn can participate effectively in the political process and help shape public policy," Dr. Rose said. "I'm very proud of the large number of graduates from our political science program who have, in one form or another, entered public service and are working for the common good.

"I am deeply honored to be chosen as Connecticut's Professor of the Year, and I am most grateful to have had the opportunity to spend the last 30 years of my career at an institution that has allowed me to grow as a professional political scientist and that has routinely supported my teaching and scholarship," he added.

CASE and the Carnegie Foundation have been partners in offering the U.S. Professors of the Year awards program since 1981. TIAA-CREF, one of America's leading financial services organizations and higher education's premier retirement system, became the principal sponsor for the awards ceremony in 2000. Additional support for the program is received from a number of higher education associations, including Phi Beta Kappa, which sponsors an evening congressional reception.

This year, there are 27 state winners. CASE assembled two preliminary panels of judges to select finalists. The Carnegie Foundation then convened the third and final panel, which selected four national winners. CASE and Carnegie select state winners from top entries resulting from the judging process. Dr. Rose was selected from faculty members nominated by colleges and universities throughout the country.