Mansfield Native Magdalena James-Pederson Receives Excellence in Teaching Award

Stonehill Professor is the 2011-12 recpient of the Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in Teaching

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Professor Magdalena James-Pederson, left, with Stonehill Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Katie Conboy

EASTON, MA (08/31/2011)(readMedia)-- Mansfield native Magdalena James-Pederson, an assistant professor of Chemistry at Stonehill College in Easton, received the College's Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in Teaching at its annual Academic Convocation ceremony on Tuesday, August 30.

The Hegarty Award is given annually to the faculty member whose teaching has had a marked influence on the lives of Stonehill students. The Committee on Excellence in Teaching, representing students, faculty, and the Alumni Council, selects the outstanding teacher from those nominated by students and faculty members.

Professor Pederson has taught at the College since 2003 and is the 23rd recipient of the Hegarty Award.

In presenting the award to Professor Pederson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Katie Conboy read excerpts from faculty and student nominations. Below are a few excerpts:

"I honestly don't think I could use just this space or even twenty pages to explain why Professor Pederson deserves this award. There are so many wonderful faculty members at Stonehill. But Professor Pederson is different. She is more than wonderful: she is inspiring, intelligent, innately caring, and infectious. Let us call them "the four Is."

"I only wish that this nomination could convey all that Professor Pederson does for students at this school. I have come to consider her not only a wonderful and dedicated professor, but a mentor, a friend, and a role model".

"If you asked me what I wanted to be when I was ten years old, I would have replied, "a doctor." At the age of 15, I would have said, "a film director." After this year, my answer is "Magdalena James-Pederson." The ultimate goal of a teacher isn't to teach; it's to inspire. Magda has inspired me and many other students and faculty members to do the greatest things possible."