Paul Smith's College Professor Curt Stager named N.Y. Professor of the Year

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Prof. Curt Stager, 2013 New York Professor of the Year

PAUL SMITHS, NY (11/15/2013)(readMedia)-- Paul Smith's College Prof. Curt Stager has been named the 2013 New York Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

Stager was selected from more than 350 top professors in the United States.

Stager, a professor of natural science, has taught at Paul Smith's since 1987. In addition to his dedication to undergraduate education, his paleoecology research has helped illuminate ancient climate conditions, and how the lessons of the past can be applied today; his 2011 book on the subject, "Deep Future: The Next 100,000 Years of Life on Earth," received wide acclaim.

"It's such an honor to be recognized by CASE with these other faculty members," said Stager, who received the award in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. "I'm fortunate to be able to do work I love, in a place I love, with students who are really eager to learn – you can't beat that combination."

John W. Mills, president of Paul Smith's College, said Stager's honor is well deserved. "When Paul Smith's talks about giving students a chance to learn side-by-side with faculty members who truly care about their success, nobody embodies that more than Curt Stager," Mills said. "He has taken students across the globe to help him conduct research that in many cases they wouldn't be conducting until graduate school. We're very proud to have him at Paul Smith's."

This year, a state Professor of the Year was recognized in 36 states.

CASE and the Carnegie Foundation have been partners in offering the U.S. Professors of the Year awards program since 1981. Additional support for the program is received from Phi Beta Kappa, which sponsors an evening congressional reception, the Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network in Higher Education and other higher education associations.

To determine the 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. Stager was selected from faculty members nominated by colleges and universities throughout the country.

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching is an independent policy and research center that supports needed transformations in American education through tighter connections between teaching practice, evidence of student learning, the communication and use of this evidence, and structured opportunities to build knowledge.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in London, Singapore and Mexico City, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education is a professional association serving educational institutions and the advancement professionals at all levels who work in alumni relations, communications, fundraising, marketing and other areas.

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