Robert Thorne Earns Weiss Fellowship at Cornell

ITHACA, NY (02/04/2011)(readMedia)-- Cornell University professor of Physics, Robert Thorne, has been honored with a 2011 Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellowship – the university's most prestigious teaching award.

Thorne graduated from Grant Park High School in Winnipeg, Canada in 1977 before receiving his B.S. degree from the University of Manitoba in 1981. He also earned a Ph.D in 1987 from the University of Illinois at Urbana.

The fellowship – given each year to tenured Cornell faculty members who display sustained records of inspiring and distinguished teaching of undergraduate students – comes with $5,000 per year for five years, to be used for any university-related purpose.

Thorne drew praise for his "curricular innovations, effective classroom teaching and concern for individual students," according to his award letter. Among his accomplishments cited were his "transformation" of the introductory physics curriculum that has resulted in improved student learning and dramatic gains in evaluations and enrollment. Thorne also developed a successful pre-med physics curriculum for Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, and is equally known as a "caring instructor who reaches out to students in need of help."

The 2011 Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellowships were announced by the Cornell Board of Trustees at its Jan. 21-22 meeting in New York City. The award was established in 1993 and is given to select faculty nominated by academic staff and students.

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