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William C. Friday/Class of 1986 Award for Excellence in Teaching


The award was created with a class gift from members of the 1986 graduating class to honor full-time members of the undergraduate faculty who have exemplified excellence in inspirational teaching. William C. Friday has devoted a lifetime of service to the University as president of the Chapel Hill campus and later president of the UNC system.

The winner received a one-time stipend determined by a fund balance and a framed citation.

Trudier Harris

* Title: J. Carlyle Sitterson Professor of English

* Faculty member since: 1979

* Other Carolina teaching awards: Tanner Faculty Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, 1988

* University awarding Ph.D.: Ohio State

* Classes taught last year: Undergraduate -- African-American literature to 1950; Graduate -- African-American Poetry

Excerpts from the citation: A colleague describes Professor Harris as a charismatic and eloquent speaker who is inspirational in her teaching: truly outstanding. She is absorbed in the culture of teaching and takes teaching to the next level. She was praised for her dedication to her students and her discipline. She wants students to discover more than just the writing itself: she wants them to discover themselves. Her many accomplishments and activities outside of teaching actually enhance her teaching rather than detract from it. She was described as "passionate, engaging, enthusiastic, caring, and approachable."

A student wrote: "The quality that makes Dr. Harris such an exceptional professor is her true desire to aid students in their intellectual growth. I can honestly say that my manner of thinking extended to new limits due to my interaction with Dr. Harris."

Teaching style/philosophy: "My philosophy of teaching is to make sure I never bore my students in the classroom and that they never bore me. And I want to introduce them to and get them excited about my areas of literary expertise."


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