Elliott West, Alumni Distinguished Professor of History
(Photo: Submitted)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Southeastern Conference has
announced that Elliott West, the Alumni Distinguished Professor of History and
faculty member in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, is the
recipient of the 2012 Faculty Achievement Award.
The award honors professors from SEC universities with
outstanding records in teaching and scholarship who serve as role models for
other faculty and students.
“This diverse group
of men and women share a passionate dedication not just for teaching, but for
empowering their students with the knowledge and wisdom to make a difference in
our world,” said Bernie Machen, president of the University of Florida and president
of the Southeastern Conference. “Some of the finest minds have studied on our
campuses, and we have the SEC university professors to thank for helping to
position them for success.”
SEC Faculty Achievement Award winners, one from each
university, will receive a $5,000 honorarium and become his or her university’s
nominee for the SEC Professor of the Year Award. The SEC Professor of the Year
receives an additional $15,000 honorarium and will be recognized during the
annual SEC Spring Banquet in May.
“We were thrilled that Elliott West was selected as the U of
A’s SEC Faculty Achievement Award recipient and pleased that he is our nominee
for the SEC Faculty of the Year Award. To be able to nominate a professor as
talented as Dr. West is a privilege,” said Provost Sharon Gaber. “He has been
honored again and again with regional and national awards for his excellence
and accomplishments in teaching, research and writing. I am in awe of his work
and pleased he is the first of our faculty members to receive this award.”
The SEC Faculty Achievement and SEC Professor of the Year
Awards were created this year to honor and celebrate, at the Conference level,
university faculty and their achievements and contributions in scholarship,
research and service. The SEC is the only Division I conference within the
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) currently recognizing
university faculty for their achievements, unrelated to athletics or
student-athletes.
To be eligible, a professor must be a teacher or scholar at
an SEC university; have achieved the rank of full professor at an SEC
university; have a record of extraordinary teaching; and have a record of
scholarship that is recognized nationally or internationally.