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Steven Wright (English)
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Susan Swanson, associate professor of geology, and Steven Wright, adjunct associate professor of English, were singled out for extraordinary teaching at an April recognition ceremony at Beloit College.
Swanson received the Phee Boon Kang Prize for Innovation in Teaching with Technology, an award established by a 1973 alumnus of Beloit College, while Wright received the James R. Underkofler Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award, an honor given annually to five teachers at Wisconsin’s independent colleges by Alliant Energy.
Swanson, the Peterson Junior Professor of the Sciences at Beloit, was recognized for her pivotal role in teaching students and colleagues how to utilize geographic information systems, known as GIS, in a wide range of research and academic projects. GIS allows users to integrate, store, edit, analyze, share and display information that is spatially referenced to Earth.
One of several key people to establish the geographic system at Beloit, Swanson has gone on to become the College’s GIS expert, not only thoroughly learning the complex system but also making ample time to share her knowledge with others, in her classes and beyond.
“GIS allows the user to combine a variety of observations into one very powerful database,” explains Carl Mendelson, chair of the geology department. “Many of our students have learned GIS from Sue, which has given them tremendous advantages when competing for summer research experiences, graduate school positions and jobs.”
In addition to research interests in wetlands hydrogeology, spring flow, heterogeneities in sedimentary bedrock aquifers, and the effects of urbanization on surface water and groundwater resources, Swanson teaches a course on the interdisciplinary applications of GIS under the auspices of Beloit’s relatively new environmental studies major.
“Sue has been unselfish and effective in engaging a wide range of faculty and students in exciting uses of this technology, extending the impact of this joint education endeavor well beyond her own courses, research and department,” says Professor of Chemistry Brock Spencer.
Swanson joined Beloit College in 2001. Her undergraduate degree is from Gustavus Adolphus College; she earned her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Phee Boon Kang, an alumnus and member of the Beloit College board of trustees, established the Kang Prize at Beloit in 1997.
Steven Wright is one of those teachers whose name comes up time and again when Beloit College students are asked to identify influential faculty members. Wright teaches academic writing, expository writing and courses in British literary tradition. His interest in and support for students in all their endeavors is legendary on Beloit’s campus.
Students nominated Wright for the Underkofler Award, and it was the second time in six years that he has received the honor.
“Professor Wright’s reputation as a caring, considerate, committed member of the faculty brings students flocking to fill and overfill his classes and his list of advisees,” says Cynthia McCown, chair of Beloit’s English department. “His gentlemanly and deferential nature belies the ever-present and contagious energy with which he approaches his art―and Steve has indeed made teaching an art form.”
“Steve is enthusiastic, funny, and seems to truly, truly love his work,” said first-year student Whitney Donielson’11 in her nomination. “If the title [of the award] is ‘excellence in undergraduate teaching,’ he deserves it,” she went on to say.
Wright’s undergraduate degree is from Miami University; he earned his master’s and Ph.D degrees from Indiana University and joined the Beloit College faculty in 1990.
The Underkofler Award was established a decade ago by Alliant Energy (formerly Wisconsin Power and Light) to recognize outstanding teaching at Wisconsin’s private colleges. It is named for James R. Underkofler, a past president and chair of the power company, who believed that great teaching should be recognized and celebrated.