(COLUMBIA, SC) Dr. Melissa W. Heidari, Columbia College associate professor of English, has received the College's 2004 Faculty Excellence Award, and Dr. Hyman S. Rubin III, assistant professor of history, has received the 2004 Undergraduate Students Choice Award for Teaching Excellence.
Heidari was cited for exemplary performance in teaching, scholarship, and service. In addition to teaching a full range of English courses from developmental to honors, she has developed new courses addressing the importance of diversity, supported all elements of the English major, and served as a sponsor of the Lt. Governor's Young Writers Workshop.
According to Dr. John Zubizarreta, director of honors and faculty development, Heidari has "distinguished herself as an innovative instructor, motivating students to learn and earning some of the highest ratings in the department of English." Zubizarreta also said, "Her teaching is grounded in rigorous standards, and she is consistently recognized by students for her caring and personal influence."
Heidari recently published To Find My Own Peace, the 1886-1910 journals of New Orleans writer Grace King (University of Georgia Press, 2004) and is collaborating on a film based on the book. She holds B.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of S.C. and an M.A. degree from the University of Rochester. She joined the faculty of Columbia College in 1989.
Rubin, who holds an undergraduate degree from Yale University and both master's and Ph.D. degrees from Emory University, joined the faculty of Columbia College in 1999. He was cited for his high expectations, professionalism, and sincere concern for students.
Zubizarreta noted that students, whose nomination and votes determine the recipient of the Students Choice award, consistently compliment Rubin for "recognizing them as young scholars and for mentoring them."
Rubin has taken students to conferences, helped them develop a campus chapter of Phi Alpha Theta national history honor society, served as a member of the Honors Advisory Committee, and supported the founding of an undergraduate research journal. Rubin is a previous recipient of the Outstanding Honors Faculty Award.
