Dr. Neil Hair

The Provost recently announced the 2007-2008 Provosts Award Winner for Excellence in Teaching and my good friends Tina Collison (College of Science), Bill Evans (Saunders College of Business) and Alex Bitterman (School of Design) were amongst the finalists. I had the pleasure of sitting on the committee as  last years winner and the competition was tough. In fact I think it may have contributed towards expensive dental work for me. I really enjoyed the class visits and was struck by the effectiveness of all of the finalist but especially my three friends. Tina is a remarkable teacher – she take's something that scares me half to death and makes it interesting (chemistry!!!). I am convinced she is without doubt a future Eisenhart propper winner! (Tina was also a finalist last year which just goes to show how consistent she is the classroom – if Chem is your thing – Tina is the answer). Well done Tina!! Tenure is surely in the bag!! Bill Evans, our own grown Accounting professor in the COB was also excellent in the classroom. As a marketer it is my birthrite to hate numbers and all those that play with them. Not Bill, I actually learned a formula whilst sat in his class for an hour. Impressive stuff. And Alex, the winner of this years award was – well plain and simple – sickeningly good in the class room. Extremely passionate about his role, he, like my other friends mentioned in this blog, is simply phenomenal at what he does. The atmosphere in class was excellent, students engaged, professor engaged. Im extremely proud that all three were given significant praise by the committee and Im even more pleased that I have gotten to know them.

Well done Alex, a remarkable job. Next round (or two) on you.