Delta Staff Member Named 2009 Michigan Professor of the Year
November 19, 2009
By: Dave Rogers
Mary Beth Looby, Delta College English professor.
Delta College Professor Mary Beth Looby has been named by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education as the 2009 Michigan Professor of the Year.
Ms. Looby, of Saginaw, was selected from more than 300 top professors in the United States. An English professor, she has been with Delta College since 1988.
The Delta professor was selected from faculty members nominated by representatives of colleges and universities from throughout the country.
Ms. Looby also was appointed Director of Developmental Education for Delta in 2007. "When approximately 80 percent of Delta's first-time students need at least one developmental class, we must be progressive, innovative and supportive," said Dr. Jean Goodnow, Delta College President, "and with Mary Beth's leadership we are exactly that."
Developmental Education at Delta is a coordinated program, with a Developmental Ed Director, Bridge Director, and three faculty/staff coordinators representing English, Math, and the Teaching/Learning Center. The program is located in the Library Learning Information Center (LLIC), A-118. Delta?s Developmental Ed Team (DECOOR) has created new programs to assist developmental students and faculty/staff.
"While we feel all Delta College faculty are outstanding, we nominated Mary Beth because of her outstanding teaching record, her educational and professional growth and her significant contribution in the college and in the community," added Goodnow.
Ms. Looby was honored to hear the news of this award. "I fully share this award with my students, Delta College colleagues, and professionals in the community," said Looby.
"It has been my practice to involve my students in their communities, researching local history, heroes, and events. I am most grateful to my Delta students, from honors to developmental, who have always responded wholeheartedly to my invitation to work hard, strive for excellence, and think critically and creatively," she said.
CASE and the Carnegie Foundation have been partners in offering the U.S. Professors of the Year awards program since 1981. TIAA-CREF, one of America's leading financial services organizations and higher education's premier retirement system, became the primary sponsor for the awards ceremony in 2000. Additional support for the program is received from a number of higher education associations, including Phi Beta Kappa which sponsors an evening congressional reception.
This year, there are 38 state winners. CASE assembled two preliminary panels of judges to select finalists. The Carnegie Foundation then convened the third and final panel, which selected four national winners. CASE and Carnegie select state winners from top entries resulting from the judging process.
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