UA Professor Cornelius Carter Named National CASE Professor of the Year

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Cornelius Carter, a University of Alabama associate professor, has been named 2001 U.S. Professor of the Year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

The designation is recognized as one of the nation’s most prestigious awards honoring professors. Carter received his award Nov. 13 during noon ceremonies at the National Press Club in Washington D.C.

Carter was chosen from a group of 384 candidates representing 272 institutions of higher education.

“It is, indeed, an honor for the entire state of Alabama to have one of its higher education faculty selected as the nation’s most exemplary professor for research and doctoral institutions,” said UA President Andrew Sorensen. “Professor Carter’s contributions to the University and its students and his dedication and energy are an inspiration to all who know the special influence a teacher can have on a student’s academic career and personal growth. This recognition is well deserved.

“Coming just two months after the University was named one of the top 50 public universities in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, this national honor, again, reflects highly on the dedication of all of our faculty to superior teaching and scholarship,” Sorensen said.

Carter has taught modern dance, choreography, and jazz in the University of Alabama’s College of Arts and Sciences for nine years and also teaches and choreographs dance throughout the country. In summer 2001, he taught at the Alvin Ailey School in New York City.

His summer faculty positions have also included American Ballet Theatre in New York City, Harvard Summer Dance Program, American Dance Festival at Duke University, Dance Space in New York City, and Bates Dance Festival in Maine. He has created a body of work that includes 52 dances choreographed since 1988. Twenty-eight were produced and performed by professional or university companies including Harvard University, Tulane University, the American Dance Festival, American Ballet Theatre summer program, and Bates Dance Festival.

“To watch Professor Carter teach a class is to witness the joy, enthusiasm, skill, and caring of a consummate professional dancer and educator,” said Dr. Robert F. Olin, dean of UA’s College of Arts and Sciences. “Students love his classes because they learn from Professor Carter the joy that comes from discovery and hard work. He is equally respected by his colleagues for his high standards, collegiality, and support. We are grateful to CASE and the Carnegie Foundation for Teaching for providing this wonderful and earned recognition,” Olin said.

Carter has taught master classes and set new dance works with dance companies and festivals in Moscow; London; Copenhagen; Lyon, France; and in Austria, Lithuania and Iceland.

Carter received his bachelor of arts degree from Webster University in St. Louis, Mo. and his master of fine arts degree from the University of Hawaii. He is a recipient of The University of Alabama National Alumni Association’s 2001 Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award, the Alabama Arts Council’s Druid Award for Dance Education, and Outstanding Dedication and Service from the Black College Dance Exchange, among other honors.

U.S. Professors of the Year were also selected for baccalaureate, community, and master’s colleges. In addition, 45 state-level Professors of the Year were selected. CASE assembled two preliminary panels of judges to select finalists from the 384 nominees. The Carnegie Foundation then convened a third and final panel, which selected the four national winners and state winners. Awardees were selected base on their dedication to undergraduate teaching, scholarship, contributions to their institution and community, and support for current and former undergraduates.

CASE established the Professors of the Year program in 1981 and works in cooperation with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in its administration.

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching was founded in 1905 by Andrew Carnegie, “to do all things necessary to encourage, uphold, and dignify the profession of teaching.” The Foundation is the only advanced study center for teachers in the world and the third oldest foundation in the nation.