UA Geography Professor Receives ‘Distinguished Teaching Achievement Award’

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Roberta “Bobbi” Webster, an instructor and director of undergraduate studies in the geography department at The University of Alabama, recently received the Distinguished Teaching Achievement Award from the National Council for Geographic Education.

NCGE was chartered in 1915 to promote geographic education. The award is given annually to four college professors to recognize outstanding contributions to geographic education.

“While I have always admired her professionalism and commitment to teaching, it was when I saw her through the eyes of a student in her classes that I realized what a uniquely gifted educator she is,” wrote Linda Watson, placenames researcher at UA, in a nomination letter. Watson has been both Webster’s colleague and student. “The ability to inspire others is what makes an outstanding teacher, and Dr. Webster is unquestionably an outstanding educator.”

Webster has taught at the college level for almost 25 years, nine at The University of Alabama. “I believe students can be empowered by their own knowledge,” she wrote in a confirmation letter for the award. Many students feel a “disconnect” between what they learn in class and its potential application to their lives. I try to correct that perceived disconnection.” As director of undergraduate studies, she serves as the principal adviser to the geography department chairman regarding undergraduate matters and advises 60 students.

Jerrod Bowman, a UA geography graduate student, wrote in his nomination letter: “Dr. Webster makes the driest subjects intriguing. If Dr. Webster can keep the attention of a freshman at 8 o’clock on a Thursday night, she can keep anyone’s attention.”

Webster received a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Lake Superior State University, and both her master’s and doctorate in geography from the University of Kentucky.

The geography department is part of the College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest public liberal arts college in the state. Students from the college have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the “USA Today” Academic All American Team.