Carmen Tesser Wins AATSP Award
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Association honors professor
By MITCHELL
GRAHAM
Published , August 22, 2002, 12:00:01 PM EDT
When University
professor of Romance Languages Carmen Tesser recently attended
a professional conference in Brazil, she had no idea what was
in store for her.
She said
she was surprised when, in Rio de Janeiro, the American Association
of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) awarded her its
highest honor, the Robert G. Mead, Jr. Award for Distinguished
Leadership and Scholarly Contribution to the Profession.
"It's
wonderful," Tesser said. "It's recognition by my peers
and by an organization that has been a part of my entire academic
career."
"I
think it's an exciting time to be a foreign language and literature
professor."
CARMEN TESSER
University Professor of Romance Languages
Tesser,
a former AATSP president who joined the University faculty in
1983, also is president-elect of the National Federation of Modern
Language Teachers Associations.
But she said
teaching is a source of pleasure, now more than ever.
"I think
it's an exciting time to be a foreign language and literature
professor," Tesser said. "We help students see the world
from a different perspective in both language and culture. As
the world gets smaller, we get to know ourselves better when we
learn about others, especially in their languages."
Noel Fallows,
head of the Department of Romance Languages, said Tesser makes
a special contribution to the department's learning environment.
"I would
say that she is one of the most competent and efficient professors
in the department," he said. "She's one of our best
teachers, and she has a following among both undergraduate and
graduate students."
The award,
recognizing Tesser as a leader in educational reform, curriculum
development and service to the profession, is "a proud moment
for the department," Fallows said.
"This
is the first time that a professor in our department has received
this prestigious award, and it brings important visibility to
the Department of Romance Languages and to the University as a
whole," he said.
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