Press Release

Contact: Debra Humphreys
202-387-3760 ext. 422
Humphreys@aacu.org

Eight Graduate Students Honored with K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Awards

Students Recognized for Commitment to Academic and Civic Responsibility and Promise as Future Leaders of Higher Education

Washington DC —January 2, 2007—The Association of American Colleges and Universities recently announced the 2007 recipients of the annual K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Awards.  These awards recognize graduate students who are committed to developing academic and civic responsibility in themselves and others, and who show exemplary promise as future leaders of higher education.

The 2007 recipients are:

Kasey Baker, English, University of Tennessee
Bethany Bowling, Interdisciplinary Studies - Biology Education, University of Cincinnati
Amy Cass, Sociology, University of Delaware
Stephanie Milling-Robbins, Dance and Women's Studies, Texas Woman's University
Evelyn Perry, Sociology, Indiana University
Margaret Post, Social Policy, Brandeis University
Tarsem Purewal, Computer Science, University of Georgia
Sarah Wise, Evolutionary Developmental Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder

These individuals were chosen from a pool of more than 100 nominations and, through a rigorous application process, demonstrated their leadership ability or potential for exercising leadership in teaching and learning, and a strong commitment to academic and civic responsibility.

“I thoroughly enjoyed reading the personal statements and nominating letters for this year’s applicants,” said K. Patricia Cross.  “Although we had to choose only eight recipients, the enthusiasm and thoughtfulness of tomorrow’s future educational leaders was apparent in each application we received.  These students are inspired by their surroundings, propelled by today’s issues, and motivated to better the world through teaching.”    

“The intellectual diversity and academic success of this year’s winners are an excellent representation of our future faculty,” said L. Lee Knefelkamp, senior scholar at AAC&U and professor of psychology and education at Teachers College, Columbia University.  “This award highlights those students who continue Pat Cross’ leadership in advancing underserved students, assessment, collaborative pedagogy, and institutional integrity.  Seeing these future faculty members’ dedication to these important issues gives me great hope for the future of higher education.”

Each recipient of this award will attend the annual meeting of AAC&U, The Real Test: Liberal Education and Democracy’s Big Questions, from January 17-20, 2007, where they will be honored at the Opening Plenary.  They will also be presenters in a Thursday session, “Faculty of the Future: Voices from the Next Generation -- A Conversation with the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders,” The Cross awardees will participate in other sessions and meetings throughout the conference.

For information about AAC&U, its annual meeting, or the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award, visit www.aacu.org

AAC&U is the leading national association concerned with the quality, vitality, and public standing of undergraduate liberal education. Its members are committed to extending the advantages of a liberal education to all students, regardless of academic specialization or intended career. Founded in 1915, AAC&U now comprises more than 1,150 accredited public and private colleges and universities of every type and size.

AAC&U functions as a catalyst and facilitator, forging links among presidents, administrators, and faculty members who are engaged in institutional and curricular planning. Its mission is to reinforce the collective commitment to liberal education at both the national and local levels and to help individual institutions keep the quality of student learning at the core of their work as they evolve to meet new economic and social challenges.

Information about AAC&U membership, programs, and publications can be found on the AAC&U Web site.